Happy Thanksgiving!

When you're in the midst of a big move like we are, holidays get toned down quite a bit.  Last year, the husband and I and the rest of the bishopric and their families hosted a big Thanksgiving celebration at the church with three or four turkeys and lots of people and even more food.  This year, I had made the executive decision that I was not going to cook and instead I made a reservation for us at Claddagh Irish Pub where they have a huge traditional Thanksgiving buffet, free for kids 5 and under.  Done and done!  Tradition without doing the dishes--excellent!

However, our kind home teacher and his family ended up inviting us over to their house and there was much fun, food, and festivities (and only a few meltdowns).  It was fabulous, and I was thankful for the invitation and the fact that I still only had to "cook" two pies (and by cook I mean, of course, heat from frozen and/or defrost: thank you Marie Callender!).  I did also make Virgin Apple Cider Sangria, which was very easy and very yummy: 1/2 a gallon of apple cider, 1 bottle sparkling white grape juice, 1 liter gingerale, chopped apples, and pomegranate seeds--delicious!

The day before, we went to the library to get some books and DVDs to last us through the very cold and very snowy Thanksgiving holiday we are having.  It snowed Tuesday night and most of the day Wednesday and more Wednesday night and even more this morning, so we also went sledding today on the new snow.  My boys are so funny about sledding.  J really shies away from most physical activities but will gladly walk up a steep hill over and over again if he gets to sled down it.  On the other hand, E is my rough and tumble, very physical one, but he can only ever make it a third of the way up our favorite hill before he needs someone to come down and take his sled for him and be his moral support for the rest of the way up.  This time around, E fell off the sled and hit his head on his first ride, but he rallied and made it a few more times.  J had fun until he decided to roll down the hill and lost his mittens on the way down and then began to cry because his hands were freezing.  And I lost my car keys on a sled run down to rescue E, so I was searching for a panicked ten minutes until I found them, almost completely covered with snow (power of prayer, people!).  Sledding is very exhausting for all of us, it turns out!

Meanwhile, the husband invited one of his "unaccompanied" new friends to Christmas dinner.  Unaccompanied is expat talk for a spouse whose trailing spouse and family haven't trailed along quite yet.  The husband asked if his friend coming over was alright and of course I said yes, though since we will arrive two days before Christmas, whatever we eat will be what I find in the store on my first ever grocery shopping expedition in Qatar, so I can't wait to make, eat, and describe that meal!  But we're bringing games and DVDs and little kids, so that's festive, right??  And I think the husband is endeavoring to get a Christmas tree still after he didn't get one at Ikea on his first try (yes, there's an Ikea in Qatar, and they sell Christmas trees, too--a Scandinavian Christmas miracle!), so it will be homey and everything...I hope!  I'll let you know how it goes!

And because it is obligatory but also a really good idea, let me say I am thankful for these three boys:

Yes, the lighting is all kinds of crazy here and it's also October in Cleveland.

Yes, I have my pants on my head.

Yes, I fell down and messed up my face the day before class pictures.