Turkey Day, 2009

I was planning to take the week from posting like my friend Vanessa but my Wordless Wednesday pic begged to be posted and then Evonne, who had also vowed to take the week off (the proof is here), broke her vow and posted today (three posts to be exact). So I had no other choice but to also give thanks if only to remember what is truly important when your Thanksgiving Day was, I hate to say it, as lame as ours.

Here's what I 'm grateful for this Thanksgiving...sometimes it's the small and simple things that count:

• Homemade rolls because when all else fails, including the turkey pot pie and mashed potatoes, homemade rolls make it all better
• Rosy cheeks and pink noses because that means the kids are having a ball playing in the snow
• A new cinnamon roll recipe because even though the first attempt didn't turn out, I know they're going to be fabulous on Christmas morning (as long as I put them in two pans and bake them thoroughly)
• Organic frozen corn from Costco because it's easy and yummy, two important things for a holiday meal
• A home theater because even G.I. Joe looks great on the big screen and in the comfort of your own home (popcorn optional but often included)
• Pumpkin Pie from Marie Callender's because I don't make or eat pumpkin pie
• A sister who loves to get up at 3am to hit the Black Friday sales because then I can email her a list the night before and let her do the shopping (thank you, Megan!)
• Text messages from friends letting me know they're grateful for me (hard to believe but it's true)
• Enough wonderful, loving, lovable, kind, caring good friends to make texting them all an Olympic event
• A family who loves me even when Thanksgiving Day is boring and the dinner sucks

Next year we will definitely be spending Thanksgiving with more than just our own family, not that my little family isn't wonderful but there's something to be said for spending time--and turkey--with in-laws, cousins, grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles...you get my drift.

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm off to start putting up Christmas decorations while singing a few Christmas tunes. Then it's pizza and breadsticks for dinner, brownies and ice cream for dessert and maybe even some quality time with the kids. Today is shaping up to be better than yesterday...I'm becoming queen of the do-over holidays. --Emily

Image by food_in_mouth, shared via Flickr.