Thanksgiving at the zoo

Lilly's first Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Robnett's is always a adventure. The guys in this family are totally nuts! Anyone who really knows my hubby, knows he is crazy, but believe me, it runs in the family.
Every year at Thanksgiving Steve, Jeff's big brother,  puts two turkeys in his front yard.

As we do every year, we packed up the kids to go see the turkeys on  Thanksgiving morning.

Colt was just amazed. He was so excited, he couldn't stop jumping up and down.
He kept saying "Gobble gobble" and telling the turkeys "Boo".
Even Lilly liked them. She just held on to the cage and stared and every so often would break out into he biggest smile.

I love this time of year. I love the way the holidays bring family together and cause me to really look at my life. What I am thankful for. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day so that I lose focus on what is important. I loved reading on facebook everyday what my friends where thankful for.
I thought I would list a few things here.

 I am thankful for my husband. We are so mis-matched, but somehow make the perfect pair. I make no secret that I was giving Elizabeth Taylor a run for her money in the marriage department, but somehow I finally got it right. Jeff really is a wonderful husband. No matter how I look, he always makes me feel beautiful. He loves to spoil me and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will always be faithful to the vows we made to one another and to God. I am amazed at what a good father he is. Our children are so blessed to have him as a example and the head of our family. I am so proud at what a success he is and how he uses his job and influence to help people. What most people don't know about him is that he doesn't think he is a success and constantly worries about hurting people or letting them down, especially as an attorney.  I have seen him come home and cry about some of his clients whose lives are in ruins.  And I have seen him work for free when clients can't or won't pay their fees,representing people as though he was paid a million dollars when he was paid nothing.  One of my favorite memories of Jeff is my first visit with him to Princeton in New Jersey--we were eating pizza in his favorite dive across the street from the Princeton campus when tears welled up in his eyes.  I asked him what he was thinking and he said he was thinking about his parents who sacrificed so much for him to attend an Ivy League college and he worried he wasn't worthy of their sacrifice.   I am most thankful that he is a man of God and tries every day to instill values in our children.  I can honestly say that I am married to my best friend.

 I am  thankful to be a mother. I am so proud of my oldest daughter, Sara. She is so strong and just an amazing young woman. I miss her so much everyday that my heart aches, but I am proud that she has the strength to move to another state and do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true.

I am thankful to be cleaning little hand prints off my mirrorand crayola off the floor, to be digging fruit loops out of my hair and to be changing a million diapers a day.  I still can't believe that we have two babies.  And I am thankful that I get to be a mother to Ollie and am able to help Jeff raise him. I am so in love with my children and every minute of everyday I am thankful at a second chance to be a Mommy.

And I am thankful that my step-daughter, Brenna and I have finally built a relationship and enjoy being around one another.

There are so many other things I could list, but I will stop for now. Here are a few more pictures from our Thanksgiving holiday.

The day before Thanksgiving, Lilly took her first step. I cannot believe how fast my baby girl is growing up. This time last year I remember being so afraid that she would not survive her birth and if she did, I was so afraid we would not be able to bring her home. I remember this exact same time last year sitting in her nursery in a pile of baby clothes. As I was folding them to put them away I was overcome with the fear that I would never see her wear them. I remember crying out to God and begging to be allowed to be her mommy.

Thank you Father for answering my most heartfelt prayer..
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This year I found my self sitting on her floor playing with her, trying to get her to walk and I was over come with thankfulness. I am planning her 1st birthday and watching all the dreams Jeff and I have for this little girl come true one at a time.