Oh my oh my, it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving and as I’m sitting down to write down this recap I’m pondering I ought to have accomplished it sooner. My head is already abuzz with the happenings of a brand new week upon us (and cyber Monday offers to peruse, as nicely), so I greatest replenish a second cup of espresso and recap whereas it’s all as recent because it’s going to get.
This weblog (particularly the non-public life recap part) has turn out to be such a private diary/document e book so whilst you may encourage me simply to maneuver alongside, I can’t do it. I really like having these life occasions to learn again on! So let’s time journey again to every week in the past (cue dream sequence music…)
Thanksgiving Week 2025
The women and I headed all the way down to Georgia on Monday and met mother at her property. When my Nannie handed away final yr her cozy dwelling and acreage in rural Georgia was break up between mother and her siblings. Whereas they bought the home (to a very nice couple which eased the ache of realizing it’s now not Nannie and Pawpaw’s farm), mother is holding onto her 35+ acres of lovely meadow, woods, and creek that additionally holds the household pecan tree, from which Nannie gifted us shelled, frozen pecans from annually. We walked the property, chatted with my uncle (who lives adjoining), and picked up pecans. It was very nice to have a little bit of our conventional Thanksgiving really feel in a yr wherein we’re beginning a brand new custom.
Way back to I can keep in mind, Thanksgiving has been at “the farm” however this yr mother took on internet hosting and the ladies and I have been excited to return down early and assist the place we might. After our nation tour, we headed to mother’s home for snacks and drinks on the dock.
The following morning we walked the canine, walked by way of the Thanksgiving recreation plan, then walked some outlets earlier than ending up on the movie show to see Depraved 2. The theater was PACKED, youngsters in costume and all the things. I had low expectations concerning the film based mostly on some opinions I learn, so with that, we have been pleasantly shocked and really discovered it fairly satisfying.
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We have been all excited Wednesday morning as a result of my brother and his crew have been up and on their manner vivid and early. Whereas the ladies and their cousins instantly took off to catch up and play, the remainder of us started working baking pies, getting the elements prepped for Nannie’s stuffing (Kris took this one on which I admired as a result of it’s an outdated trend household recipe with instructions like “one can of broth” and no actual measurements), organising tables, and dry brining the turkey.
David arrived within the afternoon and he and Kris put in a brand new TV downstairs for mom- a much bigger, flatter display screen for extra optimum soccer viewing and permitting for extra ground area, which the ladies took full benefit of after they introduced us with a Thanksgiving play wherein the acted out, comedically, our lengthy standing household Thanksgiving traditions and tales from the time the youngsters bought misplaced within the woods to David being requested by Nannie to say the blessing. It was all very candy.
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Kris grilled up some fabulous ribeye steaks and all of us loved catching up over a scrumptious dinner earlier than calling it an evening to get some relaxation earlier than the primary occasion.
Mother pulled the turkey out of the fridge at 6:00 AM and it was baking and filling the home with a scrumptious aroma inside an hour or two. The children sleepily trudged upstairs and have been greeted with Nana’s scorching chocolate and “Nana” nut bread to get pleasure from whereas watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It made such a festive background as the remainder of us bustled round to prep the meals, the tables, and ourselves for the primary occasion.
By the point 11:30 rolled round, household was starting to reach. It was a good looking day and the afternoon unfolded in such an natural and satisfying manner, one would have thought we had at all times had Thanksgiving at mother’s home. The principle occasion was my cousin’s new child boy, who all of us ceaselessly fawned over. Natalia was so gracious in permitting us to take turns holding him, and I believe it was the spotlight of Hailey’s complete day.
We feasted and sipped wine and cheered the Packers to a victory and watched the youngsters all placed on one other wonderful Thanksgiving play for our whole group of 25, which I assumed was admirable as a result of that’s a fairly large group to carry out for. Within the late afternoon into the early night issues started to wrap up. Hugs have been plentiful and the normal group picture was snapped. Mother likes to say that internet hosting isn’t her power, however I don’t know of anybody else that would make everybody really feel so welcome and so comfy and so fortunately fed. She made this primary yr of a brand new custom really feel as cozy and heat as one which’s been carried on for many years.
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With all of the serving to fingers issues have been largely cleaned up by the point we went to mattress that night time, fortunately exhausted.
The following morning after sipping espresso we hugged mother goodbye and took to the street. We made a rapid cease again at dwelling for clear underwear and a coop verify (THREE EGGS! I believe we’re as much as three laying hens and it’s extremely thrilling) earlier than heading west to David’s people’s home, which is a simple 45 minutes away from us now. Such a blessing.
We arrived in time to hug all our nieces and nephews who’re all so grown that even on my tippy toes, I’m hugging them across the waist, earlier than the kick off to the Georgia vs Georgia Tech soccer recreation. 22 years in the past David and I met at a tailgate for that rivalry recreation and it feels a little bit like an anniversary to us annually. An anniversary that’s fraught with facet eyed glares of opposing groups, I suppose, however an anniversary nonetheless. 😉
The Dixon crew are all Georgia Tech followers, so it’s robust to be the lone bulldog (not lone, as Kaitlyn fortunately did pushups with me upon every rating). Rather less robust David assures me as a result of Georgia has just about dominated the sequence for the previous 9 years. 😉 All joking apart, everybody is sweet sports activities and it’s quite a lot of enjoyable (particularly so long as Georgia retains profitable).
In between soccer watching and puzzling we loved Grandpa’s chili and snapped an image within the humorous elf outfits Mema procured for us all! I loved making the rounds and listening to what was happening in my nieces’ and nephews lives, as I don’t get to meet up with them as typically as I’d like. It’s so enjoyable to listen to tales about school soccer video games, sorority rush, highschool basketball, and soccer tournaments. Youngsters positive do develop up shortly.
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Saturday afternoon we made our manner again dwelling to the completely happy shock that… STAR IS BACK! That loopy elf put a brand new star on our tree and bought himself all wrapped up within the course of. That may solely imply one thing- it’s Christmas season!
The remainder of the weekend we spent doing laundry, watching soccer, retaining Christmas films rolling, restocking the kitchen, and getting our ft again beneath us. What an exquisite whirlwind Thanksgiving week is. Did I cry within the automobile with the emotion of lacking people who aren’t with us anymore? Sure, sure I did. However does that make me much more understanding of how treasured every season is and to not take something without any consideration? 100%.
I hope you had an exquisite Thanksgiving and be part of me in leaning into the Christmas season beginning now- play these tunes, sip that peppermint bark creamer, and lightweight these candles. Completely happy December! <3
