Post-Thanksgiving

The house is quiet. My husband is at work. My three daughters are at school. Even the dog is gone; she's at the groomer's. I am devouring the last of my Wendy's Spicy Chicken Combo (complete with french fries and a chocolate Frosty), a self-indulgent treat after experiencing a happy, but noisy five days.

This year we spent Thanksgiving at my parents' home with them, my brother, and my nephew. Next year we will spend it locally with my husband's parent, siblings, and offspring.

We arrived on Thanksgiving Day to the usual feast of turkey/gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, potato salad, corn pudding, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, collard greens, ham, rolls, pistachio pudding, cakes, pies, sodas, and whatever else I am forgetting - a good ol' southern meal. My mom was the typical humble host, commenting that she always makes the same thing and asking us if we'd like something different on future holidays. As we were stuffing down the loads on our plates, in between chews we managed to tell her that it was all delicious, that we don't get this combination of food often, so sticking with the same menu is still a treat. She smiled, but then said, "You'll eat anything when you're hungry."

On Black Friday, the "girls" of the family ventured out to the mall. At the tender age of seven, my nephew has already learned to decline a trip to the mall with a vehement "NOOOOO!"

The shopping went well. Mom was relieved to check off five or six Christmas gifts. The children were willing to try on clothes without whining. And I had the wisdom to feed everyone at the mall eatery before starting our mission which was to find needed items ON SALE. With bellies full, we lasted over five hours without any growls, tears, or threats.

Upon our return to mom's house, my husband marveled at the fact that we had only been to one mall; "Surely, I thought you all had been to at least two or three malls in six hours!"

I'm looking at the computer clock. Child number two and child number three will be coming home from elementary school in twenty minutes; therefore, I will stop and figure out how to post this blog. It appears that I just have to click on publish post.

This is the first of the beginning of a new outlet for me - blogging. The entries will vary, but it will all speak on some facet of my life as a multi-dimensional woman and mother.

See'ya