There is a great big turkey down on Grandpa's farm...

Thanksgiving is always a beloved holiday in the Christensen Cosby home. Not only do we look forward to the Turkey Trot and the pumpkin pie, but we wait all year to kick off the Christmas season and go Black Friday Shopping!

This year both girls got ready for the holiday with Feasts at school. Isabelle was lucky to have Leo to share her meal with and I loved seeing Olivia in her turkey hat with her classmates. Both girls liked the idea of the meal better than the actual food, but anything out of the ordinary seems special and festive. Thanksgiving morning we woke early and zoomed to Coles Crossing for the annual Turkey Trot. Olivia had been congested and on antibiotics for a few days so she and Ben made it the first mile or so but then peeled off for home. My mom, Tara and I jogged beside Belle and were all shocked when she ran the whole two miles without taking even the quickest rest. She is a good little runner and loved being a part of the race with the big girls.

Grammie made a yummy traditional meal with all of the trimmings and we had eaten and cleaned up by early afternoon. We were all full and excited to make our shopping lists and plans. We quickly bundled up and before most people were sitting down to their turkey dinners, we were spending money like wildfire. We had a great time shopping Thursday night and then also well before sunrise on Friday morning. Both girls bought each other gifts and loved finding steals in the dark dark night. In between stores, I stopped by the doctor and picked myself up some antibiotics and joined Livi in feeling pretty yucky. Germs didn't keep us from having more fun though, after a quick rest on Friday we were back out again and went to the movie Frozen. We all loved the story of the two sisters and were more than exhausted and ready for bed Friday night.

We had one more Thanksgiving holiday plan and that was to kick off Christmas downtown at the Houston Zoo Lights. Sadly Livi and I both had fevers and after yet another doctor visit found out that we had Type A Influenza, but not until after we saw millions of twinkling lights at the Zoo. It was a quick and sickly Thanksgiving this year, but as usual we loved being with my parents and Tara and missed our other loved ones who were away. We are so grateful for families and this time of year when we get to spend a little bit of extra time together. We are blessed.