A little late...but still THANKFUL!!

Ok...I know I'm a little late on the "what I'm thankful for" bandwagon, but I told myself I would do this so here goes. Thanksgiving just passed and my family and I got to enjoy TWO amazing dinners with two different kinds of family for me. Our first thanksgiving was with what I like to call my "West Coast Family" which is a wonderful group of friends that welcomed me into their group over 4 years ago when Dustin and I met. I don't think, since I lived 3,000 miles away at the time, that they thought I'd become a REAL member of this family but sure enough 4 years + baby max later we all got to sit down and enjoy a special meal together. That I am so thankful for. It's holidays when I miss my family the most. I called my dad before I went over to our Friendsgiving and got all teary and choked up hearing about the fun times being had at my aunts house. So another thing I'm thankful for = unlimited calling nationwide (thanks AT&T /$115 mo later), to be able to call my dad, all choked up, and tell him I miss him so much on a holiday.
So we had a great meal with great people (and dogs),lots of laughs, and my awesome (if I do say so myself) chocolate trifle. Mmmmm....#3 of what I'm thankful for= an amazing Mumma who is the best person I know, who taught me how to make this dessert to share with my west coast fam. My mom rocks. Seriously. We have this insane connection where when I was a teenager and would walk in the house, she would know from the other side of the house that something was wrong. And even now 3,000 miles apart, she answers my call astonished because she was just dialing my number. I love you Mumma. I hope I am JUST like you for max. So thankful you're mine.

So my west coast family Friendsgiving was perfect. Everyone brought a few dishes to add to all of the work our host and hostess had already cooking. Talk about great hosts #4 thing I'm thankful for= friends in our life in beautiful, loving,googley relationships. Everyone knows what I mean. You see those couples who have been together forever but still are smiling, laughing at each others every joke, making eyes across the table, helping each other do dishes, just straight up IN LOVE. We all get in robot mode sometimes and forget to put in a little extra effort and love in our relationships and I think it's amazing to be reminded of how much you love your significant other. Seeing two people in love reminds me how in love I am too. So thankful for that. #5 thankful thing= my love. My soulmate. My best friend. My baby daddy. I love you and am thankful for you. You know me better than anyone. You  work your ass off. You pay those bills, and even though I complain about not getting flowers often enough, you're still my #1. And always will be. I'm SO thankful you're mine :) you gave me what I dreamed about my entire life, our little Maxi poo. #6 obviously. My sweet sweet boy. I'm so thankful the universe chose me to be your Mumma. I love everything about you from head to toe. You. Are. Perfection. I will be thankful for you until the day I die. My first baby (you'll always be my favorite, just don't tell the others when they get here!).

So on to our second Thanksgiving, my in-laws not by law (yet). We headed out to the peninsula to Dustin's parents where we had an amazing meal and lots of laughs. #7- my almost in-laws. They welcomed me in to the family from the very beginning. They fell out of their chairs ecstatic when we announced we were pregnant. They spoil max with so much love it's insanely wonderful. They are just wonderful people that I am extremely thankful for. While we were there Max really developed some strong feelings for their dog, Dude. And to this day talks about him multiple times a day. We had a dog when I was younger and it was my little brothers best friend. They had secret talks about things, a really special connection, and I think as years go by, Max and Dude just might have this serious love for each other. I hope. It's really sweet :) #8 and #9 thankful things- Dude-to make Max sooo happy, to this day. And my little brother MJ. My bro, the coolest uncle, rad skateboarder, super sweet guy. I love you to death and hate how far apart we live. I'm so proud of you, with the things you have accomplished so far in your twenty years. You rock. I know Max will always look up to you.

This year having 2 Thanksgivings was super fun. It's one of my favorite holidays. It's kind of sad to think it takes a day of stuffing our faces to remind us to be thankful for things. There are so many things to be thankful for all year and we should all be making a bigger effort to make them known. So here's a few more from me:
#10- my sissy- I'm so glad you are on this side of the states with me. I love you to the moon and you are such a good sister. Such a good aunt. And good friend. Love you. Thankful for our laughing moments together.
#11- friends near and far- I'm not the kinda girl with 7,000 contacts in my iPhone of everyone I've ever met. I'm the kind of girl with a small group that I seriously consider my family members. And I tell them that. I'm thankful for all of you. I love you.
#12-family (not so near) mostly far- I miss you, and think of each of you ALOT. Maybe one day flights will be affordable again (which I would totally be thankful for) and we can see each other more. I'd like that so much :)

our amazing feast at the "Friendsgiving"

Max, Grandpa and DUDE! @Thanksgiving #2

So I sum this post up with this....I am so thankful for everything in my life. It would take days to write it all down. The universe has given me a pretty awesome life to live in a pretty healthy body to do so and I totally love my life. And everything/everyone in it. :)

Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! Can't wait to Christmas BLOG! Whoohooo!!!!!!

Coming soon.....Xmas crafting, Homemade Xmas gifts, and Xmas baking! Betcha cant wait!

XOX, The Thankful Mumma