Paul and I had the opportunity to spend four and a half days back in the East Bay during our Thanksgiving vacation. In that relatively short amount of time we were able to see a lot of people and go several places. Some of the more memorable highlights include, eating delicious smoked turkey at Paul's mom's house on Thanksgiving, seeing Beowulf (that movie was hilariously ridiculous) from the second row in the theater (why do they put seats that close?) with Andre, Tiffany, and Steve and enjoying some Krispe Creme donuts afterward, and holding Paul's cousin Brian's 3 week old baby, Isabelle. We are very grateful to have been able to stay at my parents' house too, where we could sleep in, take a shower without having the water getting cold after ten minutes, and always be able to count on having a good breakfast, lunch, or dinner provided. We had so much fun spending time with family and friends and it was a refreshing break from our regular day-to-day routine. We are definitely glad to be back home in Petaluma again, but we are looking forward to spending time with even more family members and friends in just a few short weeks!

We spent the afternoon in Sonoma yesterday and even though it's only about a twenty minute drive away from our house, it felt like a mini-vacation. I wish these pictures could fully capture how beautiful that town is when autumn hits it. I realized yesterday that I really enjoy this season because the weather is still pleasant (in the seventies most days), every grassy hillside and meadow is green, the sun is lower in the sky, and the sky is sprayed with thin and wispy clouds that never obscure the sun (stratus clouds or cirrus, maybe?). Also, it's very entertaining to watch our cat chase and stomp leaves as they fall to the ground. Spring is still better when everything is fresh and clean and new. But it wouldn't be so fresh and clean and new without fall and winter putting it all to sleep. That's another thing I like about fall, it kind of lulls you gently into the deep sleep of winter. If only we could join the bears and slumber away 'till April.

Just as another side note, as mentioned in a previous blog, Paul had the opportunity to lead a song in church last Sunday. It was funny though, because several people came up to Paul afterward asking him if he had really written that wonderful song. As you can see, the prelude was written by Bach and the offertory was apparently written by Paul. (Not really though!) Just click on the picture and you should be able to spot the error.

Today marks our two-year wedding anniversary! I thought it would be appropriate to post some of our wedding pictures to commemorate the occasion.

I don't know why it's not grouping the pictures on the blog in the way that I arranged them, but whatever. I've tried for a half an hour and I'm giving up. Plus we are going out to Dempsey's with a bunch of people from church and we're supposed to be there at 8:30 and it's now 8:26.

So, to our family and friends - thanks for coming to our wedding and showing us your support. We are very thankful and know that our marriage would very likely not exist (or at least would look very different) if it were not for your support, encouragement, guidance, and example.