Thanksgiving Weekend

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone. I have been off of work for a week and it feels like only a couple of days at best. I think it's because I have not stopped since last Monday. The days before Thanksgiving were filled with errands, grocery shopping, getting food ready for Thanksgiving, cleaning the house etc.

Wednesday night the Goldsmith's arrived from their trip from Maine. Jackson was still up to greet his aunty, uncle and cousin. They did not get much time to hang out because it was passed Jackson's bedtime and Kristin and I were hoping he would get a good night sleep knowing he would not be taking any naps during the day Thursday. After the boys went to bed, the grownups played Farmville (Anthony and Amanda) and watched some TV before heading to bed.

Thanksgiving morning we were up early. Jackson was very excited for the arrival of his guests and to play with his big cousin. Daddy Henry arrived around 9:30ish, just in time for the boys to go down for a nap. He was hoping to get some time with them before the crowd arrived but without fail, they slept the time before our guests arrived.

People started getting to the house around 11:30. As usual, we had a ton of appetizer foods before dinner. This year I changed things up and made a different type of stuffed mushrooms from prior years. The change was that instead of making them with breadcrumbs and cheese, I made them with sauteed bacon and onions and mixed with cream cheese before stuffing the mushrooms and rolling them in breadcrumbs. They were definitely a crowd pleaser with not one left over. Some that will not go mentioned told me they preferred the old version. I'll leave that up to the jury to decide. We also had shrimp cocktail, different types of cheese, spankopita's and Leah's Italian antipasto. For dinner, we had 3 fried turkey's that I had brined for 2 days. I did not get to fry the turkeys because I spent much of the afternoon in the hospital with Jackson (story to follow). I addition to all the typical Thanksgiving meal fixins, I made a sour cream herb mashed potatoes and stuffing with Italian sausage and dried cranberries. The stuffing seemed to be a hit this year! Dessert was bountiful with plenty to select from.

Most of you who follow our blog know that Kristin and I ending up having to rush Jackson into the hospital on Thanksgiving. We ended up having to call 911 because Jackson had a severe allergic reaction to something unknown to us and the doctors. Just before going down for a nap early afternoon, he began breaking out in large white welts all over his body. This followed by his skin turning bright red and swelling. His breathing also was wheezy. Not knowing what was happening or what to do, I called his doctor, who called us back and told us to rush him into the hospital. He was brought to the hospital in an ambulance and was treated for an allergic reaction with steroids and antihistamines. We were at the hospital for a couple of hours before being released. The doctor did not know what caused the reaction. It could have been the new formula he was put on (though he had before when he was first born), peaches in his yogurt (again, had before), perfume someone was wearing that held him or from the shrimp on people's hands that were holding him. It's scary not knowing for sure. We are so very glad he is doing well now but it was nothing less than scary.

By the time we got home from the hospital, we had missed Thanksgiving dinner. We got to spend about an hour with folks before everyone headed home. My cousin who I have not seen in years had also come to our house and unfortunately, I did not get to spend any time with her. I felt bad because she was by herself with people she did not know as my mom followed Kristin and I to the hospital. She did call us later that night to tell us she had a great time though Kristin and I were not there.

Later that night after everyone left and Kristin and I cleaned our house which was a mess, Jared, Amanda, Friendly Henry, Kristin and I played our traditional Thanksgiving night Taboo. As always, we had many laughs, compliments of Friendly Henry. The funny thing is that the laughs are never the result of a joke, rather, it is because of the types of clues Friendly gave to Jared. All I have to say about that is "bomp!"

Friday morning, I cooked us up a big breakfast, which consisted of cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Kristin's hash casserole, bagels and amish bread. After breakfast, Daddy Henry spent some time with the boys before heading home later that morning. Below is a picture of Papa Goldsmith and his grandboys.

After the boys got up from their nap, Amanda and Kristin headed up to Rhode Island to have pictures taken of the boys for Christmas. Jared and I did not go knowing that the crowd would be ridiculous and seeing we have short patience, it was best we did not go. I am thankful we did not go after hearing they waited in line behind a family of 5 who were getting their pictures taken with multiple outfit changes!

While the girls were getting the pictures done, Jared and I picked up Jackson's prescription and headed over to the Vodoo Bar and Grill in Mystic for some frothy beverages. The Vodoo Bar and Grill is probably one of my favorite places to go around here for food and drink. It's nothing special but had great food that's cheap and always plenty on tap. We stayed for a while and got home just as the girls did. Later that night after the boys went to bed, we had pizza for dinner and Amanda's pickle dip. Later that night, we watched Elf (except Kristin who slept on the couch with her shower cap) before heading to bed.

Saturday the Goldsmith's headed home late morning. Kristin and I put some Christmas decorations up in the house while Jackson napped. Last night we went to Tar-jee and Babie'R'Us. We picked up some Panera before heading home to put the rugrat to bed. Our plan was to go to the Mystic boat parade and dinner but we were both exhausted and did not feel like getting dressed up to go out.

This morning we were all up early. Kristin and I spent the morning putting up the Christmas tree. Jackson was in his glory pulling ornaments out of the box and starring at all the lights on the tree. I spent the entire afternoon decorating the outside, which thankfully is all done! Grammie stopped by tonight because she bought Jackson a train set to go under the tree, which I set up for him. He enjoyed watching it though he was much more interested in pulling the train cars off the track, which I spent a while trying to get on.

All in all, it was a great weekend, though jam packed. It was good seeing the family Thanksgiving and to spend time with the Goldsmith's. As I think about Thanksgiving, I am still awed at the fact that both Jared, Amanda, Kristin and I have kids. It's funny looking back at the holiday's prior to having kids and what they are now.

I am not looking forward to the work week ahead, especially knowing I will be in Dallas for 3 of 5 work days this week. I would love to be someplace sunny and warm with a frosty beverage in hand while I sit by the pool right now. Maybe if I close my eyes and click my heals three times it will come true.....must be the glue I am sniffing right now making me delusional.

Below are some pictures I had taken of the boys playing, riding their fire truck Nannie got them and Kristin watching Elmo with Callum.