day 3: the sweet side of research

day 2: a morning date with River

day 1: black eyed peas for the new year

we have a lot to be thankful for

Yesterday, we had the fortunate problem of too many people in our small little house. How to seat 13 people for Thanksgiving dinner in a dining room that fits 6 max?

 

 

And that's how we ended up with 2 tables in our living room, stealing the Gabriel-made picnic table from the backyard and the kid's table from their room. And it worked.

 



 

Our dining room table with the Thanksgiving spread: ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato rolls, rye bread, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato gratin, and a spatchcocked turkey.

 

 
The sweet sidetable: deep dish pumpkin pie and cranberry cobbler.

 

 

 
I'm grateful for everyone of these people, sitting together, wonderfully squished and cozy in our livingroom (my mom and Linda included, though they somehow missed out on the dinner plate portraits...). 

 

 

But most of all, I'm thankful that this guy is here. Surly wit and all.

Happy Halloween

from the 4-year old

Liam: Mom, did you know that River's heart has a hole and Jesus has to watch out so he doesn't fall down in it?

this is what i'll cling to

10 days ago, my brother was hit by a car while walking across a street in California.

We flew, my mother and sisters, to be with him, and he is still here despite the odds. Ruptured aorta, lacerated liver, shattered leg, fractured face. And they expect a full recovery.

It's easier to be positive on this side of the ordeal, but getting here was harrowing.

Yesterday was the first day he really woke up, asking for a Jamba Juice.

Of course he got one.

It was the most wondrously magical moment of my life. Molly and I sitting with him, grinning at him slurping up his drink, bobbing his head to Mumford & Sons playing from my phone.

It was beautiful.