Thanksgiving

If I sit and think about it for a long enough time, I bet I could remember just about every Thanksgiving of my life and what I was doing for it. Growing up with a mother that hates cooking, we rarely spent a Thanksgiving in our own home. Most years, we traveled. Sometimes out of the country. If we did stay home, we went to friends' houses and made it into a big group affair.

I can remember eating spaghetti in Mexico. Traveling to Kansas to visit my grandfather and eating at my first and last ever "kids' table". Going to Vegas. Staying in Boulder during college and hosting Thanksgiving at my apartment. Having a big potluck dinner with my parents and their friends. Being in Mexico again, but this time eating the 20-pound turkey that my grandmother brought along, only to find out there was no oven in our condo (we boiled and/or microwaved it, in case you were wondering) (and, yes, my family really is crazy enough to take a turkey with us to Mexico).

More recently, we've gone to Phoenix to visit my dad's mother. It gives us a chance to escape to the heat once more before winter and spend time with family.

Strangely enough, my favorite Thanksgivings have been those when we stayed home, just our family and ate a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Of course, I love traveling and didn't mind the trips to Vegas or Phoenix or Mexico (crazy turkey story and all), but I really do love being home for Thanksgiving. Regardless, it doesn't matter where I spend the holiday. Most important is who I am with. I would hate to not be able to celebrate with those closest to me.

For the past few years, I haven't been able to spend Thanksgiving with my family and spent it with Matt's instead. I am forever grateful that they welcomed me with open arms. Now, they're my family too and I truly enjoy spending the holiday with them.

Yesterday, we spent the day eating, cooking, drinking mimosas, playing Guitar Hero, laughing, eating, drinking wine, playing with the dogs, drinking champagne, playing Apples to Apples, laughing, eating and probably laughing some more. It was a great way to spend the day and while I still missed spending it with my family, I was glad I had such a great group to enjoy it with. We truly are blessed.

And, since I wouldn't feel right without saying it, I am thankful for my loving husband; my wonderful family--both immediate and extended; my friends; my dog and the happiness she's brought into our lives; the roof over my head; the food on my table; the car I drive; those that fight every day to keep our country safe; having been born in the best country in the world; and the health and happiness of everyone I care about.

Happy Thanksgiving!