How the token woman in a male household spends Thankgiving

First, I think I win the award for longest blog title thus far.
Second, this is a brief and humorous overview of our otherwise boring and uneventful Thanksgiving. When you come from a very small family (on both sides) when some sides aren't talking to each other, or everyone lives far away you may spend your holiday time finding other entertainment. It is in no way a reflection that I am not very thankful in every way.

I had visions of my entertainment. Starting off with sleeping in, possibly some shopping, lots of wine, lots or reading and some extra time of bike riding and working out EVERY day. Maybe a chick flick in there, and even a possible spa appointment with my leftover Mother's Day facial gift certificate. That was the vision...

Where there is a vision there is always reality.

I did get a haircut, and all the necessary groceries, vowing I would not go to the grocery store on Thanksgiving day because we weren't having dinner that day. I then had one small fry tell me HE NEEDED to get the wild turkey for dinner and so we had to go out and TRY. What time do you try and hunt for turkeys you ask? Let me tell you, 5 AM in the morning. So we pack up, turkey call in hand, camo, gas station donuts and cheez its and head out.

I don't get a workout in because while exiting the booth at happy hour, I twisted my knee (that already gives me problems) and ended up icing it for a whole night and taking it easy (so I could get up at AM for turkey calling)

Turkey day comes, when we ALL plan to go hunting so I don't plan ANY cooking. I forgot one important thing though, to let Big Fry know. Lumbering upstairs he asks, "when is turkey". Ooops. Needless to say he is a little miffed-I guess a 13 year old really looks forward to EATING on Thanksgiving. We pacify him with beef wellington-way harder then a dang turkey, AFTER out hunting.

Instead of shopping, it is out for day two of hunting AT 5 AM. No luck, I again thank my lucky stars we are not pioneers. We would be praire or hills dust if we were.

And now I am down to one ay left with DINNER to cook tomorrow as Nana arrives. And then already back to work.

So here I am no facial, no extra workout, no chick flick and TOO much wine that made me to tired to read at night, and really needing those workouts.

But here is the reality...I spent two mornings in absolute silence, no phone, no traffic, side by side with a small fry. One of the days so absolutely beautiful with an overcast sky and big, fat snowflakes drifting down through the pines, watching deer run away from us, and hearing the excitement in his voice. I couldn't have taken a picture that did the moment justice.

I also trudged myself off to the very expensive movie theater for Big Fry to meet a "friend" and was instantly aware of what being a 13 year old girl feels like all over again. LIKE INSTANTLY. And now I am doing all the indoor work while hubby works on a fort for small fry before he heads off for hunting. AGAIN.

There it is, being the token female in an all male house. Quite a bit to be thankful for. Don't worry, I am shooting for the facial at Christmas.

The rest of the story...

Ok, if you didn't read the last post, do that first.

Now here is how anniversary night 18 went down.
Started with multiple texts:
What do you want to do tonight?
I don't know... apps and a drink?
Sure, how about this new place_______ here is the menu link
Looks good (very good I thought)
Ok, they open at 5.

So at about 4 Small Fry calls to tell me he needs me to go to the grocery story, and by the way do I like licorice. Ummmm why... I am making dinner he responds, a surprise dinner for your anniversary! Ok... did you talk to dad we are going out, maybe another night. Silence...sigh, that's what dad said. Fast forward, he calls. Three times, "Ok, just don't eat dessert, pick me up dark chocolate cake mix and white, I am making dessert". Fast forward, rush through Walmart get necessary cake mix and rush home.

As I walk into the house and into the kitchen I see adopted child number 2 (aka neighbor friend of Small Fry) at breakfast bar, mise en place galore. He is using my potato masher to make meatballs from...wait for it...Pioneer Woman cookbook! Small Fry has his own mise en place for dessert, flour, oil and cake mix. Adopted child number 2 (Big Fry's best friend) arrives with Big Fry and dog in tow. The house is now full of 4 boys, one dog and ingredients all over the kitchen and floor, the dog to say the least is pleased. We debate. We decide go anyway as the big boys PROMISE to not pester and even help if necessary.

Fast forward to restaurant, beautiful in decor and then the menu is place in front of us. WHAT...7 things. 7 MEXICAN THINGS. That I can make at home?? Um ya the waitress says, we changed our menu last Wednesday. We grin. We bear it. We WILL eat out for our anniversary. We ask for the wine list, "ummm let me check with the bartender". I ask for a "glass of wine, Merlot".  Response "um ya uh let me check with the bartender, um well I can give you taste of something we have like it.". You see where this is going people, DON'T YOU. Hubby asks for beer. 5 minutes later, "umm ya we are out of the that". The decision is made, throw in the towel...

We pick up a bottle of wine on the way home, come back to a  whole and still standing house and semi clean kitchen where I help finish making surprise dessert, hubby makes surprise meatballs, I go to soccer, come back from soccer, do some laundry, wait for meatballs and with relish eat...dessert.

Like the previous post says, one big roller coaster. And I coudn't have chose a better person to take the ride with.

By the way bonus points for the first person who knows what mise en place means!

Anniversary Night #18

Watch the clip until about the last 10 seconds, yes it really is a rollercoaster. Here is just a short old school movie clip that gives you a preview of how #18 started..,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW2ebN3PWT0

More details later

Fun Sucker

I am all about being an informed citizen. I am all about eateries and dining places being more forthcoming. But REALLY? Does McDonalods really need to post the calories of the coveted Egg Nog Shake, which comes out but once a year?

Totally sucking the fun out of fast food consumption.

Figuring it out

Week 3 of parent-teacher conferences. Week one MY school, week two Small Fry's, and week 3 and tonight-Big Fry's. Here is the deal, I DREAD parent teacher conferences. Not the ones at MY school, not usually anyway, unless I have some outlier parent lurking to pounce on me about something I know nothing about. Really people? With 630 kids I really don't always know everything that is going on or sadly EVERY kid.

I usually don't dread Small Fry's either-until last year when I was pounced on by the teacher and his imature, off task behavior. I listened when I really wanted to say "Umm ya, you didn't have the older one did you?".Small fry left in tears after that one, no one likes sitting there hearing non-glowing things, especially a perfectionistic Small Fry.(By the way his teacher rocked) So it made my heart happy when this year we had quite a different picture in all aspects, he loves being considered an awesome math student and gasp-a leader. It did his heart good and makes up for his lamenting about his lack of height-which has been weighing heavy on him.

So tonight was Big Fry's turn. Well our turn, we didn't take him along, it is to distracting for ME. We heard the usual things. "Late works affect grade", "Rushes through work", " Could get an A easily but you know, he just gets a little off the path". Then I heard the other parts. "Love him, could talk to him for hours" -this from the kindred spirit science teacher. "He is very respectful", "Really very bright", "Comprehending at a 12th grade level with the reading assessment.", and "I have to nag, but he is always good".

I didn't think much of it there, but I did think of it later as I pondered what to blog. I finally left a conference not worried, and dare I say maybe a little happy. And here is why. It wasn't the almost A comment or bright comment, it was the respectful comment that came up, more than once. See I texted my good friend Karen, and others that I share my horrible days with (not all the details-just my emotional venting in brief 21st century texting-venting style), that somedays I just DON'T GET IT. I don't get how some children, among my very own 630 that are just um, how do I say it with some PC, just not very respectful. And lets admit, not very nice, and downright not likeable. And not just one kid, one time, But a small minority and many times, over many years. In the words of Taylor Swift, "This is exhausting".

But here is the thing, I KNOW what I am doing, because I created, well we (Hubby) created a RESPECTFUL kid. It may not be evident every minute, or with his dear parents all the time, and he will mistep in the future. But do not underestimate the power of NICE people. We need more of it, and I will keep fighting the fight of creating nice children.

Even if it causes me gray hair (I can color it) and emotional eating of cheetos and wine every night. I really heard wine is healthy and well the cheetos, well, ok, maybe need another outlet.