We Were Thankful. We Still Are

I rolled out and cut out about forty biscuits before 8:30 this morning but after that, I really did not do much in the way of cooking until just a little while ago when I started our supper. 

Turns out that brunch at Lily's is much, much, MUCH less stressful than a big Thanksgiving dinner at my house. 
Huh. 

That's just some of what was brought in or made at Lily's. There was also bacon, grits, two different egg casseroles, sausage gravy, pumpkin croissant bread pudding and spanakopita. Oh. And biscuits.

They looked better than they tasted. They were just sort of heavy this year which is weird because they rose in a lovely fashion. 

The kids ate in the living room and watched the Thanksgiving day parade. 

Do you notice the Pringles there on the blue plates? Maggie served those. For some dang reason there were no Pringles on the grown-up table which felt a little unfair. 

Do you want to hear the sweetest thing? Gibson told his mom this morning that this would be the first big family get-together with Hank and Rachel as a married couple. What twelve year old boy thinks of that? And it was also our first big family get-together in Lily's new house. Or at least the first one I attended. 

They have a table that Lauren's mom gave them that all the grown-ups can fit around and that's ten of us. We took advantage of that, telling stories and laughing and eating delicious foods and being all social and stuff. 

And it was not stressful. I know we won't do this every year but I sure did enjoy it. 

Before we ate, there was a basketball game going on in the street in front of the house. That sounds crazy but Lily's house is on the end of a cul-de-sac and there's no traffic and plenty of room for two nets and backboards. Even Boppy got involved in it. Levon is really developing an interest in basketball which thrills his granddaddy.

Here's another thing that happened before we ate.

Yes. I know that looks a great deal more like Halloween than Thanksgiving but when I saw Gibson's kitty, Nico, (or Magnificent Princess as he calls her) balancing on the chair backs, I had to take a picture. 

It was just a really sweet time. Nothing crazy or too loud and although there were plenty of different things to eat it wasn't like Thanksgiving usually is where there's so much food you can't even take one taste of everything because that would still be too much. 

After lunch, we all hung out for awhile. Maggie came in to tell us that the cousins wanted her to paint rainbows on their faces and so she needed to get the make-up and then this happened.

I am not sure what became of the rainbow idea but this will do. 

Lauren is doing better after two weeks of little to no improvement. Just the other day she went to get her MRI and although she could drive herself there, she could not lay down in the MRI machine in the position they needed her to be in. She's going back next Thursday to try again. But she was able to sit up and walk around a little today and join us at the table. 

Can you see Chloe there, patiently hoping for a slice of cheese or pepperoni? I think it was Chloe. It could have been Pepper. They really do look alike. 

Before we left, I went and got Owen out of his room for just a moment because I'd hardly seen him. He is very much a teenager now but he is also still very much a love. 

He is so BIG! Not just tall, but big like a man. I am having a difficult time coping with this reality.

I got one picture of Auntie May and Levon.

Two cuties whom I love so much. 

I was going to take a nap when we got home today. I mean- I deserved a nap. I've had to set an alarm three days in a row this week! But when we got home I started doing stuff and the next thing you know, it was way past a reasonable nap time. And I am tired but it's all my own damn fault. I'm the one who wanted to make a miniature Thanksgiving dinner for me and the man and that involved making stuffing which is my favorite part of Thanksgiving, and getting the chicken ready to roast, and making a few deviled eggs, and picking and cooking greens, and snapping and cooking green beans for a green bean casserole because I love that too. I already have mashed potatoes left over from a few days ago and the cranberry relish and biscuits already cut and ready to bake. 

But still. All that wasn't nothing. 

And now I feel stupid. Why, Mary? Just why? I could have bought a frozen pizza at the Dollar General (yes, they are open today) and heated it up and Mr. Moon would have been fine with that. 

But. You know. And I have no grounds on which to complain at all. 

AND...Gibson's coming to spend the night tomorrow. We are way overdue having him come stay and he probably looks forward to it more than any of the others. He's a middle child but when he's here, he is the one and the only and we love him up. 

All righty! Another Thanksgiving in the books and it's been a real sweet one. 
You know what else is sweet? 
I do not have to set an alarm tonight. I can sleep as late as I want to! I am so looking forward to that. 

I know two women with whom I've texted in the last 24 hours who have both said, "I think I'm done with this." 

Boy, do I get that. 

Love...Ms. Moon