Home again, home again, jiggity jig

We are home. We had a great trip and have many photos to document our time in West Virginia. There was snow, freezing temperatures, Asa playing with cousins he had never met and catching up with family and friends. I will post pictures and stories over the holiday but wanted to "plug" in since I have been away. I rarely checked my e-mail, never checked in on Facebook and I still survived. What a wonder!

I'm sorry Mom and Sissy, but seeing Valentina was the highlight of coming home. To hear her squeal and see her body just shaking with excitement when she saw us was priceless. Mom pulled into our driveway and Vali yelled "T T house!". She had NO INTENTION of leaving me, Josh and Asa. As she was sitting and waiting in her car seat she put her little arms up and said "up up" and as tired as I was, and just wanted to lay in bed, I couldn't let Sissy and Mom take her home. I snatched her out of the car seat and kept her. She was even more beautiful than I had remembered. ( I guess I didn't have to "remember" her, Sissy and I traded pictures of the kids on the cell phones at least once a day:)

Mom's birthday was yesterday and it was nice being home to celebrate with her. It seemed like a make shift birthday since we didn't have a grand meal out, or have her presents ready...but we were all together and that was all that mattered to Mom. She is truly the best mother we could have and I have so much respect for her. I remember being younger and not appreciating that fact that some of the things that I would do or say would remind me of my mother, but now I LOVE it when I might say a phrase or do something that reminds me that I'm like my mother. Being away from her for 10 days made me just cements the fact living close together is such a blessing to me and our little family. I learn from her EVERYDAY! How lucky I am.

I have so much to write about and don't have the time, but I'm looking forward to telling fun stories of our trip. I missed all my bloggers and will be catching up on blogs for the next couple of days. Being away from my favorite blogs made me think that you are all my friends. I thought of all of you often and missed checking in on you all. For all of you that kept us in your prayers and had good thoughts for us on our trip, thank you. We got home safe and sound.

Happy Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for and this is going to be a very special holiday for our family. Be safe and enjoy your time off and make special memories with your family. That's what life is all about.