Thanksgiving At My House--Or Jeanne's House, Whatever

I hope today is the end of a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend for all of you! We went to John's sister's house in Platte City--all 40+ of us. And......I'm sure you'd much rather see the photos than hear me whine about being nearly last in the 45 minute line (Debbie elbowed her way to the front and wouldn't let me cut). Here ya go--not all great photos, and I didn't do a good job getting everyone in the photos, oops. But it was a great day.

My nephew Joe and his wife, Sara:

Nephew Bob and his girlfriend...uhhh...shoot I forget already!! Sorry! But she's beautiful.

Caught the matriarch and the patriarch getting ready to take their seats! That'll get me extra presents next month. I'm sure of it.

My Johnny and BIL, Pat (Fireman Pat)

Little Joe and Niki int he background...Bob on the left (Melissa's fiance), Melissa, great niece, Samantha, and Samantha's mom, my niece, Kelli:

Family friend Mindi, nephew Justin, married to my niece (Debbie's daughter), Angie (holding Mindi's daughter):

Niece Brooke with her boyfriend's daughter (who looks amazingly like Brooke...uncanny!)

Niece Sara (married to nephew Joe--Jeanne's son)

Blaine, niece Julie's boyfriend, Justin, niece Jennifer's husband, niece Jennifer, niece Julie:

SIL, Dorie and her sister, Patti:

SIL, Jeanne, our hostess (and Fireman Pat's wife)--this photo will get me extra presents too!:

Mindi's son, my Niki, SIL Debbie (whose face I have blurred because her eyes are closed and I think she'll withold presents next month if I don't blur her out):

Dad, John and Mom:

Cody, me and John

It occurs to me I have no photos of my son, Alex this year. I feel a mother of the year award coming on! Alex and my nephew Tyler pretty much take off as soon as we get there, I'll need to photoshop him somewhere. Shhh!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends, I can't wait to read about yours. After I do my stupid Sport Rider--I HATE how much weight I've gained this year and I'm working like nothing else to get it off before Spring! I.Hate.Exercise.

Black Friday & Me

It's Black Friday and where am I? Sitting in front of my computer. In my jammies. With no visions of shopping whatsoever. Even if I wanted to, I'm retaining so much water this week that I'd NEVER go out in public!

It's been a long week, lots of cooking for John and me, laundry up to my eyeballs, and even a little personal family drama which has since worked itself out. God is good. And I know all things happen for a reason and that even this paragraph in the book of my life will make sense down the road. So...once more I wavered and didn't give it over to Him until I had to. I'm thinking God just shakes his head at me and rolls his eyes. He knows I'll be calling, but He probably wishes I'd hurry about it.

Dinner yesterday was very good, not gonna lie. The only thing that burned were the rolls (taking after my favorite SIL) but that was a result of a new pan I bought. Really! We threw it out. I purchased that a few months ago and have since burned the bottoms only of three batches of cookies and now the Thanksgiving rolls. It's outta here! We had roll tops for dinner.

I wanted to share this photo--Cody's cat, Boo, is feeling quite comfortable with his position in the fam. That's MY chair!

And here are the boys, patiently waiting to laugh and point have at those roll tops and my pitiful lovely Jell-O ring (made thinking of my late Great Aunt Pearl).

See? Eeven my hair retains water! I'm going back to bed! (Cody, you'll laugh at this photo one day. Really!)

We followed dinner by renting Deck The Halls last night and having pie. A funny Christmas movie just gets me in the mood for the decorating, which we'll begin this weekend. Maybe. When did Christmas season start coming around so early?!

When you're ready to decorate your blog, remember the contest, Deck The Blogs is now open. The prizes are exciting and most of the are very very shiny and there are so many of them you've got a fair shot at winning something for regiftingyourself. I'm hoping you, my dear blog friends, go over to Contest Hotel and sign up.

*Check back later this evening, I'm having an overdue awards ceremony!

On Pilgrims, Tryptophan and Toys

Happy Thanksgiving

Just as they were grateful celebrating their first harvest in 1621 (I know this because I home school now hehe!), I, like the Pilgrims who settled in America, feel blessed to live in The United States of America. With all the benefits and rights that privilege comes with.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to follow Jesus. I'm grateful that I can write this blog and reach out across the world to make new friends. I'm even grateful that others have the right to say they would prefer to share their Thanksgiving meal with Hillary (seen here, possibly already tryptophan-injected and ready to serve).
I'm also grateful for choices. And for the ability to gather information to make the right choices. The shopping season is upon us, and toys are at the top of many lists. Until the toy industry is held accountable and the lead and other extremely detramental toxins are not anywhere on any toy on any store shelf, I hope you consider buying American made toys this year. I've come across a link, Toys Made In America. Check into it...you might find some unique and quality-made toys that will stand the test of time and become a family treasure!

Alright, I gotta get moving--I haven't even purchased my turkey! Does KFC do turkey? Bridget? You're the kitchen hero, do you know? By the way, I'm going to attempt her Cinnamon Crunch Bars tonight--I hope I do her proud. You'll find them over at her place. That along with about 50 other great ideas! Okay NOW I'm going. I heart grocery stores the day before Thanksgiving. After getting in from the wet and snowy parking lot. MmmMmmm...nothing better! Does HyVee deliver? Who knows this? Anyone? A Tab soda would be refreshing--where IS the Tab?????