The "Real" Turkey Day

I'd love to show off all my wonderful pictures of Turkey Day and tell you how spectacular the day was, but you know me better than that. I don't sugar coat anything and let's face it Holidays bring out the best and WORST in people.

It all started out benign enough, quick trip to Chicago for a laid back visit and some turkey. Well, traveling all over Chicago with a four year old and eighteen month old is anything but laid back.

I have to admit that I wasn't the greatest role model, because {as usual} I had procrastinated on the packing part. As I was rummaging through laundry baskets of clean clothes that were yet to meet drawers or hangers after two weeks, I became angrier and angrier. This did not bode well for those in my path. After finally finding my undies, and packing both boys clothes, toys and other odd ball necessities we were ready to hit the road.

But the anger was still there along with an annoying eye twitch that deserves a blog post all to itself, as it drove the knife of insanity further into my psyche.

As the miles passed I pondered turning back, saying to hell with it. There will always be next year, plus the fact that over half of B2's family wasn't even there to join us in Chicago. However, I didn't want to disappoint B2's mom and his cousin, and I REALLY wanted to see our wonderful friends whom we only see at Thanksgiving, and stay at White Pines.

So we plundered on.

Even though the boys fought in the backseat, and their thanksgiving dinner consisted of buns and fruit {thank goodness grandma brought fruit}, and E sang "Bob the Builder" twenty million times and I don't thing either one of them slept more than five hours each night, and my frustration level was at code orange, I was able {as best I could} to hold it together, so I could enjoy some of those little moments that make your heart melt...

Like singing Christmas carols in the car.

Listening to E and G "talk" to each other in their room.

Feeding G pumpkin pie.

Finding pennies at the cabin in White Pines.

Seeing Santa Claus without a line, and watching E just chat with him like he was his best friend.

Watching G flip out about seeing Santa, and Max the parrot.

Picking out a Christmas tree in the rain.

And that is what a "real" holiday is all about.  The good, the great and of course the ugly.

So, how was your Thanksgiving?