Our Turkey Day Update!

Our Turkey, HOMEMADE Green Bean Casserole & Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole

I am thankful for many things and this past weekend has reminded me of how lucky D and I truly are. Last year, we had Chinese from the frozen section of our local grocery store, pop tarts, pop, and chips. The year before that, we struggled to find a meal because we didn't realize that NOTHING was open on Thanksgiving. The year before that, we had a feast of turkey, pies, rolls and all the fixin's. What happened those two years of crappy Thanksgiving dinners?! I'll tell you what happened-loneliness.

D & I enjoyed a HUGE dinner with family and friends the year before we left Jersey. Popop had every imaginable food and drink available to us because he knew it would be a while before we came back to see him. When it came to our first Thanksgiving without our family around, we figured we'd keep it low key; go see a movie and hit a restaurant. Unfortunately, nothing was open. The second year around we knew to stock up on groceries and movies and just chill inside our house. This year, we celebrated big. This year, we have family close to us and friends close enough to be family.

We bought a turkey (BOGO, baby!!), I tried new recipes for homemade green bean casserole (no cans in sight! Fresh green beans and sauce made from scratch!) and fresh, homemade sweet potato casserole (Uh...AMAZING!!) made with maple syrup and bourbon. Popop showed me the secret recipe for his stuffing and we enjoyed the holiday together.

Even though there was a nasty bug going around and Aunt Jessa, Doodle, Roo, & Uncle Josh weren't able to come over, we enjoyed our time spent together. D, typical man that he is, watched tv while Dad and I toiled in the kitchen. In the end, we had a wonderful meal and learned a lot about each other. I'm including two lists-Things I'm Thankful For and Things We Will Do Differently Next Time! Hope you enjoyed your holiday as much as we did!

D enjoying his spot on the couch...He's lucky he burns WATER!

Hmm...am I the Easter Bunny? Bunny ears + eggs = Hippity Hop



Popop and I get a little happy while cooking!



Things We Will Do Differently Next Time:

Make the sides ahead of time

Wash as we cook

Wear aprons

Decorate more

Play music as we cook

Drink more

Crack open the Cranberry Wine during dinner (we forgot about it!!)

Stuff the turkey

NOT COOK THE GIBLETS!!! They smell GROSS!

Things I Am Thankful For:

A wonderful husband who adores me and supports me

Goals to work towards

Dreams to plan

A wonderful family that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!

Having the day of and the day after off

A great job that allows me to afford extravagant holidays

Friends that love me for who I am

White meat

Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving

Our new Traditions

You better be nice!! Santa's Elves are everywhere!! Even in Target on Black Friday!!

The role of a grandparent

Let me start this off by saying that I adore my father in law. He took me in as a teen and gave me a safe home; he showed me unconditional love though his words and actions, he is an amazing shoulder to lean on when times are tough or when I just need someone to talk to. Since he has moved in with us he has been becoming more and more one of the first people I run to when I need to talk or when I want to spend time with someone. Often Dad and I are the ones giggling and laughing at some silly joke while D is busy being serious or watching football (Yes, I am a football widow!)
Yesterday Aunt Jessa dropped Doodle off at my office and I took her home. Dad, Doodle, and I stopped at Baker's to pick up asparagus (or as Dad calls it "aspagrus" lol) and some other items for dinner. After a late dinner I put Doodle to bed on the air mattress. About 20 minutes after I put her to bed she comes out because she has to use the bathroom (even though she had used it before she went to bed).  Sometime later she comes out trying to stall her bedtime more by asking for me to remove a bracelet that she had worn to bed the night before and all day yesterday. I told her to go back to bed and stay in bed. About 5-10 minutes later I go in to check on her and she is sitting up on Dad's bed with Dad trying to remove the bracelet.
What happened to the Dad that made his kids stay in bed when they tried to weasel extra awake time?! He's turned into a softie!!!! Correction-he's turned into a grandparent. While Doodle may not be my child he is a Popop for her.
I talked to Aunt Jessa about this and she said her parents are even worse. If she's visiting and goes to punish Doodle, Doodle actually RUNS behind "Memaw" and Aunt Jessa can't do anything about it! I don't remember having grandparents that went that far. I guess I was raised with stricter grandparents. It's odd to see the changes that Dad has gone through that took him from a strict but loving parent into a mushball grandparent!

Doodle and Papa Randy