Thanksgiving 2024 Recap & More

I know the relevancy of this post has long past.  But, almost every year, I share a recap of Thanksgiving on the blog, and I didn’t want to miss this one as it was particularly special, our first Thanksgiving in Texas! Yeehaw! haha

I love how this year’s tablescape turned out, but I really need to get some nice white plates.  I bought a new set from Ashley Furniture only two years ago, and they are all chipped and scratched.  Last year I bought Christmas plates, now I guess I need Thanksgiving plates.  Either way, I’m happy with the result despite the plate situation! Most of the items, including the runner, center piece, and napkins, were bought at Home Goods. 

 

As the picture says, I was able to go to the gym in the morning, which was so great, but also, I ended up with braids and…. ya, not a choice I’d make again.  Some of y’all moms out there make them look so so so cute, but it just doesn’t look as cute on me.  Maybe French would have been better? Probably not. I’m just not meant for braids.  I mean, at least my WTF shirt for Wine Turkey & Family can also apply to WTF were you thinking of doing your hair like that?

But sometimes that’s the choice you make to fit in the gym. I’d rather have gotten in that workout than have my hair done any day.  Consistency requires sacrifice, although I think a messy bun might have been less embarrassing in photos later on.  haha will forever regret the braids. 

On the delicious simple menu:

• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Pioneer Woman, cut garlic in half, though!)
• Bacon Green Beans
• Cornbread (I added two diced jalapenos!)
• Cheesy Pees (Velveeta + milk +frozen peas)

4 out of 5 kids sat down for dinner (if nothing else to color), which I would consider a win.  This year’s opt out was KK, it’s always at least one. Ha ha, Baby girl more than made up for it by eating two plates of food. KJ was just happy the turkey didn’t have bacon on it. 

Of course, there was pie!  My MIL made her famous pecan pie (karo syrup bottle recipe, haha), and we picked up a pumpkin pie from Buttermilk Sky Pies, which was so good.  We also got sent an apple pie from Tootie Pie by a vendor at Mr. Hungry’s work, and OMG, it was everything I ever dreamed of.  Apple pie is my absolute favorite, and this might be the best one I’ve ever had.  I would absolutely order from there next year and consider sending it as a gift. The kids love it, too.  

My SIL knocked it out of the park with this super strong sangria that had everyone feeling nice!

Overall, it was a huge success! But Thanksgiving wasn’t the only day of fun.  The week off from school included a lot of fun things!  Like a full table of family with Hot Chocolate all around.

Okay, the grown-ups may have had some cranberry margs instead of hot chocolate. I make this recipe at least once every year!

We also celebrated my niece’s fourth birthday with an all-pink-themed birthday!

And we had lots of park time with the cousins as well, of course!

Having everyone together for the holidays is a dream! One day, we barbecued. And I reworked my antipasti salad recipe, which desperately needs new photos.  On another day, we did a taco bar with slow cooker taco meat. It was my first time trying that, and I definitely have some tweaks for next time, as it got a little runny.  But it was also good!

Salad packs and precooked steak from Costco are also always a win!

For the mass weekend before Thanksgiving, I challenged myself to wear something a little outside my comfort zone or in my usual style so I could match with baby girl. 

Her skirt matches my dress since you can’t really tell in this particular photo.  

I also read Ronan. See my Good Reads review in the screenshot below.  It’s a spin-off series from the Wolf Hotel Series, and I guess I would love anything from that series.  

I also started this series, Wolf King, which started okay, but it isn’t my favorite thing I’ve ever read.  It’s hard coming back from the Wolf Hotel Series, which is EPIC, into the regular world of reading.  It’s like after you finish ACOTAR, and you have a bit of a book hangover, but nothing quite like it.  But it’s probably for the best because the way I couldn’t put the Wolf Hotel books down is not good for my productivity level or sleep amounts.

 

I’ll leave you with this obligatory screaming baby Santa photo we got at church last week.  

Why did they cut out Mr. Hungry next to KK? I don’t know haha 

That’s it!  Back to more recipes tomorrow! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!