giving thanks in the sun

i've never worn a swimming suit over thanksgiving break. ever. but over the last two thanksgivings, i haven't shown much leg, either. this being the first thanksgiving i've eaten with my family in 3 years, something had to be different. on tuesday, claire, sophie, henry, steve (the best home teacher ever) and i all drove south of the snow, wind, and rain and into palm trees and pruneville: peoria, az. i got to spend the week with two of my baby cousins: raquel (3) and natalia (1) (fondly known as "batalia"). waking up to a peach sherbet-colored sky every morning and hitting the streets on the fairway for my run at 8am with no one in sight (snow birds like to sleep late, i guess), was absolute bliss! later in the mornings, baby batalia and i would go out for a baby stroll, and we'd come home to lovely french toast and homemade orange juice. jealous? i'd always said that i hate extreme temperature places and could never live in them, but here among the adobe, mild november sun, last chance, palm trees, outdoor pools and the best mexican food you've ever had, i may be changing my mind.