The week of Thanksgiving was a sweet one. All the kids home, sweet surprises, established traditions, amazing food, extended family, hearts filled with gratitude, and introducing Colombo V to so many people who loved him before we even knew Him. God is gracious and so very kind.
Monday, Nov. 24th
No picture.
Tuesday, Nov. 25th
Trevor drove straight from school to Moe's to meet up with us, finally on school break for Thanksgiving. It had been the longest stretch without seeing him.
One of her last Taco Tuesdays with us. The final days are ticking by and so very hard to process.
Renna ended up skating with Colombo at Tuesday Night Hockey since all the boys were at flag football. She impressed all the men on the ice and even scored a sweet goal!
Wednesday, Nov. 26th
My husband doesn't have "prep" to do the night before Thanksgiving, so he suggested an impromptu family(+) dinner and let Trevor make any request. So off to the store (the belly of the beast at 4p the night before Thanksgiving) to get what I needed. Sigh. In the end, it ended up being really lovely and it all paid off when Trevor said it was the best meal he's had since August.
Thursday, Nov. 27thTradition!!!! The Manchester Road Race. It was nearly perfect weather this year.
Ezra said, "Thank you for running" because she had so much fun watching all the runners and costumes.
Thanksgiving was lovely and easy. Andrea always does a such a beautiful job hosting. Her entire side of the family was there in addition to the DiSalvatores- kids and adults all happy to blend. Such a fun group! All of my kids came, but not all at the same time. It was also Colombo V's big debut!
The first (of many) 4 Colombo's picture: Papa (C2), C3, C4, C5
The original: Ganky (C1), C2, C3, C4.
Their first time meeting him.
Friday, Nov. 28th
I started out the day walking and then meeting up with Lisa for our new weekly coffee / tea date and then came home to the sweetest surprise. The kids- all on their own- threw me a "retirement" party after 22 years of homeschooling. I was shocked. Surprised that they even thought to do it. Surprised it fit into the busy weekend. Surprised how in one hour they pulled together food, flowers, tablecloth, our "fancy" kid cups we used to use on special occasions. Pictures, a homemade banner, a sweet gift. Most meaningful, was each kid getting up to share their words of blessing- memories- the hard, the sweet, the laughable- how they were shaped as individuals, how special it was to be together as a family for so many full days and full years. It was humbling and very gratifying. And so unexpected and undeserved. I'm linking the the
video here for my own posterity. I laughed, I cried. Grateful that they 'mostly' embraced their years with me and TOTAL gratitude for all of the time we stole back not doing school the traditional way.
My only regret was not showering and still being in my walking clothes.
Early afternoon, we me up with some of the DiSalvatore crew to see Wicked 2.
Saturday, Nov. 29th
Bourquin Thanksgiving and lots more family for C5 to meet. COUSINS finally met!
A house full of love. Lisa makes the holidays so special and we're all just happy to be gathered together. We decided to do hot and heavy apps for dinner.
These two do really well together.
My people.
Some very difficult hugs and goodbyes, and lots of tears when the Rambos left.
Sunday, Nov. 30th
Harlem spent the night and did church with us.
Lisa hosted the boys and their epic mini hoop game- music, an announcer, fans, the whole house shaking, and even a new elbow hole in her sheetrock.
