We hosted Thanksgiving, which is truly our favorite thing. BUT we still have a ton of decorating to do for Christmas, so I think that is what we are going to be doing this weekend.
Erin! The Tolkien tweet took me out 😂 i read it in your voice since I know you have feelings about his works.
Thanksgiving ushered in 4 days straight of intense peopling and I'm freaking over it. I have therapy tomorrow and if there wasn't a fee for canceling this late I'd totally reschedule for later this week because I feel like a touched out nerve not even my therapist can help calm down at this point. And I still have to go to my MIL's birthday party this evening. Pray for me - even if it's much later than Sunday evening by the time eyeballs see this because I'm sure I'll still need them.
Thanksgiving went well! We hosted and had 38 people! Craziness, but good food and good to spend time with family we don’t see all that often. Then we had friends come in for the final Mizzou football game of the season and they stayed a couple of nights. I spoke at youth group this morning and we put up Christmas decor this afternoon. Finally, getting some actual down time watching the Chiefs. Busy and crazy but a good holiday weekend.
I lost 15 members of my family this weekend because of my decision to report my cousin to CPS. Her daughter reported to me that her father had head butted her and her brother on multiple occasions and that she felt afraid of him. It was hard and my family is very strained because of it. My parents are upset and uncomfortable because my dad and his sister are in an uncomfortable situation now. My grandmother is sad because 15 of my family members refuse to speak to me so I have to bow out of future family gatherings. I wouldn’t do it differently because the safety of children always comes first, but it sucks. My treasures this week tho are my chosen family, my 2 best friends came over on Saturday and we decorated my tree with my friends 1 year old. He toddled around my apartment with sticky chocolate hands and he snuggled with us and he almost broke several ornaments and it was perfect. We laughed and there were so many hugs and lots of reassurance that I did the right thing. That I always have a family with them. We also listened to lots of Christmas music and we watched the Santa Clause. If you also have a messy family and holidays are hard, I hope you also have a chosen family to hang with. Wishing you all love and light in this holiday season.
Oh friend! That's intense but I'm also so proud of you for doing what you felt was right. Sending you much love because I too have a messy family situation where CPS is involved and it ain't no joke.
I was meant to be creating the Christmas magic, but I’ve a cast on my broken ankle. I can’t see my husband doing anything magical, but I’m thinking that the next person who asks what they can do (I also have end stage cancer so we’re on a few prayer lists and meal trains) might have a shock! Oh well, it will be an exercise in letting control go!
I laughed so hard at the real estate 3 year old. 🤣 Sigh. We did our first in person TG since 2019 yesterday with just my husband's parents. It was lovely and only had one, brief tense conversational moment. I'm so proud of my husband. We are rebuilding bridges across theological, political, and ideological Divides and it is not easy. Today we are resting and hiking and playing with our dogs and prepping to host Friendsgiving tomorrow. A quiet, cozy weekend. ✨️ We were sent home from dinner with leftover stuffing, so we had stuffing waffles for brunch this morning - divine!
We take the leftover stuffing, add an egg (or 2 depending on how much stuffing you have) and a little water to get the texture a bit mushy and then cook in a waffle iron. It is so good, and pairs well with bacon or ham or sausage. You can eat it with syrup or gravy - both are good - or plain. A side of pie doesn't hurt either.
I try to take every available opportunity to be here on Friday mornings with everyone else since I don't get to that often. Long drive in yesterday, which was made longer by having to stop and deal with a work emergency (PSA: if you have concerns about your pet the week of a holiday weekend, do not wait until the holiday weekend to get in touch with a vet). I was informed upon arrival that my cousins would be coming in today for Thanksgiving, which would have been nice to know earlier, but I got to partake in my grandma's chicken enchilada casserole last night, which is better than turkey anyway. I get to spend my birthday on Sunday making the long drive home, but I don't suppose that's worse than any other way to spend my birthday.
Thanksgiving was way too many people and pretty mediocre food but went better than I expected and I didn’t have to host. 🤷🏼♀️Now sitting in post-holiday let-down as none of my children stayed and I’m facing Xmas decorating without their (usually reluctant) help. Trying to frame it as throw-back to pre-kid days when hubs & I did it together but really just missing having them around 😕. It’s the new normal, I’ll get used to it, but trying to acknowledge my feelings instead of burying them under leftover pie 😬 Maybe the football game will make me feel better? (No. It’s the Huskers. It will not😑)
Wonderful time at TG with just the husband and our three adult daughters. The girls played a few rounds of the children's game, Guess Who, but with subjective questions, like, "Would this person wear a MAGA hat to Thanksgiving?" or "Would they talk crap about someone who flew a pride flag at their house?" So silly! Our oldest daughter brought the Pioneer Woman's caramel pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust that tasted like the angel Gabriel had hand-delivered it from Heaven, and our 21-year-old made her famous popovers, possibly her best batch ever. We shoved carbs in our faces until we were all nearly sick, but it was all delicious. Turkey on the grill cooked a little faster than expected, but we just moved up mealtime by an hour and all was well. Bonus - the adorable French bulldog, Winston, won the dog show - our American bulldog, Millie, enjoyed the show, too. Hope you all had the best time with family and/or friends.
TG was lovely! My parents and my youngest brother are in town, and my mother in law and a single friend from church came over as well. I adore the logistics of feeding ten people hot food all at the same time, and we pulled it off!
PSA: today is National Pie For Breakfast Day. You know what you need to do.
Happy Post Game Thanksgiving! Where you aren’t a bit hungry but those leftovers are screaming your name.
I spent the day with friends who are family and we had a spread. My favorite dish was Cajun Mac and Cheese. Macaroni, tons of Velveeta, Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Chipotle sauce, Jalepenos, and Slap Yo Mama seasoning. I brought some home and trying to make it last until 2023.
My parents came back from a trip to Europe wi the Covid. Boo! They made it all this time without it, but the Viking Cruise was too much for them. They are doing well and all vaxxed and boostered and infused and I’m so thankful for that. All that lead to a siblings and fam TG and it was so fun! Hi light was all 20 of us trying to do the Griddy. Food hi light (and I hate to toot my own horn but 🎺🎺🎺) is the sour cream mini muffins I make each year. Y’all. It’s Paula Deen and she has been problematic I know, but these are the best possible things you will ever put in your mouth.
Thankful for this little community! Now off to extended family Dirty Santa gathering which is always suspect and raucous, but crazy fun.
Thanksgiving was just our little family. And it was what was needed. I got a nap, the boys went hunting, there were snuggles galore and binging The Rings of Power. No rush, no managing other family members’ emotions or expectations, just being. I read an excellent newsletter that reminded me that the reason TV exists is to sell us something, and that no one’s TG/Christmas is like the movies/TV and that’s the point. It made it a lot easier to let those dreams/ideals go.
We drove 4 hours to meet my parents at a VRBO for Thanksgiving, but my dad’s retina is detaching, so they were literally in Utah for less than 48 hours and they have to fly back to Indiana so my dad can have the surgery to re-attach his retina. Pls send retina re-attaching vibes to my dad so that he does not permanently lose vision in his right eye.
But also, if you’ve been around long enough to know about my friend McKenna, I need you to know that I got to hug and squeeze her last night and hear about her prosthetic leg and laugh with her and when they were leaving her mom hugged me and said, “It’s so good to hear you two laughing together again” and that healed my heart more than I can say.
We’re driving back to SLC two days early since my parents are leaving. I hope all your thanksgivings were great and that you got to eat your favorite dishes!
Oh Shelby, what a few days! My mum had the detached retina thing a few years ago and apart from the initial period of sitting up to recover, found recovery very simple. May that be the case for your dad xx
I caught a brief stomach bug Wednesday and was worried I was going to be done for the count (we hosted - just our moms in addition to my family of 4), but I puked and rallied (literally) and felt good Thursday. Thank you, Jesus, for Zofran.
My favorite part was the trifecta of dressing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce in one bite but I’ll be really honest that I’m looking THE MOST forward to our leftover remix meals - turkey flautas, turkey cranberry sliders, etc.
Although it looked very different than past years, Thanksgiving was still wonderful. My dad makes Cajun fried turkey breast every year and it's so amazing I could cry. I have a huge extended family and we always had 30+ people showing up for Thanksgiving every year at my parents house and it was absolutely wild. My parents moved to a small cabin 2 years ago so I've been hosting T-giving at my house for just mine and my husband's immediate family. It's an entirely different experience, and a lot less expensive.
When we had our big huge Thanksgiving dinners my favorite part was just listening in on conversations and hearing about what was going on in everyone's life. My second favorite part was gathering in the living room with my parents after everyone left to exchange the bits of gossip we heard from our guests. Is this terrible? If it is, so be it.
Our trip to Universal Orlando that was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian is starting on Sunday!!! I'm so excited!
I get to put up all of our Christmas decorations today and tomorrow! It's been so hard to hold out this year. So many of our neighbors have gotten a head start. Have y'all already put up your Christmas decor?
Okay, that's it! Can't wait to catch up in the comments! <3
Good luck at Universal! My personal must dos are Revenge of the Mummy, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, ET, and Escape from Gringotts. Enjoy a frozen butterbeer for me, I’ll be there in a couple weeks!
We hosted Thanksgiving, which is truly our favorite thing. BUT we still have a ton of decorating to do for Christmas, so I think that is what we are going to be doing this weekend.
Erin! The Tolkien tweet took me out 😂 i read it in your voice since I know you have feelings about his works.
Thanksgiving ushered in 4 days straight of intense peopling and I'm freaking over it. I have therapy tomorrow and if there wasn't a fee for canceling this late I'd totally reschedule for later this week because I feel like a touched out nerve not even my therapist can help calm down at this point. And I still have to go to my MIL's birthday party this evening. Pray for me - even if it's much later than Sunday evening by the time eyeballs see this because I'm sure I'll still need them.
Thanksgiving went well! We hosted and had 38 people! Craziness, but good food and good to spend time with family we don’t see all that often. Then we had friends come in for the final Mizzou football game of the season and they stayed a couple of nights. I spoke at youth group this morning and we put up Christmas decor this afternoon. Finally, getting some actual down time watching the Chiefs. Busy and crazy but a good holiday weekend.
I lost 15 members of my family this weekend because of my decision to report my cousin to CPS. Her daughter reported to me that her father had head butted her and her brother on multiple occasions and that she felt afraid of him. It was hard and my family is very strained because of it. My parents are upset and uncomfortable because my dad and his sister are in an uncomfortable situation now. My grandmother is sad because 15 of my family members refuse to speak to me so I have to bow out of future family gatherings. I wouldn’t do it differently because the safety of children always comes first, but it sucks. My treasures this week tho are my chosen family, my 2 best friends came over on Saturday and we decorated my tree with my friends 1 year old. He toddled around my apartment with sticky chocolate hands and he snuggled with us and he almost broke several ornaments and it was perfect. We laughed and there were so many hugs and lots of reassurance that I did the right thing. That I always have a family with them. We also listened to lots of Christmas music and we watched the Santa Clause. If you also have a messy family and holidays are hard, I hope you also have a chosen family to hang with. Wishing you all love and light in this holiday season.
Oh friend! That's intense but I'm also so proud of you for doing what you felt was right. Sending you much love because I too have a messy family situation where CPS is involved and it ain't no joke.
Thanks for the support 😊
I was meant to be creating the Christmas magic, but I’ve a cast on my broken ankle. I can’t see my husband doing anything magical, but I’m thinking that the next person who asks what they can do (I also have end stage cancer so we’re on a few prayer lists and meal trains) might have a shock! Oh well, it will be an exercise in letting control go!
I laughed so hard at the real estate 3 year old. 🤣 Sigh. We did our first in person TG since 2019 yesterday with just my husband's parents. It was lovely and only had one, brief tense conversational moment. I'm so proud of my husband. We are rebuilding bridges across theological, political, and ideological Divides and it is not easy. Today we are resting and hiking and playing with our dogs and prepping to host Friendsgiving tomorrow. A quiet, cozy weekend. ✨️ We were sent home from dinner with leftover stuffing, so we had stuffing waffles for brunch this morning - divine!
Way to go on building ridges. Stuffing waffles.... tell me more.
We take the leftover stuffing, add an egg (or 2 depending on how much stuffing you have) and a little water to get the texture a bit mushy and then cook in a waffle iron. It is so good, and pairs well with bacon or ham or sausage. You can eat it with syrup or gravy - both are good - or plain. A side of pie doesn't hurt either.
A-ha! I didn't add the egg or water. That's why I got a very large crouton. Thanks!
But I bet it was a tasty crouton!
I try to take every available opportunity to be here on Friday mornings with everyone else since I don't get to that often. Long drive in yesterday, which was made longer by having to stop and deal with a work emergency (PSA: if you have concerns about your pet the week of a holiday weekend, do not wait until the holiday weekend to get in touch with a vet). I was informed upon arrival that my cousins would be coming in today for Thanksgiving, which would have been nice to know earlier, but I got to partake in my grandma's chicken enchilada casserole last night, which is better than turkey anyway. I get to spend my birthday on Sunday making the long drive home, but I don't suppose that's worse than any other way to spend my birthday.
Oooh that casserole sounds yummy! I hope Cousin Thanksgiving is fun, and the drive home involves all your favorite audio. (Happy Birthday in advance!)
Thanksgiving was way too many people and pretty mediocre food but went better than I expected and I didn’t have to host. 🤷🏼♀️Now sitting in post-holiday let-down as none of my children stayed and I’m facing Xmas decorating without their (usually reluctant) help. Trying to frame it as throw-back to pre-kid days when hubs & I did it together but really just missing having them around 😕. It’s the new normal, I’ll get used to it, but trying to acknowledge my feelings instead of burying them under leftover pie 😬 Maybe the football game will make me feel better? (No. It’s the Huskers. It will not😑)
Well the game surprised me and was definitely a moment of joy 😏🏈🎉 Thanks for the encouragement ❤️
Hooray!
Karyn I hope you find some joy today, it is hard when traditions (even reluctant helper ones) change.
Sorry about the holiday bummer. 😔 I hope you can find a little magic today in the midst.
Wonderful time at TG with just the husband and our three adult daughters. The girls played a few rounds of the children's game, Guess Who, but with subjective questions, like, "Would this person wear a MAGA hat to Thanksgiving?" or "Would they talk crap about someone who flew a pride flag at their house?" So silly! Our oldest daughter brought the Pioneer Woman's caramel pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust that tasted like the angel Gabriel had hand-delivered it from Heaven, and our 21-year-old made her famous popovers, possibly her best batch ever. We shoved carbs in our faces until we were all nearly sick, but it was all delicious. Turkey on the grill cooked a little faster than expected, but we just moved up mealtime by an hour and all was well. Bonus - the adorable French bulldog, Winston, won the dog show - our American bulldog, Millie, enjoyed the show, too. Hope you all had the best time with family and/or friends.
Popovers are so good! I can’t make them well so whenever someone else does I’m first in line for them.
Sounds like a lovely day!
TG was lovely! My parents and my youngest brother are in town, and my mother in law and a single friend from church came over as well. I adore the logistics of feeding ten people hot food all at the same time, and we pulled it off!
PSA: today is National Pie For Breakfast Day. You know what you need to do.
Nothing better than pie and coffee. Bonus points for eating pie for breakfast in your jammies.
Happy Post Game Thanksgiving! Where you aren’t a bit hungry but those leftovers are screaming your name.
I spent the day with friends who are family and we had a spread. My favorite dish was Cajun Mac and Cheese. Macaroni, tons of Velveeta, Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Chipotle sauce, Jalepenos, and Slap Yo Mama seasoning. I brought some home and trying to make it last until 2023.
Make Black Friday bright folks! Online shop!
That sounds delicious!
My parents came back from a trip to Europe wi the Covid. Boo! They made it all this time without it, but the Viking Cruise was too much for them. They are doing well and all vaxxed and boostered and infused and I’m so thankful for that. All that lead to a siblings and fam TG and it was so fun! Hi light was all 20 of us trying to do the Griddy. Food hi light (and I hate to toot my own horn but 🎺🎺🎺) is the sour cream mini muffins I make each year. Y’all. It’s Paula Deen and she has been problematic I know, but these are the best possible things you will ever put in your mouth.
Thankful for this little community! Now off to extended family Dirty Santa gathering which is always suspect and raucous, but crazy fun.
Sounds like a fun and delicious weekend. Hope your folks heal up quickly!
Thanksgiving was just our little family. And it was what was needed. I got a nap, the boys went hunting, there were snuggles galore and binging The Rings of Power. No rush, no managing other family members’ emotions or expectations, just being. I read an excellent newsletter that reminded me that the reason TV exists is to sell us something, and that no one’s TG/Christmas is like the movies/TV and that’s the point. It made it a lot easier to let those dreams/ideals go.
Your snuggly, cozy TG sounds so lovely. 😍
Lil Swipes. I have had QUITE the holiday.
We drove 4 hours to meet my parents at a VRBO for Thanksgiving, but my dad’s retina is detaching, so they were literally in Utah for less than 48 hours and they have to fly back to Indiana so my dad can have the surgery to re-attach his retina. Pls send retina re-attaching vibes to my dad so that he does not permanently lose vision in his right eye.
But also, if you’ve been around long enough to know about my friend McKenna, I need you to know that I got to hug and squeeze her last night and hear about her prosthetic leg and laugh with her and when they were leaving her mom hugged me and said, “It’s so good to hear you two laughing together again” and that healed my heart more than I can say.
We’re driving back to SLC two days early since my parents are leaving. I hope all your thanksgivings were great and that you got to eat your favorite dishes!
Shelby, I am so so glad you got to hug & laugh with & be with McKenna! What a gift. 💕 Praying big prayers & sending all the safest vibes for your dad!
Oh Shelby, what a few days! My mum had the detached retina thing a few years ago and apart from the initial period of sitting up to recover, found recovery very simple. May that be the case for your dad xx
Oh man. That is scary. Will pray for your dad. So glad you got time to laugh and hug McKenna. 🥰
Yikes! I hope your dad's surgery goes smoothly. I'm so glad McKenna is doing well and that you were able to hug her and laugh with her!
Oh my gosh, Shelby, that's so stressful! Sending good vibes to your dad and his surgeons!
I'm so glad you got to spend time with McKenna 💕
Thank you!! The thought of the eye surgery is horrifying to me 😭
Happy Thanksgiving!
I caught a brief stomach bug Wednesday and was worried I was going to be done for the count (we hosted - just our moms in addition to my family of 4), but I puked and rallied (literally) and felt good Thursday. Thank you, Jesus, for Zofran.
My favorite part was the trifecta of dressing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce in one bite but I’ll be really honest that I’m looking THE MOST forward to our leftover remix meals - turkey flautas, turkey cranberry sliders, etc.
Glad you were able to make it! And I agree on the remix meals. We had dressing waffles this morning - yum to the mo!
Happy Thanksgiving, Swipes!!!
Although it looked very different than past years, Thanksgiving was still wonderful. My dad makes Cajun fried turkey breast every year and it's so amazing I could cry. I have a huge extended family and we always had 30+ people showing up for Thanksgiving every year at my parents house and it was absolutely wild. My parents moved to a small cabin 2 years ago so I've been hosting T-giving at my house for just mine and my husband's immediate family. It's an entirely different experience, and a lot less expensive.
When we had our big huge Thanksgiving dinners my favorite part was just listening in on conversations and hearing about what was going on in everyone's life. My second favorite part was gathering in the living room with my parents after everyone left to exchange the bits of gossip we heard from our guests. Is this terrible? If it is, so be it.
Our trip to Universal Orlando that was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian is starting on Sunday!!! I'm so excited!
I get to put up all of our Christmas decorations today and tomorrow! It's been so hard to hold out this year. So many of our neighbors have gotten a head start. Have y'all already put up your Christmas decor?
Okay, that's it! Can't wait to catch up in the comments! <3
This sounds lovely. Listening in to all the people talking is my favorite part too. I hope you have the best trip!
Good luck at Universal! My personal must dos are Revenge of the Mummy, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, ET, and Escape from Gringotts. Enjoy a frozen butterbeer for me, I’ll be there in a couple weeks!
Oh and the Jurassic World coaster! I would have been remiss AF to forget that one.