Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

And all through the neighborhood, Christmas lights were already up.  There's a chill in the air that says it's FINALLY not going to be hot anymore, we can start wearing our warm winter scarfs instead of our summer fashion scarfs.   

My cranberry relish is in the refrigerator, ready for tomorrow.  (recipe)

I epically failed at the whole blogging every day in November thing.  I had to draw a line in the sand between staying up staring at a computer screen until 4:00am and staring at a computer screen until 4:30am last Friday night.  I had hit a wall so I gave myself a free pass (and a few extra days off from writing).

This is what we've been up to this week…

-Dan unearthed some home-videos from his childhood, one in particular of his siblings proudly presenting the Nativity story… hilarity and beauty and nostalgia enjoyed all in one.  This was the first time I'd seen video footage of little Daniel in all his pre-pubescent Danielness.  I marveled at the uncanny sameness I found in this midst of this grainy footage, to the man that I share a closet with.

-We had pre-Thanksgiving with my in-laws, wherein EVERY ONE of the Phoenix branches of Dan's family tree was able to give thanks and break bread together, without having to leave to be somewhere else halfway through the gathering.   We ate delicious feast and sang Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (which I still haven't learned all the words to even though they sing it in full-theatrical rendition every holiday gathering).   It was glorious and I hope my sister-in-law plans to host this every year.  Turkey twice in one week, yes please.

I missed out on pie this day to go shoot my 16th official photo shoot of this Christmas Card season, and what marked three weeks with the new camera.  "Slammed" would be an understatement.

Slammed with excitement.  My body aches and my eyes burn and my mind spins, constantly -- all the time, but in a way that makes me rejoice and be glad for this new phase of my life.  I never knew I always wanted to photograph people for a living until I reinvented myself and started doing it.  Insert encouraging cliche about dreaming and achieving here.

-I had a dream that I named my photography business "Jolly Griffin Photography" and it was a smashing success. Get it? Jolly sounds like Julie? but it has a jovial ring to it?  When I woke up and shared, Dan just looked at me and said: "No."   Still reluctant to name it anything (or even call it a business, and myself a professional), I have been secretly dreaming up business names.  I don't think Jolly is the one, but it was a funny dream nonetheless.

-We celebrated Daniel's 33rd birthday.  I researched buying him a new XBox but it was the thought that counted.   I baked cookies (that's what he wanted) and we met up with family and friends at our neighborhood restaurant.  Dan felt loved, life was good.

-Penny said "Leslie" (my sister) for the first time on the very night her very aunt came home from college.  I patted myself on the back for capturing it on video.  It's on my Instagram feed if you missed it.  It might be the cutest video of all time.

-Although my pre-occupation with the photos that need editing and wanting to get home to view the gallery of our family photos that our photographer had just sent me and I couldn't open with my phone (more on that later… ah the self-loathing and meltdown that ensued when I saw myself in the pictures), Dan and I went to a movie.  Yes. A date.  Dinner and a movie, with no toddler.   We couldn't remember the last time we saw a movie just the two of us.  It was nice.  And my eyes will hopefully forgive me tomorrow for staring at a screen for two hours that wasn't productive to my new profession.

Tomorrow we will gather with my side of the family just like old times.  Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE gathering day.   I'm so excited.

Thanks for joining me in my ramble.  Many blessings to you all.



Tune in tomorrow and Friday for Tiny Prints special deal codes.  It's the time of year to put your family photos on cool things and use them as gifts…  tomorrow all-day you can get 50% off of iPhone cases, and Friday it's 30% off site wide + free shipping.  For reals.  If you're not ready to order your stuff, don't worry, there are going to be deals next week too.