I have written about this before but this year especially I am sad that nobody cares about Thanksgiving, well except to eat the meal! I think its especially bad here in Lubbock Texas. The irony is that it JUST NOW has become Fall. Leaves turning, having fires, wearing jackets, all of these things taking place for the first time in November. Nope, this town likes to go straight from Halloween to Christmas. Lets just pretend its winter! I LOVE a 'boutiful' Thanksgiving table, mine is the only one that I know of here. I am sticking to my guns with my family. Someday when my kids are grown and coming back for this holiday, I want them to really feel like its Thanksgiving instead of three months of Chrismas! I know so many people here who do not even have Turkey on Thanksgiving!!! I guess tradition is out the door.
We are having Christmas/Thanksgiving with Trent's family this wednesday. I always enjoy the meal and family, regardless of our Christmas surroundings. We even take all of our family Christmas pictures that day. This year its red white and denim, at least there is no green. I try to cut my MIL some slack since its her favorite holiday ever. I remember the first time on Halloween that I came home with Trent. We left after work from Dallas, so of course we arrived late. As we pulled on their street their house was the one lit up in lights and I could see the tree, which by the way is comparable in size to the one at the mall, through the window. I was in disbelief! You know, she is a pretty wonderful lady, so I let this one weirdness slide. Since we have moved here I have realized that she comes by it honest. The whole town is pretty much the same way. There are four houses in our neighborhood that have had their lights up and on for well over a month.
I feel like Christmas is being shoved down my throat in this town. I am sad to say that for the second year in a row I am not keeping with my tradition of putting up Christmas decor the night of Thanksgiving or day after, but instead am doing it today, the Saturday before and I am not one bit happy about that. It does make sense though because Thursday morning we are leaving to have Thanksgiving at an extended Philllips family's home and then that evening going to my parents where we will spend the weekend. I would wait until this week, but I am afraid it will be too busy with school things going on as well as I am always exhausted in the evenings after working all day. My energy level is probably the best today and we actually had nothing planned all day! I love Saturdays with no plans! So here I am half way through the decorations and taking a break to be a scrooge. It is fun opening boxes because I never remember exactly what I have, which is the case whichever day it is that I am decorating. I am just not ready to pack up the fall before we have had Thanksgiving.
I am not letting the Thanksgiving festivities end even though our tree is up! We are making turkey shirts today for the kids to wear to their school parties this week and then on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. We will just put sweaters over them for the Christmas pic at Meme's. We are making sugar/turkey cookies to take to our family in Fort Worth Tuesday! I can't wait to go to my mother's house which will be all fall for the occasion. I always enjoy sitting on the back porch which is lined with corn stalks on each post and pumpkins while drinking spice tea or pumpkin coffee.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Christmas, there is just a time and a place!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
We did something different this year. I had actually planned a party similar to years past but Olivia requested a tea party. Because our space is limited, I told her she could invite four friends, since she was turning four. She invited three friends from Calvary (Rylan, Avery, and Mia), where she goes to school, and our good friend and neighbor across the street, Ella. It was really harder for me I think to narrow it down, mainly b/c I did not want any mommies to feel left out but it is not MY party is it?! It was really nice with a smaller number and I think because of this all of the girls were able to enjoy each other and make the most of the time. I know that Olivia did! We started with getting dolled up in the items at the table. Then the girls headed inside for story time where I read, Gigi' God's Little Princess, Royal Tea Party. Then we headed back to the table for tea (aka, strawberry lemonade), lady finger peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches, and fruit kabobs. Next we passed out cupcakes for the girls to decorate. Then the birthday festivities of candles and presents began. I am pretty sure fun was had by all! The invitation in the frame was a mess up b/c of the date, tomorrow November actually is Miss O's birthday. We will be bringing chocolate sprinkle donuts to share with her class and I hope to jump away from work for a minute to bring her a happy meal for lunch. This little girl certainly is growing up. She still loves baby dolls but her favorite will always be dogs, which she treats like baby dolls! Her favorite person is still her brother. If she could pick what she ate every meal it would be anything chicken. When we get a treat at Sonic she orders a Rootbeer everytime. She still loves to snuggle in the morning yet now prefers Strawberry milk as opposed to the chocolate of the past. Her favorite book is Pinkilicious and she LOVES to be read to! The time is really flying by......sniff sniff...........
