Cottage, 40 people is about what we usually have at our family Thanksgiving. My mom has 4 sisters and she's the only one who stopped at 2 kids. Plus now we have the married-ins, great-grand-kids...and whoever else wants to come. I will miss being there this year but was not about to travel to Ohio with a newborn. We are going at Christmas. Oh, and we do such classy things as "turn the pool table into an eating place." LOL at renting stuff.

My parents and sister are coming in tomorrow night and I am excited to see them again and have Thanksgiving. I honestly don't remember the last time I DIDN'T go Black Friday shopping. But we aren't really buying presents this year and I'm definitely not taking the baby out in it. Might go for a few hours with my mom and sister if they wanted to, though.

Baby had me up from 1:30 to 4 last night...that is the first time, really. She's not crying, she just didn't want to sleep. And by the time she did, I was wide awake. I am surprised I actually don't feel that bad this morning, but I am sure it will hit me in a few hours.

Happy Thanksgiving if I don't make it back here before then!

saw this and thought it was cute

turkey gym.gif

Thanks for all the well wishes ladies!

Kim- enjoy your trip! sounds like you will have lots of good healthy food and fun!

Heather- asparagus bread pudding sounds divine!

Schmoodle- I am making carmel pie and pumpkin pie... I went to the grocery at 8 this morning so I wouldn't have to fight the crowds! I know what you mean!

Lisa- you mary kay girl you!- you sure you don't just want that pink car!? lol jk

Sophie- I always go out with my mom on black friday! we never make it a "plan" to be here or there for this sale or that... truth is, as crowded as it is we make it a laid back day of shopping and people watching! lol

Morning, girls. Quick one for me as this week's chaos has already begun.

DS is really perky this morning despite his runny nose - thankfully the drainage is clear. He was working on his coloring project that we are eventually going to turn into placemats for Thanksgiving Day. He's napping now which is affording me a bit of time to get things done around here.

I have a few loads of laundry and want to change the sheets. I would also like to rearrange my son's bed and train table so he has a bit more room to move around the table.

Has anybody had any success with peeling potatoes in advance? I know that sweet potatoes turn brown when exposed to air. I have 10 lbs. of potatoes to peel and would prefer not to do it after I get home from BF shopping.

I've made my schedule for the week and really wish it was Monday today...there just isn't enough time in this week!

My SIL and her family come in from Idaho today - they should have been in around 2, but their flight has been delayed an hour. They have the absolute WORST luck with flights. Hopefully we'll be able to see them today. I'm planning on making a few loaves of quick breads to bring over to help my MIL out with breakfasts. I think a pumpkin and an apple pecan sound pretty good.

-

Heather, Asparagus bread pudding? That sounds awesome! Care to share the recipe? I might just have to add another thing to our thanksgiving menu.

Hello everyone,

Wow, lots of people with so many activities going on. Hope everyone gets everything done on their list.

I still have to hit the grocery store either tonight or tomorrow, I know i am crazy for waiting. And I plan on going out with DD on Black Friday, love it hehe.

Have a great day everyone

It sounds like quite a few of us are painting. I've finished priming the entire back living room/library and will start painting after lunch. I'm doing the door to the garage as well and will probably eventually do the door to the back yard. I did find out one electric outlet is cracked. Brian wanted to replace it ourselves but I'm a little nervous about electricity so I'm going to have a friend come over to do it as soon as he gets a few minutes.

Kiko and I are going to try to meet again this weekend. I'm so excited!

Good afternoon, all! Lot of busy chicks this week!
Loriann: Congrats on getting the payroll finished up - and on the new grand-kitty!
Cat: Glad to hear the painting is coming along well. Enjoy your semi-lazy day! That gym of yours looks gorgeous, almost more like a spa - or is that just the website making it seem that way?
Cottage: I am kind of envying you and Cindy your big housefuls, as I grew up with big Thanksgivings. Maybe not quite ever 40, but rarely less than 20 til my teens. Enjoy your quiet afternoon today!
Kiko: I agree with others that a change of pace for the holidays can be a nice symbolic way to say the holiday won't be the same without some one you've lost. Hope you have fun with the party Friday, and that a house full of giggling girls isn't too stressful.
Ruth: Glad to hear the drab late-Autumn colors are finally covered with a blanket of snowy white. We are getting rain down here, which seems odd as usually by this time of year it would be snow. I hope it doesn't cause too much ice on the roads.
Cyndi: Wow, what a deal on squash! I never really warmed up to squash, but I'm hoping that SB will work its magic... I've learned to like vegetables a good deal more in the past few months.
rdw: I agree with what others have said, you should probably go back to the doctor's. Hope you start feeling better soon!
Weezle: Sounds like Mary Kay is a brilliant move for you! I hope it works out for you. And don't stress about the food too much, you deserve to indulge a bit for your anniversary. Besides, moving burns plenty of calories!
Sophie: Good luck getting that sink back soon! I've been without one a couple of times before, and it sure can be a hassle.
Kim: Wow, $1.77 a gallon? Geography sure makes a difference. Up here in Massachusetts we haven't seen it much below $1.90 yet, that I (a non-driver) have noticed. Have fun visiting your parents, it's so nice of them to be willing to spoil you not just with food but healthy food. Yum!
Heather: So glad things are going as smoothly as can be expected with the car. I just hate it when the other driver doesn't own up to their mistake! Glad to hear this woman isn't trying that. Sorry to hear about such a long day - I was an IEP kid myself, so the idea of four in one day sounds just AWFUL.
Schmoodle: Sounds like you have quite a handle on your Thanksgiving prep. Have fun on Sunday!
GonnaBe: What a nice thing to do, making cookies for his birthday. Good luck with the treadmill tonight!
Jessie: LOL at the pool table - we did stuff like that, although not quite so extreme as a pool table... probably only because we didn't have one!
Zeffryn: What a busy week you have! I seem to recall that peeled potatoes will keep alright if they are immersed in water, but I'm not sure how long... maybe you could Google it?
Pearlrose: I don't envy you that grocery trip tonight - I hope it's not too crazy out there. I'm putting off our regular groceries for the week rather than face that insanity! It'll make us get a bit creative to use up some of our pantry.
Barb: Wow, you are right, lots of folks painting this week. Good luck with yours!
Me: Well, I seem to have figured out a way to not gain too much over Thanksgiving... I have a terrible cold, and have lost my appetite. Hopefully I'll feel better by T-day, but in the meantime I'm having to force myself to find the energy to make food. So far I've just had a protein bar and a big glass of Emergen-C, and I'm nursing a mug of my favorite cold remedy: V8 with hot sauce and garlic, heated up like soup. Sounds kind of vile, but it helps clear my sinuses and gets a bunch of vitamins into me. Blah... I'm so glad I'm not trying to do as much as you ladies this week; my Thanksgiving will be just the three of us and I'm not hosting. It's pretty much just "show up and eat".

Hope you all are feeling better than I am, and those of you who have been under the weather are on the mend. Keep up the good work with your busy week, ladies!

Zeff - I think I'm going to make them as individual "muffins" tonight, so I can try it out and if it's good I'll share the recipe. I'm actually making it with a combo of sourdough & WW bread. I'm excited about it!!!

Schmoodle-Your breakfast sounds yummy! I'll have to try that soon!
JessieW-Nice that your baby didn't cry in the night, but too bad she woke you up. I'm looking forward to my kids nap. Then I'll be able to get dinner on.

Opps! Looks like one of the triplets has fallen asleep on the couch. Poor little guy was fast asleep. Now that they are in bed for their nap, I've got to figure out what dinner will be. I'd love some of the WW bread or roll recipes that are TNT. Maybe tonight I'll search the recipes section for them.
Hope everyone that is sick feels better soon.
TripMom

Everyone pray for Mom's precious little Sophie. Some of you may remember that she had her little doggie neck surgery back in April-ish. Well, now she's having problems again. They rushed her to the ER Vet last night, Mom stayed home with her today, and then rushed her to the U of IL Animal Clinic in Champaign to see if they can do anything for her. Sigh. She and Oscar are turning 6 next month, so they're very young, especially for little dogs.

More than for Sophie, pray for my mom. After losing Grandma on her birthday, and Sophie's surgery in April, plus other things going wrong, she's had a rough year. Thanks girls.

Prayers going up for Sophie and your mom, Lisa!

We made it to my parents' safe and sound; just waiting for them to get home from work! Have a great evening, everyone!!!

Prayers from me as well Lisa- Poor lil girl, she is such a doll...

Glad you made it safely kim- have a great trip! nice you can check in from there too!

Betsi- get to feeling better! its the worst to be sick over holidays!

Barb- enjoy your visit with kiko! and hoping your painting gets done easy

zeff- sounds like a chaotic week for you! glad ds is feeling perky for you- way better than crabby!

Pearl- I love black friday too! have fun.

My white bean and barley soup sure is smelling yummy- ok, it tastes yummy too... Ive been nibbling at it! lol Laundry is almost finished(well, as much as it can ever be I suppose~) Didn't go to the doctor today, going to try to see it out thru the end of the week! Im not hurting too bad this afternoon so we'll see!