Five for Friday (with thanks!)

1. Happy day-after Thanksgiving! If you celebrate, I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday. We did, and hosted Jay's family for the first time! Today we are going to my parents' house and it will be just as fun as yesterday. Beck has a very brightly colored turkey dress, and walked around all day yesterday with "I have my turkey dress on!" so we decided she is wearing it again today. Why mess with a good thing, right? 
2. Of course, after too much food and stimulation and not enough sleep Beck woke up about an hour ago whiny and needy and leg-clinging and refusing breakfast. Still, though, I am the most thankful for her. She is brilliant and wild and opinionated and loving and sassy and I just can't get enough of her. We clash on a lot of things, and that will only increase as she tests independence and rules, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love her so much. 
3. There would be no Beck without a Jay, and he supports me and her in ways that are thorough and overarching. I'm able to be home some with Beck because of him, able to write, and able to test recipes on a very honest but adventurous palate week after week. We have a ton of fun together, and he just called from the kitchen "if you need any hilarious quotes from your adorable husband let me know!" in between convincing Beck that her two options for forks are plenty and she will be fine. Dad game is strong with that one. 
4. This year in particular, I'm thankful for change, even when it is hard. Jay and I have whittled away a few things that aren't good for us this year, and it's tough but liberating. We are adding on to our house, which is tough and terrifying. I started a new job, which is challenging my therapy skills and schedule-building abilities, and it is great. I think that a little nudge forward to bigger+better+more fulfilling is as important as rest and recuperation, and we are on an upswing of change and improvement right now, which I'm loving. 
5. Five items isn't nearly enough to talk about a life that is so chock full of things to be grateful for. But, in no particular order, here are a few more: My parents, my sisters, my in-laws, the fact that my car has heated seats, toddler pigtails, watching Beck try to remember the world "deodorant," yoga, treadmills, happy hours with toddlers running everywhere, pinot gris, fancy restaurants, divey restaurants, my camera, Instagram, online shopping, books that aren't for work, books that ARE for work, diet cancer water cola, and a toddler that sleeps 12 hours at night. 

And you. For reading. The end.