Look at what I've been given by my blogging buddy, Ang, over at Davisix!! I've never even seen this award, but I love it and I'm so very honored that she chose me to receive it! Drop by her blog when you get a chance. She's as sweet as they come, and has a great sense of humor! Like me, I'm sure you'll love her blog, too!
Ok, so here are the rules:
1. Name 5 things you love.
2. Pass the award on to 5 blogs you love.
3. Please link back to my blog.
So, 5 things I love...here we go:
1. I love LIFE...all the ups and downs, twists and turns...they've made me a stronger person and have given me a deeper appreciation for all that I've been blessed with.
2. I love being loved...in spite of all my imperfections.
3. I love that I can still hug and kiss my girls without them saying, "Stop, Mom,...you're embarrassing me!"
4. I love the 80's!!! I love the music, especially! Makes me want to get up and dance, which I often do!
5. I love blogging! I was a bit hesitant to get started, at first. I wasn't, and still am not, the most computer savvy person in the world. I thought it would be just a waste of my time. Little did I know that I would meet such wonderful people who make it all worthwhile. Thanks to each of you!!
Now, I'm going to pass this award to...I promise to follow the rules this time...though I really want to give it to everyone...
1. Lorrie at The View From My Door
2. Daphine at Just Stuff
3. Sandy Toes at Shell in Your Pocket
4. Lindsay at The Cross-Stitch House
5. Rebeckah at Life With Kaishon
Now, for the other part of my post. I'm just curious...no, actually, I'm downright nosey!...what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you staying at home, or will you be traveling? Do you have any special traditions?
As for my family, Chris and I hosted our first Thanksgiving 19 years ago as a newly married couple in our 1,200 sq. ft. house. We had my parents and my in-laws over, so it was a little crowded, but we muddled through...some way...somehow!
The years following were usually spent with my parents, then we'd go to my in-laws the day after Christmas. It was easy to spend Thanksgiving with my mom and dad because they lived nearby, whereas Chris' parents lived in southern Alabama at the time. After my mom passed away in 2000, my oldest brother, Mike, and his wife hosted Thanksgiving at their house. My dad lived close to them, so it was just easier for Dad not to have to travel to our house. Then, after we moved from west Tennessee to Georgia 3 1/2 years ago, we began having Thanksgiving with my in-laws in South Carolina. With my father-in-law in declining health for several years, it was next to impossible for them to travel here.
This year, now that my father-in-law is gone, we're having my mother-in-law and brother-in-law at our house for Thanksgiving, along with their two dogs. I know, it's going to be like a zoo...6 people and 4 dogs! I haven't cooked Thanksgiving dinner in such a long time! I hope I can pull it off without any major catastrophes! I'm sure my girls will be a big help to me. We always love to cook and bake together during the holidays.
The only real tradition we have is that we put up our Christmas tree the Sunday following Thanksgiving. Chris gets it set up, then the girls and I decorate it. We always have the best time! Would you believe that one of our neighbors who lives behind us, across the creek, put up their Christmas tree last Sunday? I'd go crazy if ours was up that long! We, of course, have some traditions for Christmas that I'll probably touch on as it gets closer.
So, that's what we have planned for Thanksgiving this year...now, what about you?
Oh, I keep forgetting to mention something. Would you believe that Brittany received a letter of interest the other day from West Point...yes, THE military academy in New York??? The cross country coach wrote that they'd been following her and had seen that she did very well in the State meet recently. WHAT??? She sent Brittany a questionnaire to fill out and return. Can you believe that? Yes, in case you're wondering...Chris is beside himself!! I told him, "Don't get your bloomers in a wad!" Time to just slow down and take this a step at a time.....WEST POINT??? Are you serious??? :)
Oops!....I think I just knocked out three birds, instead of two! Hee hee!!
23 comments:
Good morning April and thanks so much for the award!
The first few years we were married and still lived in upstate NY, we went to my parents on Long Island--I am the oldest of 5 siblings, so they were all still home. After our kids were born, my mom "passed the torch" and we had everyone come to our house for Thanksgiving--which meant at least a half-dozen who stayed over for a couple of nights. It was always crazy with people sleeping everywhere, but also always a fun time.
Then we moved to NC, my siblings grew up, married and moved to various places. My parents live in FL now and don't travel for Thanksgiving. We have Thanksgiving at our house in NC joined by my husband's mother from VA who is 83(we go get her) and our 3 kids. We also always invite several friends who don't go back home for Christmas because their family lives too far away.
Last year for the first time in ages, my entire family, parents, 4 siblings, spouses and children all came to our house for Thanksgiving. Some people were here for a week! It was a blast--a group of us ran in the Gobbler, a 5K race on Thanksgiving morning, including my mom who walked it in under an hour--her first race ever completed at age 75!
We normally go to my mom's house one day and my il's another day for Thanksgiving. It's been working great for 8 years now that way. It sounds like you have loads of fun every year during this time!:)
As if my first comment wasn't wordy enough--we also put up our Christmast tree Thanksgiving weekend since all our kids are home from college and we decorate as a family with music, cocoa and hot cider--even if the temp is in the 70's which it sometimes is in NC. We used to go together to cut down a tree but no longer do that as the kids are in college and beyond. I love that we decorate together and that the kids still enjoy doing it together even now that they're older. I know that as kids grow up, that tradition will change, but it's been so sweet while it's lasted.
Congrats on the award! So many things to love.. so little space, right? And isn't it crazy how traditions change as our life changes? Especially as empty seats begin to appear at the table...
Thanks for coming by my blog, and putting me on your list; I'm going back to mine right now to add you! Blessings on this (hopefully) rainy day in Georgia.. the creek after which my blog is named is dry!
WE head to our cottage-with my parents, and sister/husband/twins until that Sunday...we are packed in, but it is so fun!
You are so deserving of the award! :)
We are traveling to Indiana for the holiday and will spend it with both sides of the family and then will get together with friends too. It will be a quick trip but will be nice to see everyone.
Wow..thank you for the sweet award!!! Made my day!!!
West Pointe...two of our best friends went there and loved it! What an honor!
We are hosting Thanksgiving...I love hosting! Such a great day!
-sandy toes
GOOOOOOD Morning lady!
Thank you so much for this award April. You have totally started my day with a BIG smile!
We will be having Thanksgiving at our house. My mom, 2 sisters and 3 kids will be joining us. Ready for this? We are thinking about having Mexican food for Thanksgiving. We did this a few years ago and really loved it! So, we'll see.
We will be putting our Christmas Tree up the day after Thanksgiving. WOW! It's so hard to believe that we're about to do this again.
Have a great day!
Congrats on your award!
I don't know if I want to even tell anyone about Thanksgiving. It's very rare Bryan and I spend a Thanksgiving together. Usually he is working. He works a 12 hour shift this Thanksgiving. *sniff*. We always have Thanksgiving lunch at my Grannie's. My brother is coming up from Ft. Bragg with his family. Bryan's dad died 7 years ago and he never had a mother worth discussing. Sorry, it's a bitter subject.
West Point? Oh my. My brother was accepted there and refused to go. I won't tell you how disappointed we were. I hope which ever college Brittany chooses is the right one.
Good Morning April
Thanks so much for the award. I am honoured you chose me to pass it on to. I will post about it soon.
First of all CONGRATULATIONS to Brittany. That's wonderful news for her and you must be so proud.
About Thanksgiving - sadly we do not have it in England. We have a TV show over here where Stephen Fry (actor/comedian/presenter) is travelling right across the USA in a black London taxi. One episode he was actually in Georgia for Thanksgiving and got to experience it with a family there. It was so interesting to watch. It looked like such a wonderful family time with such delicious food. I will be watching the blogs of all my US friends and thinking of them this Thanksgiving.
I am looking forward to Christmas when my mother in law (from London) and brother in law (from Australia)will come to stay for a week or more.
Thanks again for the award.
Lindsay
Congratulations on another fab award! WOW! West Point?! That's an amazing honor!!! Brittany is such a talented girl!
Hi April
It's me again. I just read on Lorrie's blog that you don't know about Christmas Crackers. I did hear they were more of an english thing. I would LOVE to send you some in the mail. They are really light in weight so would not cost me much to send. If you would like me to e-mail me: lindsayann29@tiscali.co.uk
Lindsay
Doing a little catching up. Congratulations on your award, and just finished your house tour. It is beautiful. As for Thanksgiving, just not sure what we are doing yet. Jackie
Congrats on the award! We go to Johnny's grandmothers for brunch, the to my Grandmothers for lunch and the Friday after my brother in law cooks for out group of friends. So our traditon is to eat!
Congrats on West Point!
Congrats on your award and BIG congratulations to Brittany! WOW!! My parents come to Oklahoma and we have a big Thanksgiving dinner (which we order from a local catering company so no work except fixing a few more favorite sides) with lots of leftovers!
We usually go to the in-laws...this year we're staying home because everyone will be trickling in at different times.
I wish I could put my tree up right after Thanksgiving, but my daughter's b'day and my anniversary are the 29th, so...SHE won't let me! Also, my b'day is the day after Christmas, so...SHE makes me take it down that day! Can't mix our celebrations!
Growing up we ALWAYS went to my Meemi's house for Thanksgiving. And after we ate we always played board games w/ the whole family.
Now that i'm a big girl and FAR away from "home" i have cooked Thanksgiving dinner the last couple of years for my Dad and Step Mom and friends. This year we are going over to a friends for Thanksgiving...my dad and step mom can't make it and we are embarking on a cross-country move the next week. I will sooo miss preparing and cooking and all of it but it was just too much this year. =( Hopefully next year we can continue with the tradition of cooking and having a house full of friends and family!
I am SO thankful that my super duper nice Mommy makes Thanksgiving dinner. We all go to their house and eat away. We always go around the table and say the thing we are most thankful this year before we eat. I love my family so much. I am awfully thankful for them!
Thank you for the award. I am super excited to get one : ). My AWESOME friend at Ask Grandma J Blog has sent me a few. Have you read her blog? You would love her. She is funny and brilliant! Like you : )!
We will go to my Moms as we do every year since we married. It's not the same without my dad (he passed 2 years ago) but we make the best of it.
We put up moms tree that day or the next. Then a few days later we do ours.
April, I wanted to tell you that my sister lives in NY State near West Point and we visited there together last March. What a beautiful campus! Funny in all the years I lived in NY State I had never been there before, but we got a great tour of the campus. It overlooks the Hudson River--so pretty.
April,
Congrats on your award, sweet one. You're a deserving gal! ((hugs))
We are hosting Thanksgiving this year and we will have everyone staying with us through the weekend. It will be a mad house. My mom, brother & niece, sister & brother in law and two nephews, my daughter & her friend, my sister & her son, and possibly my sister in law & her friend...and my mom's dog!
The only tradition is putting the tree up the day after with me and my nephew Brendan...he and I love it the most! I put up five trees!!
(4 smaller ones ~ 1 large)
I always write a letter that I read to the family about what we have to be grateful for and read it before we eat...other than that, no real traditions.
Blessings to you sweet sis! And awesome news about Brittany.
We will travling to my hubby's aunts house for lunch in Texarkana. We usually do Christmas eve with my parent and my side of the fam. It's always potluck so no one person has to do it all. I enjoy it, b/c we don't see them very often.
Congrats sweetie.
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