Survival of the Fittest...ummmm I mean Happy Thanksgiving!

So. Thanksgiving. What a difference a year makes, is all I can say. Here's a glimpse of what my table looked like last year, around 3pm:

This is what my table looks like now (2:33 pm):

This is our family picture last year, before the feast commenced:

Annnnnnd here's what we've got going on right now:

My cranky, sicky 2-year old son, who refuses to move off of the couch. Or the dog. 

Running on 2 hours of broken sleep, since Little Miss kept waking up coughing and wanting to nurse. Don't I look ravishing? Gentlemen, restrain yourselves. 

Really, I have no one but myself to blame. I should have know that my overly ambitious plans of cooking a small (by my standards), quiet dinner for my family wouldn't pan out. I keep forgetting that a holiday at the Tenney house isn't complete unless at least one person is completely and utterly miserable from either a) a nasty cold, b) a sinus infection, c) the flu, or d) a soul-crushing stomach bug. Right now, 3 out of the 4 members of our house have come down with Option A. Guess who's the only lucky one who didn't get sick? Miracle of miracles, c'est moi. Not for long, I'm sure, but I'm enjoying it while I can. Anyway.

Despite my failure to create the perfect Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving (hey, at this point I'll consider it a victory if I remember to take the turkey out of the oven), I thought I would link up with the ladies at Fine Linen and Purple to do a thankful post. I didn't participate in the 28 days of Thankfulness, or whatever you crazy kids are calling it on Facebook this year, so consider this my makeup attempt.

1. I'm thankful that my children are sick with a cold. Sound odd? I'm thankful because their discomfort is just that-discomfort. They aren't suffering from life-threatening illnesses, and we live in a part of the world where I can purchase children's Tylenol and Vicks VapoRub at any grocery store or drugstore. Bada bing, bada boom. They're on the road to recovery.

2. I'm thankful for our families. Without the very generous support of my parents and in-laws these past two years, Will's dream of finishing up his Bachelor's degree and becoming an officer in the Army would have remained a dream. I don't know what I would have done without the help of my brother, sister in-law, my mom, my mother in-law, and my aunt after Alessandra was born and Will was gone for a month at LDAC.

3. I'm thankful for our Catholic faith, which has brought my family joy and peace beyond measure.

4. I'm thankful for all of our friends, new and old, who bring happiness and laughter to our lives. I don't want to live in a world where I can't tell the story of my friend Chrissy setting her hair on fire at our Thanksgiving in Germany a few years ago. I can't imagine how my life would have turned out if I hadn't met my best friend Rachel at the age of 5, when her family moved on to our street.

5. I am thankful for wine. This does not require an explanation.

6. I am thankful for the Army. The Army gave my husband his career, it gave us financial stability, the opportunity to live overseas and travel all over Europe, and we've met some of the most incredible people who have become lifelong friends.

7. I am thankful for my beautiful children. Tony and Alessandra, you two are my life. Even when you go on a sleep strike (cough cough principessa) or throw epic tantrums (cough cough RigaTony), there is nothing in the world that compares to holding my precious babies in my arms, and knowing the true meaning of unconditional love. I am blessed, and honored to be your mother.

8. Last but certainly not least, I am thankful for Will. The boy who captured my heart all the way back in high school, the guy who willingly entered into a 3-year, long-distance relationship with me (and when I say "long distance," I mean from Germany to Appleton, WI), and the man who loved me enough to make the extremely courageous decision to spend the rest of his life with me. I am not an easy person to be married to. I can not stress that enough, but this man of mine...he takes it all in stride. Thank you Will, for putting up with me for all these years. You are the cheese to my macaroni. ;)

The happiest of Thanksgivings to everyone.