When All Else Fails Bake Cookies

Thanksgiving is in two days, and somehow were are having 16 adults & children over in our little house. It all happened last minute - we were only going to have one family over - and then everyone else's plans fell through and before I knew it had a calls and messages to see if the offer still stands - well of course the offer stands.

Nate and I talked about it last night, and I told him well I am not really stressed, we have a plan to semi-contain all the little people, we will have plenty of food, and thank God the people who are coming over, are so laid back and relaxed.

I should have known better then to play the card "surprisingly I am not stressed out," who says that. This morning was like any other morning, I had my tea, read my scriptures, watched the kids terrorize each other, and kiss Nate good-bye as he went to the fire station. Then it hit me, Thanksgiving is in two days and I have so much to do. I have to getting everything together for the food, I have to make a giant turkey, I have to clean my house, I have a ton of laundry to wash and fold, and to top it all when I opened the fridge our de-thawing turkey had leaked all over the place - disgusting!

I took a breath cleaned up the turkey mess, put a load of laundry in the wash, loaded up the kids - and headed to the store. At least I was smart about this choice and went to a German grocery store - no commissary lines for me! We got all we needed as I declared to cookie baking, and book reading in the teepee. Screw you Thanksgiving stress - I own you!

I quickly stopped at my friends house to give her our old infant car seat - Hayleigh graduated to a bug girl seat. My sweet friend gave me a coffee mug - not just any mug - a Moomin mug - I freaken love Moomin, and I love having a Finnish friend, who knows Moomin!! She is awesome! Sorry - I got distracted!

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The kids and I made it home, and we had a blast!! We baked cookies, in all sorts of fall shapes.

Decorating was a royal failure [seriously what mother doesn't have some food coloring in the house] - we settled for dipping cookies in white icing with colored sugar crystals in it - may I add it is made from natural colorants so at least I get some bonus points for that!!

The kids loved it, especially Hayleigh the dipping part was the most fun - we made it work - we made it fun - and I decided it will not ruin my day!! Deep breaths!!!

I am in love with our teepee, what a fun way to change up the ordinary - it cost us almost nothing to make it since we had almost everything - the cheap projects are the fun ones!!!

I spend the rest of the day reflecting on all the beautiful things in my life - all the things that I am grateful and thankful for. I was flooded with this emotion of gratitude and the fact that I am blessed enough to afford a turkey to stress over.... my stress is so little in comparison to others. I hugged, snuggled, and cuddle these two little bodies all day long - feeling at peace. Reading way to many nursery rhymes - and even more when they would cried out "more, more" in unison. I am teaching Ian his first Nursery Rhyme - Humpty Dumpty - and he thinks it is hilarious!!!