Happy Thanksgiving!

I love vacations, and I love Thanksgiving, and I love mountains, so this has been a pretty awesome week. Two thanksgiving dinners (better late than never) with one more to look forward to tomorrow, a two day work week, and Gemma's second birthday (wow, all two's, too!)

So we were in CingQing Farm area, sort of in the middle of Taiwan, and it was so beautiful. Chris and I were sort of debating whether or not to go still on Monday night, and thankfully decided it was worth the hassle of packing and riding buses. It was the perfect getaway. No pictures here; there are lots on facebook and our flicker. If you love me go look, because they are so great. My favorite parts: the sheep farm because Gemma loved the sheep, walking down the mountain from the sheep farm to our hotel; Gemma fell asleep so Chris and I had some quality hangout time enjoying the scenery. The fresh air was lovely, too. Our hotel was amazing; the desk guy was super friendly, and drove us up to the farm in the morning and then we walked back down. There was lots of space to play and walk; Gemma walked a million miles it seems. And slept like it, too.

So after all the hype about making people guess, I sort of forgot to post the big results...It's a boy! Of course we are thrilled, more so because we have another healthy baby on the way. As Chris said, we'd be happy either way. The belly seems to be growing at an alarming rate; I get down on the floor and struggle to get back up, fitting less clothes, bumping more things. And the next month is going to fly by. Christmas concert next Friday and the Friday after that, then a week of school until 2 weeks of holidays :D. Then three more weeks of school and another week off. Then it will be into February and only another month until the newest member of Team McKenzie makes his appearence. Wowsers.

I don't seem to be getting much break from event planning. Now that the Pearl Thanksgiving party is over, it is Gem's b-day. We are having cake and presents with our friends tomorrow after dinner, and then a kids party Monday after school. I was out tonight buying wrapping paper, ice cream cones, paper cups, and other random items in preparation, and my list of things to do is as long as my arm. Such is my life, it seems, a huge to do list haunting me day in and day out. But I am thankful for great events to plan, for nice vacations to get away, and for good friends who make it all possible and worthwhile. Off to bed now, busy day tomorrow!