Gobble gobble. (happy Thanksgiving)

There was this sense of holding our breath while still taking in oxygen as we expected Donny to be deposited at our front door by his roommate.  He’s had a long difficult semester, grueling hours in the library, head pounding cram sessions, and hours on the climbing wall expelling stress. “Mom, I’m so ready to come home.” ( …not as much as we are ready to see you.)

When he came through the door and dropped his things on the floor, everyone ran to see him. Jack of course had been outside scouting his arrival so he got the first hug. When I hugged him it was a moment of great happiness.  He’s such a man now. It is difficult to reconcile I am mom to this fine young man; it is  an honor and a privilege. There’s no way to describe the good feeling I have knowing how much he wants to be home and mixing that up with finally having him here. The four boys are such a good band of wise guys when their leader returns. It’s high entertainment seeing them together.

On this humbling day of Thanksgiving we indeed have so much to be thankful for in our lives. I hope we can keep the kitchen business simple and still delicious so we all enjoy more play time together. I know most of the people in America today are rubbing their hands together anticipating the meal to fill their bellies, but what I am most eager to consume is hours of laughter and fun shared with the five of our children, and my Dad and Audrey who are here for the week. They are enjoying the grandchildren so much. It is a great pleasure to see them have such a good time with us.

Late Monday night, Craig and Jack arrived with them from the airport and I got out of bed to greet them. My dad was so excited to meet Kira, he said, can I take a peek at the baby? Sure, why not. So we crept not so quietly into her room, and she popped her little head up. I held her for a while as my dad took all of her in and admired her beauty. She spent a few minutes with us in the kitchen and then I laid her back down to sleep. She’s such a good baby! It was my great honor and pleasure to introduce him for the first time to his newest granddaughter who came a long way to join our family.

Dad has been quick to get her up onto his lap, and she’s learned she can get whatever she wants from him, especially her first taste of ice cream, which she will now seek to help anyone empty their bowl of creamy cold goodness. At less than two years old she’s perfecting the coy flirty look that makes boy, man, or grandpa melt.  Audrey and I watch this action, and we know what she’s doing because girls have been doing it since Eve entered the garden. Kira is such a delightful little girl.

She is happy, playful, smart, and affectionate. My dad loves this so much.  She’s going to find out how good pumpkin pie is today! This will be her first thanksgiving. What a treasure it is for us to introduce her to turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry.

We have a few special events tucked into our day, I look forward to sharing them with you in the following days. I also can’t wait to share Kira’s first visit to the zoo (which the boys scoffed because she’s already been on safari in Africa) and our adventure into the hill country to visit Bandera, the quintessential cowboy town of Texas. Of course she got a pink Stetson hat, and each brother wore it as much as she did.

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