Thanksgiving Traditions
I was talking to one of my best friends, Chrissy, today about getting ready for Thanksgiving. I often forget that everyone doesn't have the same holiday traditions as us. Talking about my holiday traditions also made me miss living in Utah.
Thanksgiving among my family is not a sit down dinner event. Thanksgiving begins early in the morning when we bundle up in the car and begin the drive all over town. The times of meals may vary, but the events last hours long anyways, so you're allowed to show up late. My older sister, the Italian in the family, makes a lemon herb turkey with the most amazing Italian seasoned stuffing you've ever had in your life. My aunt Debbie used to host the big meal, but now she is responsible for bringing her famous cranberries to each and every table.
When it's time for dinner, we drive to visit more extended family. My uncle Joe and his wife Kathy invite the family over to Kathy's sisters house, where the two families gather together. I remember being young enough to recall only one table. Now there are three. The first generation gathers in the official dining room, and we, the second generation sit in front of the television, stuffed together close enough to be able to pick off of one anothers plates. And then the little ones sit at the kids table in the corner. We all stay to help clean up, after seconds of course.
In New Mexico (years previous to this one) Matt and I would drive over to Motherly's house where her other children from northern New Mexico and even some from Texas have driven down. Other inlaws come as well. My cousin Tina's mother brings her homemade German potato salad and baked mac n cheese. The women manage everything in the kitchen while the older men watch Football in the living room. The younger boys are outside on the front lawn tossing the pig skin around until the food is ready, and then we all watch the game together. We trade funny stories about one another, and sometimes even play a few games (as long as they are embarrassing.)
In previous years, we used to go to Matt's parents house for Thanksgiving. But now that honor has been passed to me. Matt's brother and sister in law usually spend the day with her family, and sometimes we all go as well. My sister in law Megan makes a cheese ball that is just amazing. My mother in law loved it so much she replicates it on a monthly (if not weekly) basis.
Last year Matt took over Thanksgiving and raised the bar, like . . . massively.
This year we'll be hosting Thanksgiving again where soul food meets the southwest with an Irish flare. Bacon and herb butter stuffed turkey, hot orchard apple spice pies, chocolate chip pumpkin cookies, colcannon, green bean casserole, and of course my mother in law will bring her brown sugar and maple glazed sweet potatoes.
It's odd only having one Thanksgiving this year, but as long as it involves good food, good friends and family, the message of gratitude and the hope that the Cowboys will lose . . . then it's a traditional Thanksgiving for me.
