Holiday Catch Up

Well I 'spose since it's almost Christmas and all, I oughta post Halloween and Thanksgiving...

 I helped throw together a last minute Primary party since the Ward Trunk or Treat was cancelled - had a Witch Room, Skeleton Room, Doctor Who Room, Pumpkin Room and MineCraft Room that they rotated through. Crazy chaotic fun, that was.

did all my touch-the-yucky-body-parts table

 The Embassy held their annual Haunted House Trick or Treating with the reptiles and mummy wrap and all that fun. 

Will opted out of the party for trick or treating with friends

They don't really do  much trick or treating here, but our little group had fun giving it a go anyway. Summer was thrilled with her play group Trunk or Treat.

 Thanksgiving was a treat, since we completely skipped it last year. Had a few families over and really felt American again for a while. Nothing quite like pulling that roasted bird out of the oven to make you feel all reminiscent.

 I picked up a bunch of weeds and pine cones/boughs on my run that morning to throw in the center of the table. Voila~ Weed centerpiece for the win!

So wonderful to enjoy a holiday all about gratitude with people we genuine enjoy, in a house full of children with delicious food coming out of our ears. Although I miss family more than ever, it was a great last Thanksgiving here.

Thanks to Give

Definitely not a traditional Thanksgiving this year. In the craziness of recent weeks, we neither extended nor received any dinner invites so we dressed up and ate at the local club restaurant. (Bonus: it was still cheaper than buying a turkey here.) Then we almost went camping. And while all of us truly missed the food comas and family celebrations, at least I was extremely grateful to come home to a clean kitchen (and avoid Black Friday shenanigans entirely.)

look closely - that Huntsman spider we found in our helmet is very much alive

We took some family bike rides. Went swimming next door. Had some unnerving run-ins with more than a few intimidatingly large spiders. Hit up Questacon. Napped. Took a three hour drive into the countryside. It was nice and relaxing and unconventional. But we missed you all, our friends and family that make such holidays complete. And we look forward to doing it right again next year. 'Cause really, a soup and salad bar for Thanksgiving dinner is simply not right - albeit definitely a memory.

We have so much to be grateful for. Health and strength and modern medicine and happiness. Gratitude remains on my mind because about an hour ago we had a near-death experience with a rather humongous kangaroo on the road. Somehow we managed not to be killed or have the car totaled by him or the ditch we almost ended up in. I could feel the adrenaline in my veins for an hour - it was terrifying. Life is sweet and fragile and deserves thanksgiving more often than it gets.

Instead of the Thanksgiving Tree this year we tried to see how long we could make our Thankful list.

Hope you all had a fantabulous Turkey Day and are enjoying heaps of cranberry and turkey sandwiches. Love from Australia - we miss you!