Thanksgiving is my ALL time favorite holiday! It's easy to understand why since it's the least commercialized and all about experiencing quality time with your loved ones. {can I hear a clutter free shout out???}
I know, I know ~ you're probably thinking "but April, you can't cook!". And you're right! But the silver lining of living with a fireman is his budding talent as an amateur chef!
So how do I prepare for my big day?
- much of the meal prep work is done the week before
- chopping
- dicing
- mixing
- thawing
However, there are many other things on my to-do list aside from food
- taking a final head count
- preparing rooms for additional guests
- bartering with the children if I need to "give their bed" to one of the guests
- making sure all the linens are clean
- stocking the bathrooms with travel sized items {ex: shampoo, mouthwash, pepto bismol}
- ordering in movies from netflix
- charging the cameras
- setting the vacation reply on my email
- pulling out favorite board games
- sending Hubby grocery shopping
and one other project that is a tradition at our holiday dinner table:
- creating my "I'm thankful this year for ... " answer.
As I'm sure you can imagine, we all go around the table sharing what we were thankful for this year. The bounty of the day, the love and health of our family, the ability to spend the day together appreciating one another. But for me, I take this tradition as an opportunity to show my personal gratitude to my husband and children.
I'm known for sounding a little cheesy when I'm grateful, that's just how it comes out for me when it's raw. In order to speak "guy" though, I need to polish it up a bit. There's the whole not embarrasing the teenager in front of Grandpa issue & the I'm a modest man my husband suffers from but I'm also not willing to sacrifice my opportunity to let them know just how much joy they bring to my life.
So each year I contemplate what I'm thankful for and just how I'm going to serve it up lovingly but with a punchline. This year's personal gratitude will sound something like this:
Pipsqueak:
I'm so happy you found your rhythm in middle school & your stride on the different athletic fields. I love how you recognize when I'm frustrated and try your best to help me feel better. I'm thankful you started doing your own laundry this year, I'm not sure I could handle your socks after a game any longer :-) and one of my favorite times of the week is when we cuddle up to watch a movie.
Teenager:
I'm proud of you for learning how to live in your own skin day by day. I'm grateful I haven't had to actually kill you yet, although you may have to pay for my next hair color appointment. I can hardly believe that this is our 16th Turkey dinner together, I'm not sure I'm old enough for that to be true! And I'm grateful for each parenting adventure we embark on, it ensures your little brother won't be able to get away with anything!
Hubby:
I'm thankful for having a husband who wakes up each day as a member of my team. Who has convinced me, on more than one occasion, to let the teenager live. And who is such an involved Dad. I'm grateful we have made it past our awkward phases and can now just be who we are within our marriage together. Now would you pass me the sweet potatoes?
Yup, that's how they receive their compliments, a.k.a. my gratitude. Heartfelt, optimistic and full of humor!
What are you grateful for this season?
Keepin' it Tidy, {and appreciative}
April
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April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect
