Going on three days in a row now without a headache -- that’s plenty to be thankful for, even if I did not have ever so much more to fill my gratitude list. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year and this year was no exception. It was just the right amount of busy and restful. The night before, I finished up a pumpkin cake with the raw pumpkin I saved and froze after we carved for Halloween. While helping Mom get her house ready for 15 guests the next day, I decided just a cake was not sufficient, so when I got home I baked an apple pie, my first. Spare me the duties of dressing and turkey and I will happily make you as many desserts as you require.
The next morning we got dolled up in hats and went to the Fairgrounds with Rachael and Philip and Jane. They moved the first post up this year because of the afternoon Saints game, so when we got there right before the 11:00 race, the place was still pretty empty, which was perfect for us. We grabbed some chairs near the paddock, the boys got to eat cotton candy without mashing it into anyone, we grownups had a cocktail, and we let Henry pick our horses. We only stayed for two races, but Henry was really thrilled when his choice won and he got to collect a whopping $1.20.
We got back to Mom’s in time to help her finish the turkey and the side dishes, straighten the house, light candles, and prepare for all the guests. In addition to our immediate family group, we hosted Matthew’s grandparents and his aunt and uncle from Lafayette, and their two sons and a friend. They brought a fried turkey and shrimp and mirliton dressing and green bean casserole and wild rice with raisins, so we had plenty to go along with our own turkey, tomato basil tart, stuffing, steamed broccoli, crescent rolls, tipsy sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course, the pumpkin cake and apple pie. Everything was so delicious, even Dean cleaned his plate.
We weren’t able to run Mom’s cable into the living room so everyone could watch the game live, so we Tivo’d it at our house and after dinner everyone went down the street to our place with their ears closed so they wouldn’t hear any news from anyone else who had been following it live. What a game. In the dire last five minutes, I decided I don’t ever want the Saints to play on Thanksgiving again. It would have left such a hollow feeling after an otherwise delightful day if Jenkins hadn’t made that game saving play.
The next day we went over to Mom’s the hang out with Rach and Phil. Henry had spent the night over there with them and he stayed in his jammies most of the day. It was cold and drizzly outside and we are not Black Friday participants. We picked up some shrimp poboys for lunch and then Rach and Phil came down to our house for some games and more visiting. It was a totally relaxing day. No shopping, no getting out in the weather, just laughing and talking and drinking and watching the boys.
Today the weather is cold but gorgeous and we went down the street to pick out our Christmas tree from the neighborhood tree sale (it benefits our neighborhood library branch). Our kids group hosted a card-making event for the kids, so the boys each decorated letters for Santa and got candy from Mrs. Claus. We sat for a picture with Santa, the every first time Henry has ever willingly done this. Dean was reluctant, but did sit on the bench with Henry and Santa and held his candy cane with an expression of intense skepticism. I’ve never pushed the Santa picture, but I have to admit I can’t help but hope this one turns out nice for the album.
Now Dean is napping, Matthew is at a wedding, and Henry is “cleaning” the bathroom. He has a toy water sprayer that came with a Hot Wheels car set, and he is vigorously washing down all the surfaces in the guest bathroom. We’ve been doing a system of checks for good behavior -- coming when called, doing his chores quickly, and helping out with other chores that aren’t normally required (like cleaning the bathroom), all earn him a check. Negative behavior -- like when he kept playing at the park when it was time to go today and I had to call him three times -- means losing a check. When he has ten checks, he gets a treat. Usually it’s just some stickers or a notepad or pencils, but a few weeks ago we surprised him with a new Reggie Bush jersey; the one we got him at a thrift store two years ago was in pretty bad shape when we got it and has hardly improved since. He wore the new one proudly at his first Saints game in the Dome last week (thanks Paw and Dellie) and again yesterday, though he was luckily out the room when Reggie bombed and Matthew began once of his frequent anti-Reggie tirades.
Henry says it’s time to take a look at the freshly cleaned bathroom...fingers crossed.
The next morning we got dolled up in hats and went to the Fairgrounds with Rachael and Philip and Jane. They moved the first post up this year because of the afternoon Saints game, so when we got there right before the 11:00 race, the place was still pretty empty, which was perfect for us. We grabbed some chairs near the paddock, the boys got to eat cotton candy without mashing it into anyone, we grownups had a cocktail, and we let Henry pick our horses. We only stayed for two races, but Henry was really thrilled when his choice won and he got to collect a whopping $1.20.
We got back to Mom’s in time to help her finish the turkey and the side dishes, straighten the house, light candles, and prepare for all the guests. In addition to our immediate family group, we hosted Matthew’s grandparents and his aunt and uncle from Lafayette, and their two sons and a friend. They brought a fried turkey and shrimp and mirliton dressing and green bean casserole and wild rice with raisins, so we had plenty to go along with our own turkey, tomato basil tart, stuffing, steamed broccoli, crescent rolls, tipsy sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course, the pumpkin cake and apple pie. Everything was so delicious, even Dean cleaned his plate.
We weren’t able to run Mom’s cable into the living room so everyone could watch the game live, so we Tivo’d it at our house and after dinner everyone went down the street to our place with their ears closed so they wouldn’t hear any news from anyone else who had been following it live. What a game. In the dire last five minutes, I decided I don’t ever want the Saints to play on Thanksgiving again. It would have left such a hollow feeling after an otherwise delightful day if Jenkins hadn’t made that game saving play.
The next day we went over to Mom’s the hang out with Rach and Phil. Henry had spent the night over there with them and he stayed in his jammies most of the day. It was cold and drizzly outside and we are not Black Friday participants. We picked up some shrimp poboys for lunch and then Rach and Phil came down to our house for some games and more visiting. It was a totally relaxing day. No shopping, no getting out in the weather, just laughing and talking and drinking and watching the boys.
Today the weather is cold but gorgeous and we went down the street to pick out our Christmas tree from the neighborhood tree sale (it benefits our neighborhood library branch). Our kids group hosted a card-making event for the kids, so the boys each decorated letters for Santa and got candy from Mrs. Claus. We sat for a picture with Santa, the every first time Henry has ever willingly done this. Dean was reluctant, but did sit on the bench with Henry and Santa and held his candy cane with an expression of intense skepticism. I’ve never pushed the Santa picture, but I have to admit I can’t help but hope this one turns out nice for the album.
Now Dean is napping, Matthew is at a wedding, and Henry is “cleaning” the bathroom. He has a toy water sprayer that came with a Hot Wheels car set, and he is vigorously washing down all the surfaces in the guest bathroom. We’ve been doing a system of checks for good behavior -- coming when called, doing his chores quickly, and helping out with other chores that aren’t normally required (like cleaning the bathroom), all earn him a check. Negative behavior -- like when he kept playing at the park when it was time to go today and I had to call him three times -- means losing a check. When he has ten checks, he gets a treat. Usually it’s just some stickers or a notepad or pencils, but a few weeks ago we surprised him with a new Reggie Bush jersey; the one we got him at a thrift store two years ago was in pretty bad shape when we got it and has hardly improved since. He wore the new one proudly at his first Saints game in the Dome last week (thanks Paw and Dellie) and again yesterday, though he was luckily out the room when Reggie bombed and Matthew began once of his frequent anti-Reggie tirades.
Henry says it’s time to take a look at the freshly cleaned bathroom...fingers crossed.
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