three

okay - although it still seems a bit unreal - i'll say it.  after all the celebrating, i am officially mom to a three year old.

she's proud as punch to show off those three little fingers to everyone she meets.

her actual birthday fell right smack dab on thanksgiving this year, so after her turkey party, we counted down another five days until we could party again with grandma and grandpa

when we got there on wednesday night, my mom had the house decorated

on thursday morning i whipped up a german pancake

that was double...no, make that triple yum!

of course, there were more presents

the favorite was this play-doh cake makin' station

and as the guests came, so did more birthday wishes, cards and special treats....

i have a feeling she's not going to mind having her birthday around a holiday where lots of people gather and bring her stuff.

auntie h got the pinterest bug and made this fancy headband holder.

is it possible that I could love this girl more now that she's turned another year?

one thing is for sure.  this year, on thanksgiving i was thankful for many things

but at the top of my list was:

1,095 days with peach

giving thanks

This post on thanksgiving is a bit late...but I guess better late than never.  So, here goes.

We did a bit of traveling to be with family.  And it was delicious.  Every bit of if.  From the scent of hot apple cider when we walked in my mom and dad's house to the tasty conversations with aunts and uncles I hadn't seen in months, to the rich flavor of turkey, stuffing, grandma's cabbage salad (my favorite)....to the hugs from bigs and laughter from littles.  I savored every scrumptious drop of this holiday.  Feast your eyes on our 2011 thankfulness...

we seriously love this book - turk and runt - if you haven't read it, you should put it on your "to read" list

these sweet pies kept peach and the other littles busy

meet family #1...thursday we celebrated with my dad's side

it made my heart swell to see people i love taking time to cheer tulip on....she's thisclose to crawling

hmmm...my cousin J.  once upon a time he and i were the babies of the family.

add "the weather" to my list of things that were delicious this thanksgiving

my grandma

my girls' great

love her...

ipads galore

who doesn't feel like this after the festivities have died down?

meet family #2

friday we made a short drive to meet with my mom's side of the family

more great-grandparents

wow - my girls are lucky!

more birthday love for Peach

my brother and hubby have a hard time not turning every opportunity that they are in the same room into a competition

this year...a coloring contest

this auntie got her first taste of Tulip

we hadn't seen them since Easter

and it did my heart good to share my little lady with them

wasn't long before Peach proudly entered herself in the coloring contest

...and declared herself official judge at the end

i know...i know

the hat is a little ridiculous, but festive

really?  dora looks like lady gaga or something

some sweet potatoes for this chick

my uncle stopping to say "thank you"

and some family pictures to top it all off

yep - it was good to be home

and good to be around the people i love

and the best part is that only one short month separates us from celebrating together all over again