Thanksgiving

I LOVE Thanksgiving and basically the holiday season. This is why I began it a few weeks ago, which includes putting my Christmas Tree up. That's right folks, it's been up for a good two weeks. :) I just LOVE having it up and lit and looking all Christmasy. Because I have a wonderful husband there is even two gifts sitting under the tree just for me ;). But, back to Thanksgiving....

I thought I would write down some of my favorite thanksgiving memories/traditions, because, hey it's that time of year. :)

1. Getting dressed up. I don't know why, but ever since we were little we have always gotten dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner (which at our house is around 2pm). We then immediately after change into pjs, so as better to facilitate the much needed nap.
2. Pickle plate. My mom always makes a pickle and olive plate that's on the table. I love it. Kristie tries an olive every year because she hates them, but I love them.
3. The year I was responsible for the mashed potatoes. :) I didn't finish making them and they were all lumpy. Everyone was pretty upset... but I got a phone call, what was I supposed to do. hahahahaha.
4. The year I learned to cut my own turkey... no, I don't mean carve the turkey, I mean use a fork and knife to cut my own turkey meat, that was on my plate. I am pretty sure I don't have the coordination skills of a two year old, so this was a tough task for me... yes I was 16 and yes, my dad cut my meat until then. So shush.
5. Any year when we had cousins and aunts and uncles and bunches of people, because I love my family more than anything in this planet.
6. Playing pictionary with the Sterlings.
7. Playing boggle with Holly, because she makes up more words than a neologist (google it).
8. Discovering that I really do love stuffing.
9. Watching my mom make stuffing... i.e. tearing the bread into our big green Tupperware bowl, that I now own and will make my own stuffing in.
10. Watching my mom and aunts cook, because cooking in our family also means 1. drinking wine and 2. singing.
11. Being somewhere where it actually snows on Thanksgiving and getting to watch it snow from the warmth of inside.
12. Sleeping on the Sterling's couches - because they are the best couches in all the land. If a House marathon happens to be on, then so be it!
13. LEFTOVERS!!!!!!
14. Waking up ridiculously early just to go shopping, which is just an absurd idea... unless there are 6 other women that will go with you.
15. A day after Thanksgiving movie.
16. "Kid's Wine" is what we called sparkling grape juice in our family. We always got to have it on thanksgiving with dinner. We would go through about two bottles because there is nothing better than that, ever.
17. Green bean casserole. I think it is the most delicious thing on the planet, and it's not Thanksgiving to me if I don't have this tasty treat. Pretty much everyone else in my family thinks that's silly, but it's just true. So there.
18. Family. I have mentioned a lot of memories with family and just being with family in general, but there really is nothing better. I love our family and I love having thanksgiving with them.
19. Thanksgiving at Poppy and Nana's house. It was just magical and we had a kids table and it was the bomb.
20. Thinking about making the holidays special for my own kids. This isn't a memory or a tradition, but the holidays, birthdays, and all of that jazz were always special and a big deal at our house. I can't wait to do that for my own family.

What do you love about Thanksgiving/the holidays?!?

All of us waiting for turkey. There are at least 9 of us on this couch.

Playing Pictionary. It's madness, and it's wonderful!

Wedding Details Part II

Well, after we ran through the lobby, remember, running 30 minutes late, we finally got into our cars. Thank you Valet. We drove, in the snow (flurries not snowstorm) to our location. Thankfully, the roads were no longer icy. When I went with the photographers the previous day they were ridiculous. We parked our car at Riverwood Mansion and headed up to the bridal suite. My in-laws were waiting in the room for us at this point, but everyone was dressed and ready but me. One of the coordinators at this time came up and told us that there was a problem. My mom has told us all of our lives, "On your wedding day, if you get married then it was the perfect day...nothing can go wrong that will prevent you from being married." So, immediately this is what I thought. Apparently, the baker had a heart attack that morning and neither my wedding cake or my groom's cake would be ready. I was SUPER bummed because I wanted to see our grooms cake more than just about anything. Maybe some day... But, the day must go on... we can get married without a cake, so let's do this thing. They had bought a plastic cake that was sitting in the foyer in place of the real cake. They also baked sheet cakes and served them to our guests. I guess no one was any wiser as several people told me that the cake was delicious. Oh well....The rest of this whole time before the wedding is a bit of a blur. I remember taking some pictures with Hailey and brushing my teeth but I really don't remember how we "wasted" the 2 hours before the wedding. I pretty much just remember sitting in the bridal suite just me and my dad getting really really anxious and having tons and tons of butterflies in my stomach. I kind of feel like that now just typing it! I stood at the top of the stairs listening to all of our music being played. Dad and I walked into the room and I remember thinking, "I can see everyone's faces" I don't know what I was expecting but I didn't realize I would see everyone looking at me... it was surreal. I saw Josh and he was just smiling really adorable like... this was also probably the fastest walk down the aisle that ever was because I was so excited... there was no pacing myself... I got to Joshua and we held hands... I was shaking like crazy. Josh later said he couldn't tell if it was him or me... but then he realized that it was most certainly me. I also didn't want my veil behind my shoulders so it would show in the pictures. I tried to mouth this to Josh but he just kept pushing it behind my shoulders, so I just did it myself... and everyone laughed. Josh's dad lead a beautiful ceremony. I really wish I could remember more of what he said exactly. I remember bits and pieces, but I think I was just too excited. The ceremony was the perfect length and we excitedly exited the ceremony and were alone, married, and happy as ever.... for 2 seconds. We were then surrounded by our bridal party and family. It was the BEST. We hung out for a couple minutes while our guests were directed to the food... which was brunch by the way... and it was delish. Josh and I had a private table upstairs and they had all of our food ready and waiting for us. I wish it could have lasted even longer. The whole day was really just a blur. After we walked out of the ceremony (because I really don't have many details of between) we got in the car and Josh said, "Do you want a coke or something?" and so we drove to the nearest gas station and he got us some Big Gulps. Whadda guy I tell ya. We went back to the hotel and took more pictures and I was exhausted... That pretty much wraps up the day... we left for our honeymoon at about 4:00am the next morning. Tired. :)

Whoever invented the honeymoon was a genius, because if I had to go back to work after that I would have been worthless. We had an amazing day!!!