Thanksgiving

I like hosting Thanksgiving...it is the most cooking that I do since we usually go up to my sister-in-law's on Christmas. For many years we have had it just with our family because Otis's family prefer celebrating this day on their own which was perfectly fine for us. Occasionally Liz, my hubbies sister would drive down to join us. During the years she cared for Emma it was dual purpose-she would drop her off and she would stay with us the whole weekend because the day AFTER Thanksgiving is shopping day and I would take Emma out to get it all done in one day. Because I had all the leftovers it was nice for Otis and the boys to have food here at home while we were out shopping. She has returned to coming to our home for Thanksgiving with her 2 sons and fiance. This will be Jim's 2nd time in our home so we are getting to know him and this year Daniel is looking forward to serving Jim coffee from Starbucks he had me buy-Thanksgiving blend. Emma of course is looking forward to seeing Liz again and this year for the first time in as long as I can remember we will NOT be going over the shopping flyers from the paper to plan a Friday shopping time. I am actually looking forward to staying out of the stores tomorrow, which surprises me really.

It seems that as we get older, as our children grow the traditions we started when they were younger sometimes change. Our sons are all men now. Peter and Deana have been married for 7 years and for now they switch off and come to our home every other year. One of these years they will bring their children here. Daniel moved out this summer and is back in town for now. Today he came over to help clean for tomorrow, which was so cool. He is a little more sentimental about our family traditions and we talked about Thanksgiving times that we have already had. For me I will treasure the years that all 4 of our sons share this meal with us knowing that it is not too far off where we may be alone on Thanksgiving as they celebrate it in a different location or with their spouse's family. There may be a time where we will go to their home instead. It seems as we get older, we treasure times with them more.

Otis celebrated just one Thanksgiving with my parents and siblings. It was just a few weeks before we married in 1980. We had no idea at the time that it would be our last...my mother passed away September of 1981...so I guess I have learned to treasure family times....

I need to get some sleep....turkey goes in the oven at 8am!!