Thankful.

Thanksgiving sneaks up on us every year, and then right behind it the looming shadow of the rest of the holiday season and travel and presents and the juggling of family and friends and Christmas cards and social obligations and late night amazon shopping. For that reason, we've kind of made it a custom to cut out for a quick just-us getaway before the madness hits, feasting on takeout and reveling in hot tubs and late season deer hunting. It's our own little Turkey Day tradition.

This year, Thanksgiving was more an ambush than a stealth attack, and we simply weren't ready. We had no plans. We worked late Wednesday.

Thank goodness for Sally. On Thanksgiving, Seth got up early to sit in a ground blind and the kids and I did a chilly and hilarious neighborhood Turkey Trot

followed by a quick cooking session (including the turkey fryer), naptime, and a blissful afternoon of Hilderbrand "friendsgiving" fabulousness.

(Complete with lawn darts, fire pits, gingerbread houses, and too much pie.)

Our West Point neighbors and BFFs are the gift that keeps on giving, and we are forever grateful.

Friday turned out to be a hunting day for overworked Seth too, which the kids and I did not begrudge and used to catch up with Steph, Jack, Mikey, and new baby Joel at Pullen Park in Raleigh.

It's been on our list for a long time, and is as terrific as advertised, complete with a train and a carousel.

Saturday we headed for the hills- literally- since I can't possibly let a 4-day weekend go without an adventure. We hauled all the way out to Asheville for a trip to the Winter Lights at the Arboretum, which turned out to be my absolute favorite Christmas thing we've ever done,

and not just because they had beer, wine, hot cocoa, and s'mores. Plus 3 acres of stupendous lights.

(But really, is there anything better?)

Except maybe the hotel pool, if you're 2 and 4?

We also finally made it to the Biltmore. Which deserves another trip, since ours was cut short by overdue naptime, but which is far more vast and grandiose than we had imagined.

The Christmas decorations were bonus,

although they did not prevent temper tantrums.

We took some great photos of the week on our (quick) Bucket List Trip, among these which were (only) one decent family shot,

one kind of awesome kid shot,

two which show just how great iPhone X portrait mode is (pardon Ford's unfortunate facial injury and the late afternoon snack bar haul Seth couldn't resist),

and one hilarious capture of a pantsless Ford, right out in front of the Biltmore, having peed his pants but also having refused to be changed. Just half naked on a park bench, because who needs dignity when you can throw a real fit? (Certainly not Handsome Ford.)

At the end of November, which also encompasses Seth's Alive Day (his 6th, which this year involved some devastating losses for his old team, so we're not feeling very celebratory but more reflective), we have much to be thankful for. We never forget that, and we endeavor to laugh more, hug harder, and- sure- raise one for those of us who are not so lucky. We hope you do the same.