I love the holiday season and usually spend some time in the kitchen with my two girls while the boys watch hockey. We usually try out a few new recipes but this year I think we are sticking with the old standards for Thanksgiving.
Our Menu so far includes : Glazed Ham, turkey, cornbread stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green bean bundles wrapped in bacon, shoepeg corn casserole, my mother in law is bringing deviled eggs and watergate salad, I will also bake a couple of pumpkin pies and an ooey gooey butter cake for dessert.
I do all my prep work and pie making the day before so Thanksgiving day all that is left to do is stick everything in the oven or on the grill while we watch the Macy’s parade early that morning. Usually we eat around noon and then play games or watch a movie at the house. This year we are taking the kids to see the Muppet movie over the weekend and will put up our Christmas tree as well.
I adore the time off with my family and try to focus on them completely during my five day holiday. When I say my family I am talking the five of us. Myself, B., and our three kids. Of course my mother in law is also a big part of our family as we live in a shared dual household. She lives in the downstairs basement apartment and we have the upper floor “house”. It’s been a good situation for all of us as the four bedroom house fits our large family and she has another bedroom,bath, kitchen, laundry, and living area of her own downstairs that she shares with her two beloved boston terriers.
As for my extended family or family of origin well let’s just say things are very complicated. I cut off all contact with my toxic momster (yes that is mom/monster) two years ago. It was without a doubt the best decision for not only myself but for my own family. I’m an adult child of abuse and family dysfunction who choses not to let that define my life anymore. I have limited contact with my siblings and my Dad. As in they are around me sometimes but not when it upsets the Momster’s applecart . That applecart is a WHOLE other story unto itself but not one I will be writing any more about today.
See I am learning to focus on ME and my happiness which might sound easy to some of you but for me is pretty huge.
So I am really looking forward to this year’s holiday season. My favorite time of year, spent with those whom I love and who love me.