Thanksgiving break happenings

 We had a very full Thanksgiving break! 

We had our own little Thanksgiving meal, decorated the house for Christmas, went to visit my mom, then stayed with my brother, and went to spend Thanksgiving with Tim's family. We stopped by Razorback stadium and checked out the Christmas lights at the Fayetteville and Bentonville squares on our way home!

It was my first outings since my surgery.

I did okay, but I'm still really sore.

I'm thankful for so many things and so happy that we had a wonderful holiday!

C Girl was such a huge helper this year!

We love Tim's tradition of hanging the Rudolph characters on our entry way chandelier.

C Girl helped with with making our pies this year!

Pecan pie is my favorite!

I love the glow of the Christmas tree!

We roasted Cornish game hens for our Thanksgiving meal.

Hitting the road to visit family!

This boy wanted biscuits and gravy since he had been sick for a few days prior.

Silly kids!

I love all of these guys!

Jessica and I went to watch Mockingjay Part 2! I'm so glad that we got to do something together!!!

We had a fun time visiting with grandma and Pop Pop!

Sweet cousins!

C Girl loves watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade!

We took some photos before we all went separate ways for Thanksgiving meals!

On our drive, we stopped by to photograph the home site where Tim's granny and grandad had lived. He has so many memories there!

B Boy played outside the entire time at Thanksgiving. He ended up being completely filthy! He had dirt all up and down his jeans and shirt!

There was a big spread of food and accidentally burned crescent rolls! 

Everything was good though!

the line for food!

Our annual Sparacino family photo!

We saw the glow from Razorback stadium miles away! 

We decided to go and check it out!

We drove down Dickson street in Fayetteville and the Lights of the Ozarks.

It was raining so we didn't get out, but we still got to enjoy the beautiful lights!

I loved the Razorback shaped lights!

We also stopped to see the lights at the Bentonville square! 

They added double the lights this year and I love it!

there is always something to be thankful for

I know I haven't shared a lot of personal details of my life lately. 

I feel like most of my posts are "here, this is what we've done lately." 

I feel like this last year has been one of the weirdest in my life. I had no idea that finding out that I have a chronic disease would make me feel the way I do. And now knowing that I have chronic iron deficiency anemia on top of that is just...I don't even know.

I don't want to sound like I am complaining or that I talk about it all of the time.

I've been so nervous about my upcoming surgery and I don't know why.

I have felt very isolated. That seems so strange since I'm around people pretty often.

I have wonderful, supportive friends and family, yet I still feel so inside my own head.

Maybe I have retreated there because I'm not sure how to cope?

Don't get me wrong, life is very good. 

I always enjoy life and make the most of it, but sometimes you just don't feel like yourself.

This week, C Girl had an eye appointment (everything is fine. She didn't pass the school test so we had to have an exam and her eyes are fine), I went to a baby shower for my friend, Samantha who is having twin girls next month (!!!!) and I came down with a yucky cold and then a gross cold sore.

The last two items did not help my joy factor this week!

I was intense with doing all the things you do to get rid of a cold. I think it worked because I was only terribly sick for 2-3 days. Usually, a cold lasts longer than that and sometimes turns into bronchitis.

There is always something to be thankful for.

I'm thankful to be feeling better.

I'm thankful that it is the weekend.

I'm thankful for my kiddos - they are happy, healthy and so creative!

I'm thankful for family and friends who offer all kinds of help to us during my surgery time.

I'm thankful for the Razorbacks winning against Ole Miss a little while ago!!! It was an incredible game!

I know our kids will remember watching these games and that is so fun to me.

If you think of me, will you pray that my surgery goes well this week?

I will update as soon as I can.

She was so proud of the outfit that she picked out!

He creates such cool things!

 I took this picture before all of the food was set out!

We don't just eat veggies!!!!

We are so excited to meet these twin girlies next month!