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I turned 29 years old this month. (I celebrated with my mom, who is also a March baby.) It's hard to believe I'm this old and, at the same time, I am still so young. The years have been both short and long, if that's possible.

One week before my birthday, I was laid off from my job. "Happy Birthday, Pooh Bear." (Say that in your best Eeyore voice.) It's been a struggle, but we're making it.

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This is proof

We spent Thanksgiving day with my family in the hometown. Remember when I said there are too many of us to count and the only way to make us quiet is to play Ave Maria on the speakers? Well, this year there were only about 30 of us -- the entire family would include 50-60 people -- but it was still a rowdy crowd. Just for proof, here is our quiet moment...

 

And then there were a few wild, wonderful memories made...

 Left: Our newest additions play together and ran around all afternoon screaming, "Ba! Ba!", which means "ball."

Right: I snapped this beautiful shot of my parents and their grandboy. Lurve!

 Left: The teenagers snuck the ice cream cake into the pantry. After being caught, their mothers "scolded" them and then joined them.

Right: Finally, Uncle G jumped in and stole a bite before it was all gone.

Left: Leftovers!

Right: Hub and I relaxed together after stuffing ourselves.

This weekend, we'll have dinner with Hub's family and enjoy some quieter moments. I can't wait!! I love any excuse for more food and family time. :)

HAPPY {belated} THANKSGIVING!

Thanks Blogging Day 5: Leftovers

Who doesn't love the inevitable leftovers of Thanksgiving? (Please don't raise your hand. You look silly sitting there all by yourself raising your hand for no one. It's a rhetorical question.) I don't usually appreciate leftovers that dirty all my plastic containers and make my tastebuds sad. But leftovers happen and I try to be creative with them when I can. Occasionally, I'll turn leftover chicken into chicken pasta or leftover ground beef into beefy cheese dip. Sometimes I will take leftovers to work and eat them for lunch because I feel bad for the starving kids in China.

(My grandmom used to tell me that starving kids in China would be grateful to have all the things I don't want to eat. Now I can't seem to throw away food products without feeling like a bad Christian.)

However, I usually don't spend much time getting creative in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking, especially baking, but it just isn't high on my priority list. I cook dinner for my husband almost every night because I want to be a good wife and have a healthy, well-fed husband, even though he refuses to gain any weight. But it's just not realistic for me right now to try new recipes regularly or make meals that actually take much planning. Thus, turkey is not a regular thing around here.

In fact, because we family hop so much during Thanksgiving week and weekend, I don't even cook a Thanksgiving turkey. It's pathetic, but true. I was hoping to have a Thanksgiving gathering at our house this year -- seriously, I have a double oven! -- but things just never go according to plan. We'll likely be traveling and house hopping again. Thank goodness we enjoy traveling!

All the same, I know we will have Thanksgiving leftovers. You see, I am a considerate person *cough* who doesn't mind relieving my family and friends of leftover turkey and dressing and pie and cookies and mashed potatoes when necessary. I feel it's my duty to help where I can. Then I force my sweet and loving husband to eat Thanksgiving-style meals for a week, mostly because I cannot get enough gravy turkey. And no, I don't get creative with the leftovers because, in my opinion, Thanksgiving meals are perfect just as they are.

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Thank you for reading my blog this week while I participated in Thanks Blogging with Arkansas Women Bloggers. It's been FUN. I recommend checking out links to other blogs that participated as well. There are some great writers and creative women out there.

By the way, I did not forget to participate in Day 4 of Thanks Blogging. Click HERE to learn more.

Thanks Blogging Day 3: The List

I love a good list so, first of all, I am thankful for lists. Lists make me feel organized. Lists are handy. And I might try to say "list" five more times before I am done with this post.

LIST!

I've noticed many Facebook friends writing daily statuses this month that begin with "I am thankful for..." It has been nice to read such positive things but, I have to admit, I haven't been participating. I definitely have many blessings in my life but I also get annoyed with Facebook so... it is what it is. I think I need a break or something. Anyway, Twitter is more fun. (Yes, I said that.) I am thankful for Twitter.

And lists. I like lists. But I'm not going to write a list here.

Naturally, making a list of all the wonderful things in my life, like chocolate and good books and flashlights, would be easy. (What would we do without flashlights?) But I am MOST thankful for all the people who make my life so lovely and messy and infinitely happy. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for my family.

Top: My stud-muffin of a husband and his big, green tractor.

Bottom (from left): Sis and Brother-in-law, Mom, my precious nephew, and Dad.

 

Also, even though she definitely frustrates me sometimes, I love the blonde in our little family. She makes life interesting and makes us laugh and digs holes to Timbuktu in our yard. We love her. We do not love the holes.

 

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that even when life throws curveballs and sends us spiraling in directions we didn't think we'd ever go, it's the people that make it well worth the effort. I am so grateful to have good memories with my family and friends, and to work with people who actually care about my future, and to have a furbaby who loves me even when I don't spend enough time with her. I am so very blessed. And for that I am truly thankful.

 

 

 

PS... I officially met my quota for the word "list" today. I feel awesome.

Thanks Blogging Day 2: Perry Como

My mom's side of the family is numerous -- she is one of nine children -- and getting together for Thanksgiving has been a tradition for as long as I can remember. It's one of the more relaxing holidays we have in the family and definitely one of my favorite memories of all time. During our family Thanksgiving gathering, one of the best moments has always been listening to Perry Como sing Ave Maria.

I'm not sure why or how the tradition started, but I have a feeling it has something to do with Grandmom. She has a fierce passion for Ave Maria and we are all in agreement that no one sings it like Perry. It has easily become one of my favorite songs. Hub and I even had it played during our wedding. Everyone on my mom's side of the family cried like babies. It was wonderful.

Anyway, when we all get together for Thanksgiving, there are approximately 25-50 people depending on who can travel from out of state. There is always too much food, some football, outdoor activity when the weather allows, card games, Jenga, and Perry Como. After we've eaten a huge meal and more pie and cookies than anyone cares to admit, and drank all the coffee, eggnog, and apple cider we can stand, everyone settles into the living room and listens for Ave Maria to begin playing over the speakers. It is the only time our entire family becomes completely silent, and one of the most relaxing, loving moments I've ever felt. It happens every year on Thanksgiving and makes the holiday extra special and unique to our family. I adore it.