Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving often gets pushed aside by all things Christmas, and admittedly, I am sometimes guilty of that. Years ago, I made it a rule that no Christmas decorations would go up until the day after Thanksgiving. I stuck with that up until a year or two ago, when Ida, who was home on a very short break, insisted we should start earlier. Since she was more than capable of doing it herself, I let her, and it was kind of nice to have it all done by someone else. However, if I was hosting Thanksgiving, I stuck with my fall decor. This year, Thanksgiving will be at my sister's, and Ida is home for six days, so that means it has ended up being very Christmasy at our house. 

Over the years, we have had many different kinds of Thanksgivings. We have had house guests visit us, traveled from Virginia to Pennsylvania or Tennessee, and celebrated with just our family-of-five. One thing I could never get on board with is going out to eat. My mom cast the die when I was little. I always loved her Thanksgiving meals and table settings. They were very traditional and very Mom. 

When they were little, the children would make place mats, gratitude trees, turkey arts and crafts, and place cards. As they got older, we began our gratitude pumpkin and continued it right up to Thanksgiving dinner. My family's past Thanksgiving meals have been rather traditional, except for perhaps the year when we had turkey bar-b-que sandwiches, a suggestion made by my sister the year there were fourteen of us eating outside, next to a pond, on the farm where my nephew lives. 

This year my brother-in-law is making his to-die-for pizza. Yes, pizza for Thanksgiving. This traditions girl, believe it or not, thinks this is a fun idea! I must be becoming more flexible as I get older, or maybe it's just when one is invited to dinner, one does not question the menu. And why argue? I don't have to cook a thing, just put together caprese skewers - that's it. My eighty-seven-year-old mom isn't quite as open minded. She hasn't been happy since she heard the word pizza, even though she doesn't even like turkey! I reminded her that it's about being together and that she'll get to spend the day with seven of her eight grandchildren, but she is still grumbling.

As much as I love traditions, I am thankful for a laid-back holiday with no to-do lists and a lot of family time leading up to the big day. I try to practice gratitude on a daily basis, and Thanksgiving is just an extension of that. Family and food - even if it isn't traditional fare - are all we need to celebrate, and there truly is so much to be grateful for! However you and your family celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving from Seasoned Mama's home to yours!