Thanksgiving Week

Last Sunday commenced our Thanksgiving week, also known in our household as my birth week. We were invited to my parent's house for my birthday dinner on Sunday night. I requested twice baked potatoes and they were very good. On Saturday Kody and I went to the Cheesecake Factory and bought my favorite cheesecake- dutch apple caramel streusel, and that served as my birthday cake after dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't blow out any birthday candles, and probably will not ever do so again for the rest of my life because of my mean-spirited teenage sister Callan. For the last three years she has insisted that I take too much time making my wish and blowing out the candles, and therefore feels that she should extinguish the flames immediately after my family has finished singing to me. Am I bitter? Yes. Will I ever get over the loss of this annual tradition? Probably not, but I am learning to deal with it.



Wednesday was my actual birthday, and Kody took me to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Ruth's Chris. We met his parents and sister Amy there. I ordered the petit filet oscar style, and surprisingly I finished all of that, plus half a bowl of New Orleans Gumbo and half an order of potatoes au gratin. I was pretty full by then but their desserts are the best so I split a warm apple tart with Kody's sister Amy. I was so full after that but the food was so good I didn't really care that I could barely walk. After dinner we went to my parent's house and they gave me a cookbook about cupcakes and another one called Make a Mix that I'm really excited about. And my favorite sister Cory gave me a Yankee candle that smells like sugar cookies. Callan gave me some pretty dang cute shoes. Unfortunately my camera isn't working or I'd post a picture of them.

Thursday morning Kody got up bright and early to go play football with his pals from High School. He came back all in one piece and said he had a good time. While he was gone I baked a pumpkin cheesecake. We went over to my parent's at 2 for dinner and enjoyed a delicious feast. It ended abruptly when Callan began throwing various fruits at people. I was struck in the kidney with an orange. Eliot took a rather large strawberry to the face. We are all hopeful that her journey through teenagedom will end as soon as possible, and not leave any permanent effects on the rest of us. Overall, the food was very good and we ate way too much. My dad ate so much he couldn't talk and had to go to bed early. It was kind of sad without Peter. His seat at the table was replaced with a plant. Not quite the same. But I'm sure he enjoyed his Thanksgiving in Texas.

On Friday night we went to the Gateway Mall and met Kody's parents, sister Amy, sister Jo, brother-in-law Mark, and nephew Joey to see the big Christmas tree light up and for a little concert put on by Jon Schmidt. I had heard of him, but never really seen him perform before. He is one crazy, entertaining guy! At one point he laid on his back on the piano bench, crossed his hands, and played a song upside down. He even played chopsticks with his toes! He is very talented and danced pretty much the whole time he was playing.

This Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful to be an American. There are a lot of horrible things going on in the world and I'm glad to be safe and enjoy freedom here in the United States. I am also thankful for the comfortable life that I am able to live with Kody. A lot of people have been effected by the economy this year and luckily, Kody and I haven't been faced with those kinds of challenges. I hope things will start to get better for everyone soon.