I’m munching on a piece of Kristin’s a-mazing apple pie (homemade crust, mmmm so good!) and listening to the dialogue of Aang and Katara regarding fire-bending and whatnot in the background. I feel wired for the next task—Christmas tree decorating—but I might be the only Tredway up for that at this point in the evening. Liv is crashed on the couch and Jeremy’s eating leftovers next to her. I think they’re on season two of Avatar.

Between making sweet potato souffle and corn casserole yesterday, Livia and I braved the freezing winds outdoors to find sticks for a gratitude tree—thanks, Leigh, for the idea! While Livia worked on another craft, I made leaves and marked them with names of beloved family members we are so grateful for. The tree became the centerpiece for a very Fiestaware Thanksgiving table. Fun!

I am also grateful today for my neighbor Heidi who willingly put her nurse skills to work this morning when I called for her help. Jeremy whacked the crud out of his forehead and produced a wound that bled all over the place before we could grab a towel. We’re talking majorly painful owie here. A little medicinal glue did the trick and stitches weren’t needed. I’m grateful the cut wasn’t more severe, but still—yowza.

Folks, a lot of us are intensely and, really, undeservedly blessed. Let this Thanksgiving Day be the starting point for a Christmas season that is filled to the brim with generosity.

Rock City has a firm place in my own personal memory lane. I visited Lookout Mountain many times as a kid because my folks attended Covenant College (aka the Castle in the Clouds) and my Uncle Steve and Aunt Cathy lived there. Rock City was one of those special spots you wanted to see, a unique mountaintop garden with twisting paths, rocks galore, gorgeous vistas and a cave full of fairyland treasures. Of course, I couldn’t wait to take Livia down memory lane with me on our recent trip.

First we hit the fairly new Starbucks across the street, and then we were off on the cobblestone trails.

Andrew and Liv crossed the swinging bridge ahead of me while I stayed behind to, uh, you know, take pictures. What I was really doing was ensuring I could cross at my own pace without Andrew rocking the bridge. Me = super mega pansy when it comes to heights. Knees-knocking, the whole ordeal. Before I began my sophomore year at Covenant, I used to dream about falling off the mountain. Nice, huh?

Livia, however, has no fear of heights and now knows how to make Mommy look like a crazy lady. All it takes is walking near the railing. Suffice to say, I asked Uncle Andrew to take her hand a lot.

I remember wondering, in all childish innocence, if Uncle Steve would make it through these rocks. It’s kinda refreshing to see something so politically incorrect. ;)

Oh, Rock City. It was good to see you again!

Fun = Your papa, your favorite cousin, and a swing. Good times, pure and simple.

Uncle Andrew’s been talking up the Tennessee Aquarium to Livia as long as I can remember, so it was pretty fun that we actually got to visit it. We met up with Andrew’s good friends Bo and Brynne, and their adorable daughters, much to Livia’s delight. She and three year old Maren hit it off and gave us some pretty cute photo opps.

The funniest moment of the morning came when we had the chance to feed stingrays. Liv, however, knows about the death of Steve Irwin—yes, we did share this macabre knowledge with her—and she shared it every time the word stingray was mentioned. But she watched carefully as Bo and Andrew laughed—with a slight hysteria in their voices—as they fed the rays bits of shrimp. I knew this was the one chance I’d have to touch and feed a stingray, so I did it too. Unnatural, that’s all I have to say.

Yesterday Livia and I hopped aboard a plane and landed in Wisconsin amidst 50 mile/hour winds, within mere hours of tornados touching down. It was an exciting landing. Livia shrieked with joy as I clutched the armrest and watched the plane tilt in ways that felt entirely uncomfortable to my being. Praise Jesus, we landed just fine and the pilot earned applause from several relieved passengers.

Here’s Liv in the Milwaukee airport, looking remarkably like Fuzzy, who hitched a ride in her backpack.

Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.

My brother Andrew picked us up in Nashville, again, in the middle of crazy thunderstorms. We drove down to Chattanooga wondering what kind of weather we would encounter on the way. Meanwhile, Jenny, Andrew’s girlfriend, encountered tornadic clouds in a grocery store parking lot and texted us a photo of the skies. She quickly went back home, grabbed a friend and her cell phone and sat in the stairwell of her apartment building. Forget Nebraska being the land of tornados… There was far more unseemingly weather waiting for us here!

Despite the storms that swept the country yesterday, Livia and I had a great day of traveling and we’re enjoying the beauty of the south. Check out those fall colors. More adventures to come.

My niece Madeleine was a sight to behold at her four-year-old birthday party last weekend. She was wearing PINK! with FAIRY WINGS! and a TUTU! because she was now four. FOUR! Around the playground she flew as though the sun’s bright rays that day were energizing her for all the tasks a birthday girl must accomplish. She ate lunch and yummy mommy-made butterfly cake. She opened a multitude of awesome presents. She played games. She was the star of the day.

Happy birthday, Madeleine! Aunt Becca gets such a kick out of you.

Happy 40th birthday to the love of my life!

Chicken-apple sausage, corn on the cob, green salad and garlic bread. This might just be the perfect dinner to eat in Nebraska in August. Mmmm. We paired it, not with a fine wine, but with Ponyo, which is a totally delightful family film.

Everybody’s favorite honorary aunt, Joie/Jojo/Jojg!