Thanksgiving with the Bileks.

Getting close to a month without a post, so I guess it's time for an update. When we last checked in with the Bileks, Lauren had just gotten her new big girl bed...

The following week, Grandma and Grandpa Bilek arrived to help us celebrate Thanksgiving. And see their granddaughter, of course! Lauren was so excited to see them. So excited that she decided to get up at 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30, and on and on and on, just about the entire time they were here. Each time she'd get up, turn on her bedroom light, and open the bedroom door. Sometimes we'd hear, "Grandma B! Grandpa B!" Cute, but not really that cute when it's 4 in the morning. By the end of their stay, she was doing better, and now she's completely adjusted to the new bed. It really wasn't that bad in the end.

Since the Bileks were in town, that meant I was hosting my first Thanksgiving. I decided to use my own recipe (found on the internet) instead of one from either family, in an attempt to start my own traditions. Overall, I think it all turned out pretty well.


After lots of yummy dinner, I planned my day after Thanksgiving shopping. I just started shopping on Black Friday a couple years ago, and will only venture out for really good deals on something I already need. This year, it was a new flat-screen monitor for our home computer. I let the crazy crowds pass and got to Staples an hour after they opened. No lines, plenty of my monitor in stock, and I was out in 5 minutes. Then on to Target for some Santa shopping. I have to say, Lauren's going to make out this year. Hopefully she won't remember that next year when she doesn't get as much since she has to share with a little brother.

That evening, we decorated our Christmas tree. This was pretty much a first for Lauren. The last couple of years we've done it while she's sleeping since we didn't think she'd be much help. This year she was such a big helper. I got the ornaments organized on the dining room table, and she'd run them over to Chris to actually hang on the tree. I'm not exaggerating when I say she ran.


Other than that, it was a pretty low-key visit. There's not as much to do in Columbus in the winter, so we just spent a lot of quality family time together. Oh, and we started Lauren on the computer. It never hurts to learn how to type early.