Traditions

With Thanksgiving next week, I have been thinking a lot about traditions with family and friends. This being our third year celebrating Thanksgiving together, I suppose our tradition is to spend the day cooking, eating, and watching football together. When I was little, we went to the high school football game, Duxbury vs. Marshfield (Marshvegas!), would come home and drink hot chocolate while we thawed out, eat dinner early in the afternoon, and then go for a short family hike in the woods across the street from my house.

These traditions changed when I got older, when my brother and sister were in college, and my dad started working on Thanksgiving. I was in marching band and spent the morning eating donuts with the band, playing Louie Louie in the stands (I loved being drum major senior year and getting to conduct and dance with the crowd!), catching up with alumni, and trying not to lose my fingers to frostbite. We'd have a quiet day, sometimes with pizza or Chinese food, and then have our big family dinner on Saturday when everyone was home.

Now that all of us kids are moved out, it's hard to say what the traditions are. My sister and her husband alternate years at my parents' house and his parents' house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. My brother and sister-in-law usually make it to both in-laws houses for either dinner or dessert. During college, I would have Thanksgiving dinner at Sean's parents' house (usually my mom and brother would come too), and then eat Thanksgiving again that Saturday with my family. I guess we're lucky that we're laid back and even if we can't get together on the spiecific day, the effort is there to get home and spend time together - and eat!

What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions? Do you watch football while dozing in a comatose state all afternoon? Does an aunt always bring a dish that no one really likes? Do you order out for pizza? I'd love to hear what warms your heart this time of year!

The first turkey I ever cooked all by myself, Thanksgiving 2006 at Sean's.

Octoberfest

I am about an hour away from heading up to Massachusetts for the night. My big brother turned 30 this week and his wife is throwing a party for him this afternoon into this evening! I am excited for many things regarding this party. First and foremost, seeing family and friends I don't get to see very often (although thank to Facebook I am somewhat better at keeping in touch). Also, there will be Tessie, my brothers almost 1 year old Welsh Corgi, who is just so darn cute! I love getting to see her and play with her, she just loves people.


The next thing I'm looking forward to is the food and drink. There is sure to be some yummy food, and my brother has been working on making his own apple flavored vodka. He let me try a teeny taste last week when we stopped by, and we loved it so much we're going to try to make our own!

And last but not least...the Red Sox lived to fight another night! They shocked the baseball nation Thursday night making a comeback from a 7-0 deficit in the 7th and beat the Rays. They reignited the fire in their fans hearts, and surprised the hell out of anyone who shut the game off and went to bed because they thought it was over and done. Well, Red Sox Nation, you should know by now that it is never over until the final out of the ninth is played and they clear the field. They did it in '04 against the Yankees. They did it last year against the Indians. I don't know what will happen tonight, but all I know is that I'm glad they're getting another chance to play and hopefully advance. I just love my Sox.

Ok, time for a quick shower and packing. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Girls in White Dresses with Blue Satin Sashes...

I recently found out that a little NIECE will be entering my life sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Talk about having something to be thankful for! I LOVE being an aunt, and being able to spoil my nephews with hugs and kisses and toys and tickle attacks. Soon, I will be able to add to that list....girly stuff! Shoes and dresses and dolls and whatever she wants, the list goes on and on. I have dreamed of the day I would have a niece, and when she gets older, taking her shopping or to a movie and just having a blast together! I want to be the kind of aunt she could call up to chat with or come to if she needs advice. I want to be an active part in these kids' lives. I come from a big family with lots and lots of cousins, and sometimes it's hard to keep in touch with everyone. I want to know about all their achievements and concerts and sporting events and I want to be there for every birthday and life celebration.

It's very powerful and beautiful the love I have for them. And to think, this is in regards to kids that aren't my own!

Things for me have been busy lately. Working hard during the week and trying to relax at night. And living in a house with a yard means housework and yardwork on weekends, as you never know when company might drop by, and they don't want to see wet towels on the floor and dirty dishes in the sink and a dried up cegetable garden.

My garden is going well actually. I have 7 baby tomatoes, which will hopefully grow and ripen in the next couple weeks. I need to tie them to stakes so they don't fall over. And my summer squash and cucumber plants are growing lush and large! The rain last weekend really gave them a good drink they needed and they're unstoppable now!

Movie indulgence of the week - Cool Hand Luke. Finally watched it from beginning to end with Sean, and it is absolutely a classic. If you love prison movies or Paul Newman (or both!) this is a must see!


Tonight, I will enjoy a wonderful stir fry that Sean cooked for me, and watch the results show for So You Think You Can Dance. I will be sad no matter who is booted tonight because thee top 6 are all phenomenal dancers and performers. I honestly could not vote last night because I feel they all deserve to go forward and I couldn't pick one I love more than the rest.

Also on the dockette is Breakfast at Tiffany's, which came in my Netflix today (another thing I love, need to add to the list...). I will hold that for tomorrow night though. I am nursing a bit of a headache tonight and want to enjoy a glass of red wine while I watch it. I just can't fathom the idea of wine tonight. What a shame.