Grateful For ….

We are at my parents’ home for Thanksgiving. My parents however, are not here. The circumference of the earth is approximately 25,000 miles so they are approximately 12,500 miles away, in Nakon Phanon, Thailand.

The kids were pretty disappointed, I admit. The girl said, “Who’s going to cook?” Well….

We decided that we didn’t really need to have my parents to actually be at their house when we celebrate Thanksgiving – at their house. My brother just underwent surgery yesterday so that was a good enough excuse to come and take over my mother’s kitchen and cook Thanksgiving dinner for him and his girlfriend.

So I packed all of Thanksgiving fixes, the kids, the husband, the cat and the dog and off we went.

Though I am somewhat familiar with my mother’s kitchen, I had to so some searching to find everything I needed. The challenging part now is to put everything back where they belong so she can find them when she returns. Amen!

I attempted to document the cooking while I went but found it hard to be a one woman show so therefore I have a bunch of photos out of sequence and without context. But such is life.

I do have some of the kids who decided to help with the mac n cheese after they (finally) got out of bed.

They grounded the bread sticks into crumbs and sprinkled them over the mac and cheese.

They ate some while they were at it.

Then they crumbled and sprinkled bacon over the top of the bread crumbs.

Looking pretty yummy.

Thanks for the help kids.

As much planning as I do to for Thanksgiving dinner, I find that there are just some things that are out of my control.

- I forgot to pack eggs. The husband drove 20 miles to get eggs this morning. Thanksgiving is saved.
- I turned on the oven in the little apartment adjacent to the house to for more oven space and a rank smell proceeded to fill both living areas. I thought there was a mouse in the oven. As it turns out, there wasn’t. The oven was turned off and the house was aired out but the source of the smell is still unidentified. Fills me with a little bit of unease it does…
- I should never check email on Thanksgiving day while I’m trying to make stuffing. Nuff said.
- All the males in the family are asleep again. And no turkey has been consumed yet.
- The girl is doing dishes as I type. She said, “This is a small sink.” I reminded her that she used to get bathed in that same sink.

See? It’s the perfect size.

- I am listening to Robbie Seay, JJ Heller, and Phil Wickham as I cook. The songs remind me I have so much to be grateful for.

The mac and cheese is in the oven so perhaps it’s time for a glass of wine.

Have a magnificent and restful Thanksgiving to everyone out there in blogland.

November 24, Giving Thanks For Today

I am counting my blessings today.

I wish all of you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

School Daze – Giving Thanks #2

I am guilty of being a very proud mom. I think my girl is intelligent, athletic, beautiful and all of her friends are darlings. They never, ever will do anything to embarrass their parents, their school or their communities.

Humor me ok?

Here is a random list of what’s happenin’ in school.

- Yoga pants were just abolished – prohibited – outlawed in school last week. I say, good for them. Giving thanks for rules in school.
- The boy had his first Senior Skip Day last week and asked me if he could participate. I said yes. I had to go to school to drop off some paperwork to his guidance counselor who asked me if the boy was alright since he wasn’t in school. I admitted to him that I let him stay home. Giving thanks for breaking the rules but only with parental permission.
- There was a fight in school yesterday. These things always make my stomach turn. The boy said the Safety Advocate (code name for school bouncer) had to break it up and that a girl was hurt quite badly. Giving thanks for the Safety Advocate.
- The traffic pattern in the mornings will be changing so when the kids miss the bus, there may be a chance that I actually get them to school in time. Giving thanks for the Principal for making the right decision!

Finally, no matter how much high school days hurt me, I know that I will miss them when they’re gone.

Grateful for perspective this morning.

My Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition

I love Thanksgiving and one of the things we do every year is travel way up north to my parents’ home for Thanksgiving dinner. The girl will help cook the meal and watching my mother and my daughter cook together is my favorite Thanksgiving tradition.

I like watching her grow up in the same environment year after year.

And it doesn’t hurt to have her learn how to cook either.

You may be wondering what the boy is doing while the girl is cooking.

He was eyeing some chicken hearts on a stick. We arrived just in time for a yummy lunch of organs. Of course we had to offer some to the boy who was dubious to say the least.

For the record, organ meat is high is protein but also high in fat and uric acid. Yum . . .I should have brought the deer jerky home, now that’s a meal.

For those of you who are thoroughly grossed out right now, I offer this traditional turkey. There were no chicken hearts for Thanksgiving dinner.