THANKSGIVING

My mom's house looked fantastic!

The kids had a blast and finished their food (that took all day to prepare) in 1.2 minutes flat

Trying to learn to make my mom's rolls. I have to confess

I have this odd fear of yeast. Weird I know.

Aunt Karen's tarts are amazing and the best tradition ever.

We had some seriously stimulating conversations.....

Thanksgiving 2008 - how the year flies. In California we don't really get a seasonal change so the first time it really feels like Fall is on Thanksgiving. Then again, it will still be 75 degrees out but we pretend that it is fall. We break out the pants and hang our "California jackets" AKA: sweatshirts - front and center in our closets. Once the cold hits, we are all so happy to drink our hot chocolate, talk about a fire in the fireplace. Then after a week of "cold" weather we are complaning and ready for the warmth again. Maybe it is just me since I get cold when it is 65 degrees outside.

Another year - another round of "fat dog" played on the couch. I guess in the tradition of all things American we have taken a day of thanks and turned it into a day of food. Not that I mind the food in the least bit - it is one of my favorite holidays but I really want to bring back the thanks part of Thanksgiving. Just think if we spent a quarter of the time in giving thanks that we do in preparing the food how great a day it would be. We always have a great day regardless but every year I am always left feeling like something is missing and I finally pinned it down that I want to create more"thanks giving" traditions. As a disclaimer I do say that every year as this time of the year rolls around that THIS is the year that every holiday will have meaning and not be a crazy rush. Yet year after year it ends up a crazy rush. I think I have created a habit of rushing and trying to catch up which is why I am posting this Thanksgiving post in July.....I think my lesson learned this year is to delegate more and MAKE time for Thanks. Whether it is stopping to do so or multi-tasking while I am trying to make rolls either way I want to give thanks in the midst of my crazy and grateful life.