So very thankful...

On our drive to and from Portland last week for Thanksgiving, Bob and I had a lot of time to reflect on what we are thankful for this year. Despite a handful of challenges and tough moments, 2012 was a great year and we have plenty to be thankful for!

1. Addison (of course) - she is the light of our lives and we are so blessed that she is ours. She is an amazing baby (knock on wood!) and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for our family. We love you sweet girl!

2. Our new house - we love it and it will always be the most special place we ever live. (Honestly, not sure we will ever leave!) Not only was it our first house, it is the place we brought our daughter home and began the story of our family.

3. Each other - I am so very lucky to be married to my best friend. We have traveled the world together and run races side by side, but I am thrilled to be starting our biggest adventure yet... raising a family and being called "mom" and "dad" (WILD!)

4. Our pup - Even though Kenai has taken a bit of a backseat lately, he will always be top dog. While he may have a few bad habits, overall, he is a GREAT pup (especially for an 18 month old!) He loves Addison so much. He whines or comes to find us when she is crying and always wants to help her with tummy time. I cannot wait to see the two of them in the years to come :) Get ready Kenai, you better rest up!

5. Being in the Northwest - The saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" could not be more true. After our 11 year break from the NW we are so glad to be home. Every time we drive into downtown Seattle, over the water, with the mountains in the distance, we realize how blessed we are to be "home" for the first time in a long time.

6. Our families - we are so lucky to be surrounded by the most supportive, loving families. Having a c-section meant a longer recovery, but thanks to our families, we were able to have someone here for the entire 6 week recovery. "Baby Addison" as she was so sweetly named by her cousins in Portland is lucky to be surrounded by so many loving grandparents, great grandparents (she has a ton!), aunts, uncles and cousins.

7. Modern medicine - after his surgery in February we called my dad "daddy 2.0." He is new and improved and we are so thankful to have another 30+ years of a healthy heart. The little girls (who aren't so little anymore!) said that "Daddy is having heart surgery because his heart is filled with so much love, he wore out his valves" -- could not be more true! Love you daddoo :)

8. And for all the little things we often take for granted... warm fires; long walks around Green Lake; sunny, crisp fall days; lazy mornings; Addison smiles; not having to fly during the holidays (boy does that feel good!); Addison cuddles; Kenai cuddles; a nice glass of wine (loving this again!); my uber-long maternity leave; CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS (that post is coming soon!) and soooo many other things that I know I am forgetting ;)

And now a bit of photo evidence from our trip to Portland...

Kate, Jack and Johnny with "Baby Addison"

Kate LOVING up Addison :)

LOVING Aunt Catherine and her crazy faces/sounds :)

Elliot LOVES Kenai (as do Paige and Owen).
The kids have had some run-ins with mean dogs so
all three of them loving Kenai makes me sooo very happy!

Rhiana with the two littlest Kehrlis! Two months apart to the day :)

The Saturday after Turkey Day we took a big group outing to the Oregon Zoo to check out Zoo Lights! I have always wanted to go to the one at Point Defiance in Tacoma so was thrilled with this outing. It was AMAZING! The amount of time and energy that must go into the entire display is unreal. We decided to hit up the train first and foremost - it was as much fun for the adults as it was for the kids! So cool :)

Best seat in the house! Skipping strollers was a BRILLIANT idea :)

 

Three generations of John Casper Kehrli (III, IV and V!)

Kate loves unicorns!

Semi-group shot on the train. The Kehrli family took up FIVE rows on the train :)
We don't mess around.

So fun to see the joy in kids at Christmas! Thanks for putting up with all the little kids
and being such a good example for them, Paige!

Uncle Bob is a fan favorite (at least for Kate and Owen!) Kate remembered how much she loves
spending time with Uncle Bob and would not leave his side!

Addison loved Zoo Lights... she didn't see ANY of the lights, but she took a nice long nap on me :)

We had a great weekend in Portland! We almost made a trade with Kate... she offered ALL of her dolls in exchange for Baby Addison and Baby Patrice. She had it ALL planned out and even knew what she was going to feed them... "baby sauce" from the store. Sorry Kate, we love this little peanut too much for that trade! Maybe in 13 years ;)