Thanksgiving times 2?

This thanksgiving we were invited over to Tim's mother's house. The meal was a wonderful pork roast, stuffing, salad, asparagus and sweet potatoes. I baked my famous chocolate pecan pie and Tim favorite Apple pie. When I left I popped our Turkey in the oven thinking that on the "morrow" I would have Turkey and dumplings.

Kids and well husbands being what they are- returned to the house and declared that Thanksgiving required Turkey. I think the scent from the oven got t them! Since we had eaten there around 4:00 and it was now 7:00. I got busy and prepared ROUND 2.

You guessed it- I whipped up mashed potatoes, my sweet potatoes with the little marshmallows (Which apparently is the ONLY way to make them), stuffing from the pan droppings, microwave sausage and a box of stovetop-and they all ate again. So at 8:00 at night we had our little family thanksgiving. We read the email from Jamie-who bought a dog-and gave thanks for being able to pay all the bills this month, for wonderful children, and for my employer who provides the funds which we are stretching. Sitting there with my little family I realized we all love each other -no matter what! The Loews (Soens), Manning's, Dunnings, Haley's, Tobin's and Hallorans would be proud. All that they taught me growing up was realized in that second thanksgiving. My children, my husband missed not the food -but all the little preparations and love I put into the traditional meal. They asked and I retold again the stories of Grandma's plum pudding. Of making little tarts with the left over dough, and baking down the pumpkin shell and grandma adding Cinnamon and sweet potatoes to turn it orange. In a way those that have gone before are with us as we retell their stories.

I have to admit I enjoyed Thanksgiving times 2. The children had an opportunity early in the day to get to know their cousins, and later to be together as we normally are. And yep the left- overs did make Turkey soup with dumplings!

Is it Christmas yet? This year I have Tim's family on Dec 1st. No band this year-but we already have the living tree up. I heard St. Nickhas plenty of cool stuff at the dollar as well:) So what if the gifts are a plenty- my husband and children are all the gift I need.

The themem for this years Living romm tree-HOPE