A week of Thanksgiving....

This has been an interesting week to say the least. Things started out on a bit of a down note with my Grandfather's health declining. He was admitted to the VA Hospital last Saturday and has since been transferred to a care facility. It is disappointing to see him in such a fragile state considering what grand memories I have of him. He has good and bad days, but I'm just not sure where things will go/should go from here. Thanksgiving was a little on the solemn side without either of my grandparents attending (Grandma stayed with Grandpa at his bedside) again. Last year they both had a bout of the Flu and I was so excited that they were going to be attending this year....well that was not to be. Thanksgiving was still nice and it was a relaxing laid back day all things considered. I decided that I wanted to cook EVERYTHING by myself this year and had a great time doing it. I spent the night before baking the pies..(ALL HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH!) Since we're still eating them, I think I made a few too many: pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato and a chocolate peanut butter pie. Then in the morning I prepped and started roasting the Turkey, made Watergate Salad and started the stuffing, yams and green bean casserole. I did get a little help, though. Tom peeled and cut the potatoes for me while I was doing everything else. Thanks Tom! So of course we then proceeded to stuff ourselves silly! The kids were so cute making noises of content with each bite, helping me feel good about all of the work I'd done. Everything really turned out so nice and I got great compliments from everyone about the quality of the food! Chris was especially greatful for my research and execution of true southern pecan and sweet potato pies. I have to say that I am pretty darn proud of myself.
Since Chris's schedule is so crazy, he was the first to drop for the obligatory nap. Followed very rapidly by my mom, the kids and I. What a nice day. Then, of course we had to plan our attack for the next morning. Yes, Chris and I are INSANE! We went Black Friday shopping, again. What a blast! We got up at 3:30 am and started at Wal-Mart. We took our friend Marguerite for her first Black Friday experience and I don't think that it was as exciting for her as we'd hoped. All things said, we got essentially everything we wanted, AND we survived! Later that day, my Mom took me for a girls day out and got me a MUCH NEEDED perm and hair cut! It's been a long time and I really needed it. Thanks Mommy! Then like we do every year, we went to Temple Square for the lighting of the Christmas Lights. We were late due to my hair appointment, but we still made it. This year was a little crazy and since my hair was still wet, we couldn't stay long because I was miserably cold. But at least we still got to go.
I am starting to realize that I have been a little uptight and tense for the last couple of days and I think I've finally figured it out...it's almost been a year since my surgeries and hospitalization and I think I am reliving the anxiety and fear that I was feeling then. I don't think I have ever verbally expressed the fear and uncertainty that I experienced and had just been greatful to just be okay. So, I apologize if my mood has been a little off..I will snap out of it soon, I promise!! :-)