Thankful

My parents came down for Thanksgiving, and the best thing about it, aside from seeing them and stuff, was that Jack pretty much acted like he'd known them his entire life. He called them Nana and Baba, which is what their Irish grandchildren call them and we've encouraged it both for consistency and to distinguish them from his grandparents on Emily's side. He hugged them good night, they read stories together -- I came out into the living room and my Dad was reading "Thomas the Tank Engine - Thomas helps out" while Jack sat next to him in rapt attention. Dad's got a great reading voice, always did. Soothing. I pretty much just stood there watching for 5 minutes...I could have stayed longer.

Jack looked at pictures and pointed out Nana, Baba, and Aunt Robin, who will be here early in the New Year. In the morning he asked where Nana and Baba were. Two days after they'd gone, today, he said "Nana and Baba go home?" which we had explained to him the previous day.

At Thanksgiving Dinner, at Aunt Cathy's, there were about 18 people, and us, and Jack. And it was quite a change, seeing as in Colorado it was usually us and at most a guest or two - relatives, or a work friend. Certainly not that much family. And Jack was happy.

And even though we've got some stresses and worries and still haven't sold our house and are still trying to adapt fully to our new lives, Jack is happy. And we're thankful for that.