I am a giant stressball.

Zach and I leave to go out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday this week and I feel like I’ve been running around like a mad woman.  It’s been a very interesting experience prepping for this trip.  Going somewhere you’ve never been before is always tricky.  I can honestly say that the majority of our week was spent picking up random necessities.  Everything from Military grade insect repellent to vaccination tablets.  Many, many trips to Cabella’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, the pharmacy, and the like.

Mark and Jeanene are going on this adventure with us and we spent Family Night on Monday planning our tentative schedule.  We had dinner at Tona and saw THOR at the Megaplex in O-Town.

Jeanene and I also hit up City Creek to get a few more essentials this week.  Mostly make-up, to be honest…but you can never be too prepared.

Along with the prep for the trip I have been pretty overwhelmed with work stuff.  Not only do I have my regular work projects but my freelance work AND Christmas Card Land.  I had to complete 18+ Christmas cards this week before we were to leave.  I know there were more than 18, but I stopped keeping track at that point.  Although it has added to the chaos, I am so lucky to be busy!  I am so grateful to my family, friends, and other clients that support me.

Wednesday afternoon I needed a breather – mostly a break from my computer – and decided to go on a long run.  I ran my very first 10-miler!  I finally feel ready for the Half that I have been working towards!  I actually feel like I am getting a hang of this whole running thing…although I still don’t get that “Runner’s High” that everyone talks about.  All I want to do when I get done is eat pumpkin cookies…so…

Friday we had our date night.  We went to Trio for dinner and saw a very interesting film at the Broadway Theater.  Like usual, we stopped at a gas station to stock up on treats for the flick.  Since when do Mavericks sell GIANT Reese’s Cups?!

Saturday was our annual Henderson Turkey Shoot!  The whole crew met at Mark and Jeanene’s for dinner before the festivities.  Every year at the Hendo Turkey Shoot the grandkidlets get their Christmas Pajamas so they can wear them on Christmas Eve.  Since Zach, Mark, Jeanene, and I will be gone over Thanksgiving we had the event ahead of schedule this year.

All the kids geared up with their marshmallow shooters and waited for the Turkey to show up.

Since it had snowed earlier that day, Mark decided he didn’t want the kids to freeze out in the back yard.  So he set it up so the kids could shoot the Turkey out the kitchen windows.

As usual, my husband is such a good sport.  He played Turkey and sweat his guts out in that furry suit while dodging mini marshmallows.

You’d think that these kids would be terrified of Turkey…but the majority of them LOVED him.  The younger children aren’t even phased by the strange animals and other creatures that show up to Henderson Family functions.

Then each child had to sit on Turkey’s lap [poor, sweaty Zach] and tell Turkey what they were grateful for.  Then the grandkids made Mimi and Papa do the same.

Turkey time was nearly over…but I did get a little one-on-one time with him as well.  Yes…in case you haven’t noticed, Jeanene and I wore IDENTICAL outfits to the party!  Great minds think alike, I guess?

After Turkey left to go back to his farm [aka shower because he was soaking wet with turkey sweat] the kids all put on their pajamas for a photo op with Mimi and Papa.

We are so sad we are going to miss Thanksgiving again this year [this makes our 5th Thanksgiving away from our families].  We loved being with the Hendersons to celebrate our version of the holiday!  Henderson family parties are really unique, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

I was also really grateful to spend Sunday afternoon with my family eating Sunday dinner at my aunt’s house.  I haven’t seen my family in almost three weeks for our weekly Sunday dinner and it was perfect to be able to spend time with them before we leave.

Here’s to celebrating Thanksgiving 9,787 miles away from home this year!  I’ll be grateful if we don’t contract Malaria or get attacked by a wild animal, to be honest.