Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday because it's about family.  The Man keeps trying to move Christmas shopping season up but I refuse to take away from Thanksgiving.

I've been cooking Thanksgiving since 1999, when my Nana became too sick to do it. She had dementia. We had a small dinner that year. In 2000, I had a newborn stronaut in the Snugli when I cooked. In 2001, Thanksgiving came early like it did this year. It was Astronaut's first real one and my Nana's last; she died three days later.

Enough about the Thanksgivings of yore. Let's talk about this year. It was much smaller than usual because my mom went to California to spend it with my baby brother. He's in the USAF and couldn't come home. My other two little brothers came over. My oldest brother came alone. My niece and nephews each went with a member of his wife's family and she stayed home. No non family came.

It was great! We ate and watched a movie and sang songs and watched the Cowboys get embarrassed.  Still watching this travesty. (I love my team, but really? )

The menu was standard: turkey, giblet gravy, dressing,  rice, collard greens, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, and rolls.  And red velvet cake, dairy/egg free chocolate cake, coconut pie, and apple crabberry cobbler.

Yes,  that is small by our standards.

Before we ate, we held hands and Astronaut said the grace. Then, starting with Side Salad, we each shared something we are thankful for this year.  When it got to Popcorn, everyone said "Milk! "

Anywho, Happy Thanksgiving!

Does your family have any Thanksgiving traditions?  What was on your plate?

Happy Halloween!

Somewhere in the blur of work, grocery shopping, and weekly doctor appointments for Squirrel, a holiday snuck in.

Halloween.

I have a tumultuous relationship with All Hallow's Eve. Some years I go all out with homemade, entire family themed costumes. Other years I sequester myself in with my porch light off and eat the candy my kids got from school. Unfortunately for the kids, this year leaned towards the latter.  I blame it on a midweek holiday and a stressful health situation. Poor Princess was so psyched.

At the very last minute though, I decided to take the kids out. Last minute costumes were the order du jour.

Popcorn was a panda, of course. I say of course bc it's the official baby costume. And of course the head disappeared. What else would it do? I put a black hat on her and kept it moving.
Side Salad was Lettuce. He *thinks* he wad a cowboy. I implore you to look at the pic and decide for yourself. He was supposed to be Venom but refused to wear his costume. I gave him a 'stache with eyeliner
Squirrel was a vampire. This is very good because she initially didn't want to be anything. She waz all eyeliner and fangs.
Princess was a "Hollywood Starlet," complete with fancy make up, a fur boa, and my club wig. Don't judge me.
Astronaut was a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone else.

Okay, it is picture time for you and bed time for me.
Toodles!