November 25

I have to say first, that I loved the light (when the sun was actually out) that came through the floor-to-ceiling windows in our room. It was open, airy and the view was incredible. But I wasn't so thrilled when I realized Hart and I would be sleeping on a one-butt bed situated right next to the kids' bunk beds. Oh, can we say yeah, love that high-flying kite wallpaper.

I'm grateful that tonight, I will find myself back in my own king-sized bed once more. That's the hallmark of a great vacation, right? When you appreciate the life you left behind a little more?

November 24

SUN!!!! I'm grateful for SUN!!!! It was short and punctuated with a pretty stiff wind, but it was most definitely there and we enjoyed every last minute of it.

November 23

Still raining. And raining. And raining some more.

And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down
In rushing, rising riv'lets,
'til the river crept out of it's bed
And crept right into Piglet's!

The house seems smaller. The family seems bigger.

I'm grateful for trips out and about and money from Dad for kid entertainment. I was also going to be grateful that those same kids FINALLY picked out a toy from the gift shop in the Oregon Coast Aquarium but I think that poor harried salesclerk beat me to it.

November 22

We bucked tradition a bit this year and held the Sardine Family Thanksgiving a day early, figuring on the many leftovers that would need to be eaten up before all of us left Saturday. I'm grateful Dad pushed us all to get together this year at the coast and though I truly wish that Jo and her family had been able to make it and we missed them considerably, I don't know how we would have all fit.

November 21

It's raining a lot. In fact, it's raining horizontally. We're trapped in the house. All eleven of us.

I'm grateful for lots of red wine and chocolate brownies.

November 20

I'm grateful we finally made it to the Beachcomber today, where we'll spend the rest of our fabulous vacationing week. Oh, what a lovely cabin! And oh, what a lovely view!

November 19

I must have been in the line belonging to the grumpy checkout person at Safeway, because when she asked if I had a card, and I said no, she just gave me the total to my bill and waited for me to hand over the money. As I was waiting for my sister to finish her shopping, she asked me, "Did you get the card? It saved us $12."

I'm grateful Anna clued me in, because her non-grumpy checkout person happily gave me my own free card and handed back $20.42 in cash. I'm sure we'll find something to spend it on this week!