This blog title conjures images in my head of ELF jumping up and down because Santa’s coming or Michael Scott screaming, ok, it’s happening, everyone stay calm! In short, I’m over the moon because Thanksgiving week is the best. But first, a quick peek at the weekend.

We kicked off the weekend with a belt test for Kaitlyn, who is now officially a red stripe! Afterward we came home to eat sous vide steak, play Christmas music, and play spades. Cozy evenings at home for the win!

David worked Saturday, Hailey spent the whole afternoon at a birthday party, and Kaitlyn, Finley, and I spent the day at the soccer fields for an end of season tournament. For lunch in between games, Kaitlyn and I went to Cava at Birkdale. Birkdale was getting ready for their tree lighting and adorably decorated for Christmas. After lunch I snagged a peppermint mocha at Summit Coffee (which was amazingggg) and asked for the topping on the side for Goose.

Saturday evening we watched football and had a fire; cozy at home again! Sunday filled up with more soccer, two basketball practices, some wrapping of presents, and a lot of laundry because today kicks off Thanksgiving week!

This is quite possibly my favorite week of the year. It combines all of my favorite things: tons of family, delicious food, and temperatures that are just right (61 degrees, yes please). I remember in 2020 how we had to turn around mid-drive to Georgia because we learned David had been exposed. We were devastated. I’m talking tears pouring from the girls and me. We made the most of it, but it just served as another reminder to never take the times for granted.

We have to drive separately since David has to work this week, but the girls and I will head out this morning to my mom’s house. We’ll help her decorate, take some long walks, watch a Christmas movie or two, and play some games. Wednesday we’ll scoot over to my grandmother’s house to help her bake the pies and prep the turkey, though she’s usually done much of the pre-measuring herself. She’s 89 and still hosting Thanksgiving. Pretty awesome.

Thursday we’ll catch up with family all day long, because in the south, the main Thanksgiving meal happens mid-day and we wear jeans to tromp through the woods afterwards. I remember going to one Thanksgiving with my sister-in-law’s family and it was GORGEOUS, but I was so thrown off my the late evening main meal and formal attire. Fellow Americans, how do you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Then we switch sides of the family and will enjoy playing cards, doing puzzles, chasing the pups outside, and being with everyone in South Carolina. Gosh I love it all so much.

I am hoping to blog through the week, to share it with you and record it for me, but I’ve been known to disappear into the family vortex. My friend from college would also joke that when I went home I’d go into a black hole. I love that though; I always want time to to slow down or stop and in these instances, it does a bit. The rest of the world kind of fades. It feels special.

David and I did an Amazon Live yesterday all about gifts for men. You can view it on my storefront. Man, you get him talking about things he likes and he’ll get into the nitty gritty details; we ended up talking for almost an hour and a half. It was so much fun and there are some great gift ideas for men that he shared if you’re in need!

Because of that, I didn’t get through all the laundry and packing, so I’m signing off now to do that while the kids are still snoozing so we can hit the road when the get up. Two items that have made my travel life easier are this toiletry bag (why did I wait so long?!) and this rechargeable make up mirror. Also, does anyone else pack a full pharmacy when they travel? I feel like we rarely use medicine, but I pack everything from vitamins to melatonin to every child’s medicine that exists when we travel. Better to have it and not need it than the reverse I suppose?

I hope you had a lovely weekend and that this Monday starts off on a positive note for you! US friends, how do you celebrate Thanksgiving?