So Thankful!

This Thanksgiving season has been so wonderful. First we were able to spend the Saturday before Thanksgiving with Jim's family and we had a wonderful "pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving" since most of the family would be going elsewhere for the holiday. Then on Monday, we took off to California to spend the week with my family. All of my siblings (and their spouses) were able to come and this was actually one of the most wonderful and pleasant times I've been able to spend with my family since Dixie's been born. :) She's at the point now where she enjoys interacting with others and is not so clingy to me anymore, so I was able to relax a lot more and just enjoy spending time with my family. 

We started the week off with dental exams and cleanings (always a nice perk of going home!) and Jim was actually able to get some big dental work done as well. THANKS DAD!!!! We appreciate that so much! 

We also went down to the beach where Dixie got her first real experience with the ocean. And despite it being freezing cold water, she LOVED it! We hadn't brought her bathing suit (we weren't really anticipating spending much time at the beach in November), but we let her do some wading in the shallow water. We had a heck of a time keeping her from just diving right in. :) We'll have to do that again for sure in the summer some time so she can really enjoy it.

Wednesday we went to the Wild Animal Park, and even though Dixie was still too young to understand much of it, it was neat to see all the animals (although my legs sure felt the effects of walking all around in the next few days!!) :) 

Here's Dixie enjoying the Petting Kral at the Wild Animal Park

Thanksgiving Day was a big Seely Family Reunion (my mom's side). It was so great to see everyone again. I usually end up missing the big family reunions just due to being so far away, so it was neat that this one fell on a time when I could be there. I loved seeing all the aunts, uncles, and cousins again. And we were all treated to a special reunion of the Star Castle Band (the band my mom and her siblings had when they were younger) and we had a great time listening to them play again. Dixie rocked her little heart out. It was precious. :)

And then it was home to Texas. It was a short trip, but greatly enjoyed. Thanks, family, for the memories and good times. I am so thankful that I have such a wonderful family whom I love and who loves me (uh... you love me, right guys??!).  :) And while I'm being grateful, can I just add that I am so blessed to have the most wonderful husband? I love Jim so much and count every day I get to spend with him as an incredible gift. In addition to that, we are incredibly blessed with such a cute, and fun-loving daughter, as well as having another one on the way. We know the windows of heaven  have truly been opened to us and we do our best to not take any of it for granted. We love you all so much and hope you're doing well!

Happy Thanksgiving!!