So much to be thankful for: Babies AND Broncos...

It was a fabulous Thanksgiving- so much to be thankful for! The tried and true traditions- Mass, a family blessing over the food, turkey, stuffing, great company, cards, coffee, cranberries. And some new activities- an outing to the Bronco's game, a nut chopper (which cut our stuffing prep time down at least by half)... Definitely a Thanksgiving to be remembered.

My cousins
asking my aunt Kathy to dip their rolls into gravy... they looked like they were little kids or little chicks needing their mom to provide every bite for them. Precious!

Courtnie & Siena, Faunia & Lexie hanging out after dinner. I wonder if Siena is going to constantly remind Lexie that she's "older" (by only a few months) just like Faunia did to Courtnie ;)

Thanks, Pampered Chef, here's something to be thankful for!! You guys are genius for creating this miraculous time saving gadget to chop anything and everything! From onions to nuts, no job is too big or too small. I HIGHLY recommend one of these- especially if your dad insists upon transforming pistachios and cashews into fine dust the night before or day of any major holiday*. Check them out at the Pampered Chef website. I promise you won't be sorry!

*Heather and Philip, you might be the only ones who have any idea what I'm talking about.

Siena Grace was really enjoying her carrot... and then she was really enjoying my carrot...

Go Bronco's! We beat the New York Giants 26 to 6!! We got to see the torches on the score board more than a few times! You could feel the heat on your face when they erupted with flames and fire works.

What handsome company I had! I was thankful to be with my favorite fellas!

After about a dozen attempts we finally got some descent pictures of the three of us. And it took me and Phil almost that many to get one where we were both looking semi -normal...

There was one single Giant's fan in the entire stadium and he happened to be sitting 8 seats over and 3 rows up. He was a courageous little fellow- definitely tried and true. Any time they would have any kind of positive activity there he was hootin' and hollerin' and cheering for his team. If I were on a team I would want him as my fan.

Long awaited San Francisco visuals

As I mentioned in my earlier post about San Fransisco I love the intricate details of the buildings they are breath taking in my opinion. And the colors! Oh the colors! They just make me melt- Dark Cyan with Maroon amidst the ever-present white with the scrolls and the molding... ah! I adore it.

There were quite a few highlights on my lightening-fast jet set trip... roaming around San Fran by my self, stumbling upon flower markets, a hippie boy sitting cross legged playing his guitar in the middle of the sidewalk on Height Street (I didn't have the guts to snap a shot of that one), and many other little bright moments. Not the least of which was Ali's "detour" on our way home from frozen yogurt at Alan and Jarad's. We were in the thick of an excellent conversation and before I knew it she was pulling the car into a dark parking lot. Now, I don't know SF very well, but I do know this is not where she lives. Unless you use the term "live" in a different way- like when you kick off your shoes, laugh with reckless abandon, take a chance, do something out of the ordinary- that's the kind of place where she "lives" if that's what you mean. Anyway, we hopped out of the car, it was colder and I could hear a distant rhythmic rumble. The ocean!! We walked down to the cool sand, I kicked my shoes off the moment the sidewalk ended and the beach began. The black night sky and the white waves kissed and parted the way waves do and Ali started to spin me around and sing our favorite old standard "Frim Fram Sauce". I felt so loved and honored and after she dipped me and we shared some giggles we headed back to the car. I told her if a movie is ever made about my life I certainly want that moment included.

I also took some pictures if Ali's street (California if you're familiar with the Bay Area you know that really is right down town) Anyway, the pictures didn't turn out to well- it was too dreary. But I decided to use the opportunity to use "GIMP" (a highly recommended free program for editing pictures) and make this one a little funkier.

And here is the most beautiful picture that was taken while I was there. Ali and Alan after they ran the San Francisco Half-Marathon. It was wonderful to witness such a victory! I am so glad I got to share that moment with Ali. What a great trip! I think I'll go back :). Love you, Pal!