Attitude of Gratitude

This was, by far, the most fabulous Christmas season we have had to date! I think that it was due to being completely surrounded (and I mean completely!) by family AND having two little ones that were incredibly enthusiastic about their gift opening.

So much to be thankful for this Christmas season....

1. Making it home from Buffalo on Monday...the snowstorm we drove through on Sunday was one of the most terrifying times I have ever experienced. It was such a helpless and overwhelming feeling to look outside of your car and not be able to see the front hood, due to the blowing and drifting snow. We knew we were in trouble when we couldn't even see the first exit to get us off the thruway and there were times when we weren't completely certain whether we were still on the thruway or not....awful! Even this snow-loving Buffalo chick was terrified.

2. A Holiday Inn that had a free room AND two cribs...although I felt pretty guilty after the thruway closed and more and more people kept showing up at the hotel....many with small children....small children who would not be getting cribs, especially given the fact that I had already snatched half of the hotel's crib stash

3. Two tiny tots who were so much better than we could ever have expected throughout our 20 hour trip home

4. Spending the holiday with both of our families

5. A new house that is big enough to let my family stay with us this week (wait, is this really something I'm thankful for....hmmm....)

6. My dad...for all of his awesome help with cooking on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and for keeping me relatively calm and sane (read here "kept my wine glass full") throughout the process

7. Uncle Rog and Uncle David for traveling from Japan and Minnesota just so they could spend time with my kids. Steve and I love that our brothers were able to be where with us. We love them and wish they lived a lot closer!

8. My totally fabulous and completely gorgeous reindeer dish set from Pottery Barn (thanks Wendy!), complete with dinner plates, salad plates, coffee mugs, wine charms, and napkin rings. They had my tables looking quite festive when I cooked on Christmas Eve...and on Christmas morning...and again on Christmas Eve

9. My newly painted and furnished family room...it was the best Christmas present I could have asked for, honey! What would I ever do without you?!?!?

10. All of our wonderful family and friends that spoiled my kids rotten this Christmas...a huge new kitchen that has a million pieces, nerf guns whose arrows are stuck to my ceiling fan, babies that won't ever stop making noise, basketballs that knocked over countless wine glasses...shall I go on?

We are truly blessed!

Look for Christmas pictures coming soon!