Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2010

It is Thanksgiving Day- 2010! There is so much to be thankful for over this last year. The birth of our son, the move to the NW and our friends... new and old.
I was in Mass yesterday and I wept. It hit me- it has been ONE year. I have a new home, new life and new friends. It has flown by. I also have a beautiful family that is healthy and happy. We have had friends from Texas come and visit us from summer to November. It seems strange that they left and hard to think we might not see them until next year. Our best friends are here visiting us for Thanksgiving. WOW!
Nine years ago we started a Thanksgiving tradition with one of my college roommates. Her father had passed away and we didn't want her or her mother to be alone. Since then we have spent EVERY Thanksgiving together. It has grown.... into more friends who might not have family around. It has gone from cooking to catering over the years. It has been at Michelle's childhood house , our house and our ranch. There are many memories and many, many, many bottles of wine that have been enjoyed. We have sang karaoke. (I have LOTS of pictures) It has been a great 9 years!!

Thanksgiving 2008

Over the years my other college roomie joined in the fun. So did our friends, our priest, my ObGyn and others who would wander in and out throughout the day! It has been great!

Thanksgiving 2009

Now there is a new page that is turning! We are so blessed to have the Slevin Family here to be with us. We have spent MANY a family holiday together. I hope they will come back! My friend Michelle now has her own family ( twins as of 4 days ago) so she too will start a new tradition. I hope, my friend, we will reconnect and gather again in the future!! I am blessed. I have a husband who loves me unconditionally ( even when I gripe about cooking a turkey, dressing, etc) and a beautiful family that is healthy, strong willed and fearless! My grandmother is still with me and helps me in every aspect of my life. My Mom is here with us living in Wenatchee. I am making some lovely friends. God is good.
I cannot believe it has been a year. I miss some of the tradition... but today we start a new one.
I have made a Turkey, dressing from scratch and sweet potatoes. I have "catered" the pies. I here the children fighting and giggling in the background as I type. My husband and David are talking politics and the football game is playing. Tonight we go to the Tornabene's ( our first friends in Wenatchee) for dessert, drinks and a game of "flashlight freeze tag" in the snow. Tomorrow is sledding!
So, when you sit at your table.... slow down for a minute and REALLY take stock of what you are thankful for this day. Remember the past, remember the moment and pray for the futures.
May God bless you all and remember we love ALL our friends and Family!!!

"Father all-powerful, your gifts of love are countless and your goodness infinite. OnThanksgiving Day we come before you with gratitude for your kindness: open our hearts to concern for our fellow men and women, so that we may share your gifts in loving service. 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. "

November

Well the snow is coming and the leaves have fallen from the trees. Every minute the leaves fall like snow and by the end of this week most of ours will be off the trees!
I am posting a short blog and will not post again for a couple of weeks. We have GUESTS coming for the next 3 weeks!
Our friends Mark and Brenda will be here this weekend. Next is Dr. and Mrs. Helmer ( Dick and Angela), he was one of Thomas' partners in Texas. They get to go to a Gala with us! Finally Alisa and the rest of the Slevin Family will join us for Turkey. Alisa will stay for a couple of weeks--- yipee!!!! :}

I will post pictures as they come along but will post in a couple of weeks. Keep us with us via FB.
Till then- Happy Turkey and be safe in your travels!!

October 2010

Hello Friends. It has been a WILD October for us. It seems that is flew by and now it is time for TURKEY!!! :}

Thomas was chosen to drop the puck for a Wenatchee Wild Hockey game. He took the boys and they walked the "red carpet". So fun! This was a huge honor- not everyone gets to do put out the first puck.

Thomas and I got away without kids for the first time since Feb. 2009. We went to Seattle and had a lovely time eating and shopping. We went to a Seahawks game. WOW, WOW, WOW- are those fans loud! It is an outdoor stadium and we wore earplugs. Great seats and lots of fun. It rained but we were covered- sitting on the 40 yard line. We yelled, screamed and drank great micro-brew beers. A great way to end a fun weekend.

We came back to gymnastics, iceskating and the screams of "MOM". It was bitter sweet! :} I missed them terribly but enjoyed being away for some R/R. The week picked up pace and soon was speeding along. By Wednesday it started taking sharp curves. Blaise came home saying his "knee" was hurting. Whimpering is not unusual for Blaise when needing to rest or trying to get out of something. I saw a scratch/bruise. Again, not unusual since Blaise and gravity are BFF. By Wednesday evening it was the size of a grapefruit and he could no longer put weight on it. Ice and motrin. Thursday morning he was still swollen but could put some weight on it. He went to school but knew I would try to get him seen by a Dr. (that is a whole other story!) By Thursday afternoon I was staring at his knee with my mouth wide open. It was huge, red and burning up!! WHAT???
The clinic here has a "walk-in" hours-- not like an ER and not a "free clinic". You are seen by a Dr. and if it is serious, the clinic has an ER.... ANYWAY, you know there is a problem when the Dr. comes in and takes 2 steps back! We did and xray and was thrilled to find out it was NOT an infection of his bone (Praise God!) but they were not thrilled to culture it because that could lead to secondary infection. Instead we are on 2 super duper antibiotics to kill the staff, strep or other crazy things growing in his knee. All said, he is doing good. Trying to get that boy to sit still is impossible!! He is doing much better but will have to miss iceskating this week.

On Friday, after the 2nd Dr. appointment, we headed to Chelan for a new doctors retreat. All family was invited. They offered free babysitting while the parents had dinner and met other physicians. On Saturday there was breakfast and Thomas went for a discussion with the CFO and CEO of the hospital. The kids and spouses went on a hike and to a petting farm. Fun times. The couples all seemed super nice and it was nice to see so many families with SO many kids. This medical community is simply amazing. They take a LOT of time to find people who will be happy here and will benefit the community. Then they bend over backwards to show you how glad you are with them. It is a atmosphere of "team work" and family. They will do whatever they can to help you in any situation. It lets Thomas be what he wants to be -- an EXCELLENT doctor and Dad!

Saturday it was back to Wenatchee. We dressed the kids in Halloween gear and head into town. The city provides a night on the "AVE" of Trick or Treating. Businesses dress store fronts and sit outside handing candy to the kids of Wenatchee. Then there is a party with games and crafts. WOW! We met up with some friends and went Trick or Treating. We did not stay for the party because we had Mass but- HEY- one extra night to wear costumes and trick or treat was worth it!

Sunday I took the kids up to Mission Ridge to see the first snow. We should have gone earlier in the week but they had a great time. Even Henry liked sitting in the snow. Looks like the weather is getting colder so soon there will be more.

Halloween we went to a friends house for homemade soups and cornbread! YUMMY! We took the kids  for all the candy they could get. The nice thing is- all the houses are close together. When we lived on Marshall- it was hard because it was half a block to your neighbors.
Today- I put up the Halloween and pulled out the Thanksgiving. We will be having guests soon. Friends from Austin will visit November 13-15 and then the Slevins come for Turkey! Totally excited!!

Brenda La Tremenda

Me and Alisa enjoying my last favorite margarita in San Antonio

For the final update- I had put my "Jillian" DVDs on hold for 2 weeks. Life happens..... but today I was back full blast cursing myself for putting it off. The constant struggle between good and evil. Its never easy. Now- I have maintained the weight I lost ( the most important of this story) so I just need to "shape things up". I am now focusing on ski conditioning. I don't want to be in pain or exhausted just from one day of skiing.
Last but not least- Henry is trying to walk. We are done with nursing and he is 100% on table food. He is  a chunk and L-O-V-E-S food! He is a Tucker!!
Hope all is well with your families.... miss our friends but we do love it here!
Hugs and prayers.....