FULL of Thanks.....

This year, more so than past, it has been very easy to think about all of the THINGS we don't have - some of them we never did; some of them recently lost. But, as I look forward to a holiday tomorrow, to be spent with one of my best friends, healthy family, a home-cooked meal, and laughter - I realize I HAVE 4 "things" right there that a lot of people don't this year.

In our little community of Poway, on Monday, a single-mother was killed by a drunk driver at 7am, while walking to work at our favorite local mom-spot - TARGET. They had recently cut her work hours, and she started walking the hour walk to work, to save the cost of gas. And just like that - two kids are left with zero parents.

Yesterday, Will and I went together to pick up Willie from preschool (lucky in itself), and received a note in our mailbox that one of the preschool moms has terminal breast cancer, and they are gathering donations to give her family a memorable holiday together. And just like that, SLAP...reality. We HAVE more THINGS than we ever had before.

I HAVE a husband who may have been laid-off, but is willing to work, and eagerly supports his family - a husband who has taken this "misfortune," and turned it into - hot, home-cooked breakfasts for our son, taken the "hurry" out of getting ready for school, taken burdens off of my to-do list, and YES...put up all of our Christmas decorations already!

We HAVE a healthy, happy, sassy (WHAT?! Where did he get that?!) almost-three-year-old son, whose eyes lit up when he saw all of the Christmas decorations. A little boy who tells our cats to be "good, so Santa brings you a guitar." A son who tries our patience, but also tries successfully to make us laugh every single day.

We HAVE family and friends who care enough to check in on us, whether it be cards in the mail, phone calls, or simply reading what we have to say here. I have been accused of being FULL of a lot of things in my life....luckily, this season it is THANKS.

Happy Thanksgiving...be THANKFUL.

Tessa & The Wills

New Lunchbag for New School!

Courtesy of Aunt Tave's sewing skills, and Mom's mad bargain fabric-finding skills...Willie has a new lunchbag for his new preschool!!

Going, Going...Back, Back...to Big Bear.

We ended up back in Big Bear for the second weekend in a row - no complaints here! Papa joined us this time. Grandma stayed home sick - boo! We missed her; but not her germs!

Willie was eager to take Papa mini golfing.....below you will find Papa "helping" his ball towards the hole...

And Willie, the scorekeeper, took special note of this penalty.

Then, Willie surprise me by wanting to go down the big slides! I shouldn't have read the warning sign!

The Wills, big and small, rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain!

Willie enjoyed the ride...

...and gave Papa the thumbs up!

Also, thumbs up for wearing Mama's UGGS. Sadly, those shoes don't look too huge for my tall boy....sigh.


Willie kissed the grizzly at the Big Bear Discovery Center.

Again, with the thumbs up. Outside the discovery Center with Papa.