The Almighty Thanksgiving Holiday!

This Thanksgiving we had my mom down for a visit. I was having so much fun, I forgot to get a ton of pics of the food/table setting (Hil, help me out on this one).

But there are some pictures to be shown. Before I display them, let me just say that this holiday is really Russ's big show. He is the chef in the family, and he should get most of the credit for the success of Thanksgiving. I tend to be a spectator and table-setter.

This year did not disappoint. Russ's cooking was delicious. The company was excellent. The traditions held strong. And in fact, that is where I will start: The Traditions.

Tradition: Thanksgiving morning exercise.

While Thanksgiving is wonderful, I always feel guilty about all the food. So a few years ago I started doing Turkey Trots on this day of deliciousness. This year I did the Gruene Turkey Trot with my mom:

Here's how I did:

I came in 106 out of 108 in my age group. 

But I finished!

The Food: An outside Thanksgiving.

This year we decided to eat Thanksgiving outside. We have some friends who eat outside every year. Russ is always incredibly jealous and wants to be like them- or at least eat Thanksgiving like them.

So this year we did!

Tradition: Toast (see the above pictures)

Every year I get Russ to make a toast, followed by each person saying something they're grateful for. Russ's toast was great, and I am always amazed at the things that people are grateful for. 

Tradition: Christmas set-up

Russ & I set up our Christmas decorations after we eat Thanksgiving. I like to do it this way for a few reasons. First, it gets your blood going a bit after eating so much. Second, you can be slow about it. I like to alternate between setting stuff up/playing games/eating pie/ watching the football game. Finally, I get to enjoy the Christmas decor a little bit longer.

Here's how the tree turned out:

Tradition: Fredricksburg Christmas Pyramid lighting

This tradition started last year. Basically we go to Fredricksburg to watch the annual lighting of the Christmas Pyramid. Yes, I said Pyramid. Google it. It's a German thing. This year was bigger than last year. And it included a performance of the Nutcracker!

Tradition: Black Friday Shopping

As I said earlier, Thanksgiving is really Russ's shining moment. And that extends beyond the food- it goes down to Black Friday Shopping. Russ knows how to do it right- without being part of the horde of people who trample over each other to get stuff. Russ is slick about it- strategic. He could write a book about it.

Again, this year he was at his best. He got the baby necessities for $150, boots for me, and a bunch of other stuff that is still being delivered. We are all stocked up on wedding gifts, white elephant gifts, and everything on our wish-lists... well pretty much everything.

Skyping with my brother, who is waiting in line for Black Friday.

 Lastly, Crafts.

With my mom in town we crafted and crafted until we were sick of it. We made this manger scene for my brother's family, we sewed tutus, we embroidered a quilt, and on and on. It was a great way to spend time together!!!

And if you're reading this and you feel tired after hearing about all we did, well you'll be pleased to know Russ and I were both sick the following weekend. We played too hard and paid the price the next few days! I think next year we'll slow it down!

From Pinterest...

In July of last year I discovered the phenomenon of the website Pinterest, thanks to my friend Becky H. up in Utah. For those unaware of Pinterest- imagine a place where you can collect all things creative= and organize these things by holiday, theme, or subject of your choice. 

Well I had a board for our annual Halloween party, and here is how it turned out:

Pinterest: It's an addiction and an inspiration.

And check out the friends this year! The party was a hit!

Well, Russ tricked us in this one by having the camera self-time 3 shots.

Next celebration that I've used for Pinterest Inspiration:

THANKSGIVING!

Look what I Made!

So I wanted to make Russ something for Christmas. And, in case you didn't know, Russ collects gnomes:

See? And those are just the new gnomes that were added this Christmas. There's a dozen more around the house. 

If you know someone who loves gnomes and you want to make a gnome for them, click here.

What do you think of the gnome? More importantly, what should we NAME this gnome???

Craft-fooder-noon

My sweet, sweet pals in San Marcos have been wishing and planning for a magical afternoon together. An afternoon where we eat the tastiest of food. Where we talk and talk and talk. An afternoon where we work on those unfinished craft projects from last week, or even from our days in Merry Miss.

Well, the dreaming came to an end over the weekend. This glories occasion happened and is now known as Craftfoodernoon.

We all showed up to Jess's house, guitars in tote. Crafts in tote. Food in tote. Heck, we looked like a group of homeless women about to exchange goods. We got settled in Jess's living room and promptly began... talking. Yes. Talking. Not eating or crafting. But talking. This is obviously the prime activity of a craftfoodernoon. But we did eventually get around to crafting. And eating. Check it out:

Not pictured: Michelle and myself. I'm not quite sure how I missed getting a picture of Michelle.

The food was also fantastic:

It was so nice to just talk and be together! I can't wait to do it again in January! 

Thanks ladies!