Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving this year was a blast!  Ted and I had so much fun with family and every year it gets a little more crazy as our neices are growing older...we LOVE it!  Especially now with Eloise thrown into the mix.  

Maddy; and (crazy) Uncle Dan

Mom Polleys made a fantastic dinner as usual, and there were three different desserts to choose from, thanks to Kelli and Ted.  Also, there was an AMAZING vegetable dish with lots of root vegetables and maple syrup.

Dad Polleys, Bailey, Aunt Julie; and Bailey dancing with Aunt Kelli

But, before dinner, Mom Polleys, Kelli and I all went to the Spa at Boyne Mountain.  It was so refereshing to be able to work out in a gym-type atmosphere and then lounge around in a hot tub afterward...with lots and lots of chatting.  :)

Ted and I, waiting for dinner

Maddy playing with Eloise and her hippo-friend.

The guys stayed home and watched football (But do I really need to tell you that?? It's kind of obvious in our family.) and Eloise hung out with them.  Will, Julie, Maddy and Bailey came over during that time, so it was great to be able to come home from the Spa and hang out with all of them.  Maddy and Bailey are getting so big and so, so cute.  (For the Gratitude Bowl, one of the things Maddy was thankful for was her ribs and bottom! So precious!)

Uncle Ted with Maddy and Eloise

Throughout the whole day there was dancing, laughing, talking, story telling, and a discussion of everyone's favorite Christmas memory growing up.  Mine pale in comparison to the Polleys' family Christmas, Dad Polleys always went above and beyond when it came to Santa Claus.  Oh, and there was lots of eating going on too, but once again that is an obvious occurence at Polleys Family get-togethers.  :)

Bailey reading Jan Brett.

Ted and I are so thankful for our family.  We do not know what we would do without it. 

And, now...it is on to CHRISTMAS!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Give Thanks!

Our family is starting a new tradition this year: A Gratitude Bowl.

I read about it in my Mothering Magazine.  You place an empty glass bowl in the center of your table, as the centerpiece.  All day before dinner, right up to before dinner is served, whenever you think of something that you are thankful for, you write it on a piece of paper, fold it in half and place it in the bowl.

All throughout dinner you can see all the blessings and the thankfulness in the bowl.  Then, before dessert is served you pass the bowl around and each person takes a turn pulling out a slip of paper and reading what someone is thankful for.

I think it's a great way to remember to give thanks and count your blessings from God.  I hope it is a success!

Have a blessed day, wherever you are, whatever you are doing.

Day 8

So, I have been working for 8 days straight.

4 more work days to go! Then it's Thanksgiving!

When I think about it, it is not as hard as I thought it was going to be. Last Sunday I was worrying like crazy about Eloise.

What of she doesn't have enough to eat?
What if she hates daycare?
What if she cries all day?
What if she gets sick?
What if I can't physically let go of her when trying to drop her off at daycare?

What if I cry all day?

Ted was amazing at reassuring me, and so was Eloise. She was all smiles whenever I went to pick her up from daycare, and she didn't seem to hold anything against us for leaving her all day. :)

Nevertheless, I broke down once.

It was Tuesday night. After my second day of subbing (I didn't actually start my "real" job this week because I was subbing for the teacher I was supposed to be working with because her daughter was sick) in Boyne City, and my second day of picking up Eloise from daycare and seeing her fall asleep at 5pm (for the night!) because she was so worn out (all the extra kids around at daycare, playing outside, new environment, etc.)....I started to cry.

"I don't think I am ever going to see Squeezy ever again. We get home, I feed her and she falls asleep till morning!" (Except to eat.)

"I miss her! I feel like all I'm ever going to do is wash bottles, make more food, and wash dirty diapers."

As I was being a slobbery mess into Ted's shoulder, he told me it was going to be okay and that the next week would be better, because I would only work 5 hours instead of seven. (and it was Thanksgiving!)

I knew he was right. But, I still missed my baby.

Ted offered to wake her up so we could play. But, we had a dilemma. If we woke her up, she would want to eat sooner. If she wanted to eat sooner, I would not have enough time (or milk) to pump for the next day. I was forced to keep Eloise sleeping so she would have food for the next day. :(

Happily, I now have the whole food thing worked out. It takes a couple days to get the supply kicked up for the extra demand. And, now I am always a couple of bottles ahead. :)

Next week will be better. Plus, I got to hang out with Chewy (Eloise) all morning before I went to work today at noon. We had the best time just laying and looking at each other...and occasionally making conversation.

Also, in my defense, Ted said he almost lost it when he dropped off Eloise to daycare for the 1st time, too. So, I am not crazy and/or overreacting!

Sunday..Monday..Tuesday..Wednesday...then a whole day with The Cheese!

Mmm...Turkey and Potatoes

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ted and I are spending time at the Polleys Parents today. I am kind of bummed about not seeing anyone on my side of the family, but it is nice to just relax and not have to travel anywhere far.

Dad and Tami are in Florida visiting my Grandma Barbara.

Mom and Nick live in Alaska.

Erica, Chris and Emma live in Pennsylvania.

Sam, Bill, Olivia, Izabella and my Grandpa all live 4 hours downstate.

So, our options were sort of limited anyway. I have a lot of school work to do this weekend as well so I can make sure I graduate. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all and remember to count your blessings. There are so many things to be thankful for that are easy to forget.