Turkey Day Redux

Do you have those little traditions that, because of their importance in your mind, sort of take on a life of its own?  Man,  Love me some traditions.  The problem with that, is sometimes the reality doesn't live up to the memory - rose colored glasses looking at the past. 

Thanksgiving is a BIG tradition for my family.  For many years, it is the one holiday we do not travel for, no obligation to do the big family dinner back home.  We have had our nice little Friends-giving for a long time.  Before Luke, Dottie, and Charlie.  It was always the Angie and Barb Thanksgiving show. 

Some years, our participants were more appreciative of the efforts than others.  There may have been a year where the house almost started on fire, where the ginger beer did not cure morning/all day sickness, where someone (who sucks and whose name will not be mentioned here) had his fresh kill in my driveway.  There were pingpong tournaments, naps, teaching the kids to rabidly hate the Detroit Lions. 

It was always the Angie and Barb Thanksgiving show.  If you want to see some recaps - Barb has been much more diligent of keeping our memories - check it out here. 

This year, because there has been a huge readjustment in our lives, I was a little worried that the actual event could not live up to the mythical place it held in my heart.  We had pinterest boards of ideas, multiple menu discussing emails, serious phone discussions.  Could it really be as great as in my mind? 

Then, 10 days before Thanksgiving, my knee gave out on me.  I couldn't walk.  Couldn't stand.  Was scheduled for unexpected surgery. 

I may have sent an angst filled email to Barb saying _ I cannot do this. 

Luke making Turkey decor (a must have).

But we did.  And it was, again, the Angie and Barb Thanksgiving Show.  Barb has a beautiful post with lots of pictures of the food. So I won't rehash.  I just want to share a few of my favorite pictures.   

I may have a new found love for Bourbon.  Yum.

Snow White (Dottie) making my family recipe for cranberry relish. 

Turkey Relish Tray, made with love by Barb and Dottie

I am a little bummed that there is not one picture of me and Barb.  In all our preparatory glory.  The food was wonderful, the house if not super clean, was presentable, the guests were fantastic and wonderful company, the drinks were plentiful and the day was just as wonderful in my heart and mind as in reality. 

We have a no Christmas till after the Turkey is put away rule in our house.  So Thanksgiving night, Mike the superdad, took Luke and Dottie out to work on the Christmas lights.  Charlie wanted in on the action too. 

We will plan on for 2013 - no lumpy gravy next time.  I promise. 

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...Ventage Tuesday

I know that I have been a Debbie Downer lately.  But too bad.  Life is hard sometimes.  But life is really damn good too.  I have all my needs.  I have the time and ability to have wants.  We are on a Cinderella kick here in our little corner of paradise.  I have always thought A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes was the ultimate princess song.  But as a momma, when I sleep?  I don't dream, I am too dang tired.  I dream when surfing the inter webs... 

So in the fine Ventage Tuesday tradition, here is my list of the week.  A wish list.  Some are bigger dreams than others, but I am actually very easy to please.  

I really love Wonder Woman.  Always been a superhero kind of girl instead of a Princess kind of girl.  

I love this print. 

This Cloud 9 necklace.  Reminder that happiness is right there for the taking.  

This print just makes me happy.  

If we are dreaming big - I would love this gorgeous (and outrageously expensive) orange stove/oven

In the land of the frozen tundra, I think this snow gauge would be an excellent addition to our front yard

Been drooling over these Le Creuset French ovens for years.  In Flame please.  

I am a Star Wars geek.  When I was little I used to demand that my mom do the Princess Leia buns in my hair.  I could really rock that look.  I would only like this gift from Mike, but these rings say it as only Han Solo and Leia could.  

I like the design and sentiment of this House Rules decal.  

I think it would look great in our basement.  

As you know, I love me some make up.  Would love this Urban Decay Vice Eyeshadow palette 

Most of all, right now, I would like Mary Poppins.  To be my coach, friend and nanny.  

I am sure that Em, Katrina, Barb, and Steph will have some pretty great lists... since one of us will hopefully win the Powerball on Wednesday night, maybe we can make these wishes come true?  Happy wishing girls!

hello monday

hello two coffees and one giant soda before 9 am due to a cranky baby. 

hello sweet husband who braved a solo weekend with the kids (where it rained all weekend) so I could have a weekend back home by myself. 

hello dear friends from growing up.  It is so damn cool to see what you have become and how much our shared heritage is with me.  hello to big laughs, old teachers and texts to Barb about an old boyfriend of hers.  epic. 

hello to the week before our big adventure - family vacation to florida.  I am a mix of anxious, excited and terrified all at once. 

hello to a looming goodbye that I am choosing to pretend (for just a little longer) is not around the corner.

hello to Luke learning to tell jokes.  More on this later.

hello to an insane rest of 2012 calendar. 

hello Monday is an idea shamelessly hijacked from Katrina who may have hijacked it from someone else. 

True Romance

Some people may have visions of romance looking like this.   

Cute, fashionable couple.  Highly accessorized, sharing a pumpkin spice latte. 

But friends, know the truth.  Romance?  It looks like two haggard parents of three children four and under.  In their PJs.  One sleeping on the couch with a baby recovering from an ear infection.  One sleeping with a thrashing soon to be three year old.  An accumulative 5 hours of sleep between them. 

Sexy?  A husband who blearily delivers you coffee while you are trying to look cute for work in the 10 minutes you have to get ready - in the dark so you don't wake said almost three year old. 

Someday we will be well accessorized.  And drinking pumpkin spice lattes in a park. 

Right?  RIGHT?