Advent and My Holy Land

As a gift for Olivia's Baptism, my coworker gave Olivia an advent storybook calendar.  It is awesome and is going to be a great tradition for our family.  Each day starting on December 1 has a small storybook to read together as a family and then the storybook can be hung on a tree.

The ornament for today was the "Holy Land.".....which brings me to my other topic:  My Holy Land.  (fyi, I am in no way equating anything with THE Holy Land....that just isn't possible.  Shane has been, I am super jealous....moving on now).  This past week, I was able to travel to my special place of safety and security and was surrounded by people I love and who love me.  It was a short trip, but I can't wait to go back in a couple of weeks for more of an extended stay.  So here it is:  Thanksgiving in Connecticut.

Trevor hated that he was missing school, so he spent the morning in pj's doing his workbook.  (I'll be reminding him of this when he is in high school)

Trevor was SO in tune with the turkey this year.  He checked on it all day (even coming in the house to check on it while he was playing).  

Requisite snuggles during the Macy's parade and jumping on the trampoline.  Strangely, there was no football game this year.  You are lacking boys.  Better step up your game for Christmas!

And THIS.  This is what made our super short trip complete with a super long drive worth it a million times over.  My grandmother holding Olivia.  I'd drive a thousand miles to be able to relive this moment.  

This moment was pretty awesome too.  

Connecticut. Family.  For me, it might as well be a religious experience.  

Sidebar:  Corey held Olivia too.  Both survived.  The end.