Oh my oh my, it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving and as I’m sitting down to write this recap I’m thinking I should have done it sooner. My head is already abuzz with the happenings of a new week upon us (and cyber Monday deals to peruse, as well), so I best fill up a second cup of coffee and recap while it’s all as fresh as it’s going to get.
This blog (especially the personal life recap section) has become such a personal diary/record book so while you might encourage me just to move along, I can’t do it. I love having these life events to read back on! So let’s time travel back to a week ago (cue dream sequence music…)
The girls and I headed down to Georgia on Monday and met mom at her property. When my Nannie passed away last year her cozy home and acreage in rural Georgia was split between mom and her siblings. While they sold the house (to a really nice couple which eased the ache of realizing it’s no longer Nannie and Pawpaw’s farm), mom is holding onto her 35+ acres of beautiful meadow, woods, and creek that also holds the family pecan tree, from which Nannie gifted us shelled, frozen pecans from each year. We walked the property, chatted with my uncle (who lives adjacent), and picked up pecans. It was really nice to have a little of our traditional Thanksgiving feel in a year in which we are starting a new tradition.
As far back as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been at “the farm” but this year mom took on hosting and the girls and I were excited to come down early and help where we could. After our country excursion, we headed to mom’s house for snacks and drinks on the dock.
The next morning we walked the dog, walked through the Thanksgiving game plan, then walked some shops before ending up at the movie theater to see Wicked 2. The theater was PACKED, kids in costume and everything. I had low expectations about the movie based on some reviews I read, so with that, we were pleasantly surprised and actually found it quite enjoyable.
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We were all excited Wednesday morning because my brother and his crew were up and on their way bright and early. While the girls and their cousins immediately took off to catch up and play, the rest of us got to work baking pies, getting the components prepped for Nannie’s stuffing (Kris took this one on which I admired because it’s an old fashion family recipe with directions like “one can of broth” and no real measurements), setting up tables, and dry brining the turkey.
David arrived in the afternoon and he and Kris installed a new TV downstairs for mom- a bigger, flatter screen for more optimal football viewing and allowing for more floor space, which the girls took full advantage of when they presented us with a Thanksgiving play in which the acted out, comedically, our long standing family Thanksgiving traditions and stories from the time the kids got lost in the woods to David being asked by Nannie to say the blessing. It was all very sweet.
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Kris grilled up some fabulous ribeye steaks and we all enjoyed catching up over a delicious dinner before calling it a night to get some rest before the main event.
Mom pulled the turkey out of the fridge at 6:00 AM and it was baking and filling the house with a delicious aroma within an hour or two. The kids sleepily trudged upstairs and were greeted with Nana’s hot chocolate and “Nana” nut bread to enjoy while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It made such a festive background as the rest of us bustled around to prep the food, the tables, and ourselves for the main event.
By the time 11:30 rolled around, family was beginning to arrive. It was a beautiful day and the afternoon unfolded in such an organic and enjoyable way, one would have thought we had always had Thanksgiving at mom’s house. The main event was my cousin’s new baby boy, who we all ceaselessly fawned over. Natalia was so gracious in allowing us to take turns holding him, and I think it was the highlight of Hailey’s whole day.
We feasted and sipped wine and cheered the Packers to a victory and watched the kids all put on another excellent Thanksgiving play for our entire group of 25, which I thought was admirable because that’s a pretty big group to perform for. In the late afternoon into the early evening things began to wrap up. Hugs were plentiful and the traditional group photo was snapped. Mom likes to say that hosting isn’t her strength, but I don’t know of anyone else that could make everyone feel so welcome and so comfortable and so happily fed. She made this first year of a new tradition feel as cozy and warm as one that’s been carried on for decades.
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With all the helping hands things were mostly cleaned up by the time we went to bed that night, happily exhausted.
The next morning after sipping coffee we hugged mom goodbye and took to the road. We made a quick stop back at home for clean underwear and a coop check (THREE EGGS! I think we are up to three laying hens and it’s incredibly exciting) before heading west to David’s folk’s house, which is an easy 45 minutes away from us now. Such a blessing.
We arrived in time to hug all our nieces and nephews who are all so grown that even on my tippy toes, I’m hugging them around the waist, before the kick off to the Georgia vs Georgia Tech football game. 22 years ago David and I met at a tailgate for that rivalry game and it feels a little like an anniversary to us each year. An anniversary that is fraught with side eyed glares of opposing teams, I suppose, but an anniversary nonetheless. 😉
The Dixon crew are all Georgia Tech fans, so it’s tough to be the lone bulldog (not lone, as Kaitlyn happily did pushups with me upon each score). A little less tough David assures me because Georgia has pretty much dominated the series for the past 9 years. 😉 All joking aside, everyone is good sports and it’s a lot of fun (especially as long as Georgia keeps winning).
In between football watching and puzzling we enjoyed Grandpa’s chili and snapped a picture in the funny elf outfits Mema procured for us all! I enjoyed making the rounds and hearing what was going on in my nieces’ and nephews lives, as I don’t get to catch up with them as often as I’d like. It’s so fun to hear stories about college football games, sorority rush, high school basketball, and soccer tournaments. Kids sure do grow up quickly.
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Saturday afternoon we made our way back home to the happy surprise that… STAR IS BACK! That crazy elf put a new star on our tree and got himself all wrapped up in the process. That can only mean one thing- it’s Christmas season!
The rest of the weekend we spent doing laundry, watching football, keeping Christmas movies rolling, restocking the kitchen, and getting our feet back underneath us. What a wonderful whirlwind Thanksgiving week is. Did I cry in the car with the emotion of missing those that aren’t with us anymore? Yes, yes I did. But does that make me even more understanding of how precious each season is and not to take anything for granted? 100%.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and join me in leaning into the Christmas season starting now- play those tunes, sip that peppermint bark creamer, and light those candles. Happy December! <3
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