Since it's almost Christmas, I figured it was time to get my Thanksgiving post on here.
Thanksgiving was weird this year. Not bad - just different. We don't necessarily have a Thanksgiving tradition. I mean, we seem to be in a different place at a different time every year. Last year we were at a family reunion. The year before that we went to Dallas to Medieval Times to celebrate Craig's birthday and the end of football season. I can't remember back any further than that, but it seems we don't really have any set schedule or tradition for Thanksgiving and as sad as that sounds (or looks) ... it sure is freeing at times.
Some years you just really want to spend the entire holiday season with friends and family and parties and cooking and baking. You have all the shopping done a month in advance and everything is wrapped and instead of stressing about everything, you're making hair appointments. That was last year.
And then there are the other years.
I don't really have a point in that above paragraph other than saying that our lack of traditions at Thanksgiving is always really nice right after football season when I don't want one other stressor in my life.
So, this year - our plan was to drive over to Waco to Rick's sister's house and have Thanksgiving with them leaving in time to make it to College Station to attend the ATM vs UT game and then drive home. Then, rest up on Friday and drive down to Gonzales to have Thanksgiving with my parents and brother and his wife on Saturday. And while it was slightly weird (2 Thanksgivings, a football game in CS, etc...) - it worked.
It started on Wednesday when Rick and I spent 12 hours in the kitchen (count 'em folks - I'm not making that up) making our gluten-free, egg yolk free, nitrite free, sulfite free ... I don't feel like typing all the other "free"... Thanksgiving meal. However, for a post about that you'll have to wait a few days and then visit the other blog (http://www.romans6-13.blogspot.com/) where I'm going to share that story in detail.
Thursday morning we got up and packed everything - an ENORMOUS amount of food for one day complete with ice chests and Whole Foods bags and drinks and extra clothes ... We rolled Julie's hair Wednesday night so she was all dolled up and gorgeous. (I know this because she told me so.)
Everyone got to my sister in laws (M.A.) house about 11 am and began putting together the meal. This is my sister in law Katy (and me). It is the only picture I am in THE ENTIRE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND (other than the family shot). When my children grow up and see that I am never in a photo on the holidays, I hope they understand it is because I was BEHIND the camera.
The boys were watching some
We got an almost family picture right before everyone had to jet. It's missing some people so you can't call it an official family picture. However, it does serve as a reminder of who was there and where we were and what we did.
We headed over to College Station for the game and Rick and Craig attended while Julie and I hung out at the movies.
They had a great time, but had to stand for the entire game as the stadium was packed and their tickets were standing room only. Obviously, Craig sat at times. But, Rick stood the entire time and is still having back pain because of it. (Seriously.) (We originally were going to leave the kids at Mary Alice's and Rick and I were going to make a date out of the game. However, it got too complicated with travel plans, so we x'd that idea. THANK THE LORD!!! Can you see me standing for four hours in a wet, cold stadium surrounded by obnoxious football fans with no snacks and a husband who won't visit because he's footballing? Oh. my.)
Julie and I enjoyed our movies: The Muppets and Jack and Jill. However, the late night was torture. Me and the Juju are NOT night people. So, waiting until 11 p.m. to pick up the boys from the field was agony for us. But, we did it ... and then we made Rick drive us home and we all promptly fell asleep before we hit the city limits sign.
We ventured down to Gonzales Saturday where these two caused constant trouble.
They were up to entirely NO GOOD in that photo. I'm glad they get along, but one of these days I'm thinking they're probably going to need me for bail money. I love them, though. And this photo of both of them with their heads thrown back cackling at their own jokes makes me laugh.
The boys played a little football in the backyard. What's Thanksgiving without football, right?
The kids started on their Christmas ornaments and got two painted before their attention spans ran out and and they were off to wrestle down a grandparent or an aunt or uncle.
And Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete if we didn't shoot something.
Here they were having a contest to see who could hit a can the most times with the bb gun. You never know though when you walk out the door if it will be a can or a bucket or some innocent squirrel or frog or something. I kid you not - I have walked out the backdoor before to find them shooting at an emu.
We enjoyed a great meal together and then hung out for a few hours before heading back into town to get ready for Sunday. (That's how you know you either grew up in the ministry or have family in the ministry .... On Saturday night, you "get ready" for Sunday.)
We enjoyed our Thanksgiving 2011 and we were immensely grateful for the time with family ... the laughter, the jokes, the fellowship. I hope your Thanksgiving was thanks-filled and wonderful as well.
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