What to Do When the World is Yours

The sad news is that Andrew, the love of my life, has gone away on a men's camping trip.  Outdoors.  In 30-ish degree weather.  And I already miss him, and so do our kids.  He won't be back for 3 days.

So, it's up to me to keep busy, to have fun with the kids while maintaining a household and preparing for Thanksgiving.  Actually, it's not much different from any other long weekend, but it just seems different because he is out "playing," and not just gone all kinds of crazy hours at work.

So here's what the kids and I will do.  If you have any other suggestions that we can squeeze in, please let me know!  I'm ready to take on the weekend!

Friday - after I get off work & get Logan off the bus, we'll probably play a game, grab a quick dinner then go to Lights Up at The Summit for some fireworks and music.  My dad invited us to go with him.  How cool is that!?

Saturday - typically Logan and I go couponing in the morning.  I'll let Savannah sleep in, and my little man and I will run out to Wal Mart, Meijer, & Kroger to get some shopping done.  We'll take a break until mid-afternoon, when we meet a friend and her daughter at Puzzle's Fun Dome where the kids can run around and exhaust themselves.  After that, we'll probably head to Mom's to strip wallpaper.  After that, I'm all about doing a little sweep of the house and winding down with the kids.  Then - ME time!  Lately I've been going absolutely nuts earning SwagBucks.  By answering surveys, watching videos, and doing simple web searches, I earn points which I have been redeeming for Amazon.com gift cards and PayPal cash.  This is giving me a jump start on my Christmas shopping, because I can start buying things for Andrew without even touching our bank account!  Sweet!  Anyway - I think I might do some Christmas shopping for him while he's gone.  And maybe some shopping for the kids too...

Sunday - Get up and get ready for church.  Church gets out around 10:00, then we'll go to Mom's for some coffee.  After that, it's NFL time.  I will succumb to the pull of the couch and some snacks, and watch the Bengals, Colts, and some of my other teams play.  Hopefully somewhere in the midst of my cheering, Andrew will arrive home safely, smelling of outdoors.

Any other ideas of what I can throw in there?  Go ahead, I'm ready!

What to Bring for an Un-Thanksgiving Meal?

Everything changes when you get married.  It does.  And it's good.  And it takes some getting used to.

Holidays, for instance.  No longer do you spend one Thanksgiving meal with the whole family.  Instead, Thanksgiving spans multiple meals, and even multiple days.  Fortunately, since I have gotten married, our families have worked out the details of "sharing" the kids at the holidays.

This year (as in previous years), we will host Thanksgiving at our house on Thanksgiving day.  I make the turkey, rolls, deviled eggs, stuffing, pie, snacks, tea, and such.  Family members bring the mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn pudding.  We watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We watch football.  It's traditional.

The day after, we go to my mom's house and celebrate Thanksgiving with her.  I usually bring leftovers, about which she is delighted!  She also fixes a meal, but it's a little less traditional.  In the past, it has been a savory rosemary pork roast.  Mom is a wonderful cook and a lovely hostess.

This year she will again be making a pork roast.  However, she has asked all the kids to bring a non-traditional side dish.  What?  What am I supposed to do?  What should I bring?   Little Smokies?  Potato salad??  Birthday cake???

Help - I need a non-Thanksgiving side dish to bring to Mom's.  The day after I host 15 people at my house for Thanksgiving dinner.

. . . And thanks in advance!