Hi. I hope that those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday had a nice day. Finn and I traveled to Florida on Tuesday evening so that we could spend the holiday with my family.
The Charlotte airport was super insane and I was very glad that I finally got TSA pre-check a couple of months ago. It has been a lifesaver when it comes to security lines + when traveling with a baby it’s SO nice not to have to take off your shoes or get your electronics out.
Finn has officially joined us at the table! My mom and I picked up this booster seat and it’s a great, compact seat to keep here in Florida and I love that we can pull a chair right up to the table for Finn. I tried avocado the first night…was not a fan. Sweet potatoes mixed with a little breast milk went a lot better on Thanksgiving!
We had a very relaxed Thanksgiving. It was overcast and chilly in the morning but got sunny and beautiful by the afternoon. We hung out and I baked a pie in the morning and then we ventured out for a long walk around the neighborhood and on the beach with my mom and Sam.
I brought the jogging stroller to Florida thinking that I’d do my annual personal turkey trot but I had no desire to do anything other than walk so that’s what we did. This is the first year I haven’t run on Thanksgiving in I can’t even remember how long.
Finn took a power nap while I showered and got ready for Thanksgiving dinner. He woke up a very grumpy turkey but I was able to get him into his Thanksgiving outfit and cheered up. Look at this little man!
We ventured up to my parents condo with my grandmother around 4. (Finn and I stay with my grandmother but my parents are one floor up.)
Here’s the spread! We had roast turkey with homemade gravy, sweet potato casserole, collard green gratin, my dad’s homemade dressing and cherry ginger cranberry sauce. It was all so, so good! And let me tell you, I was very happy not to be responsible for the turkey this year. I don’t mind doing it but it’s a lot of pressure. Haha. My dad did all of this…basically by himself. My ability to help cook was severely limited this year thanks to a certain 17 pound turkey! 🙂
My dad made an apple cranberry pie with homemade pie crust. Just look at how fluffy his crust is. So, so good.
I made a pumpkin pie with a brown sugar walnut topping. I used a store-bought crust because, again, that 17 lb turkey of mine! 😉
We ended the night on the couch with pie. Finn took a nap, my parents and grandmother watched a show and I read my book. I am so into Where the Crawdads Sing. It has sucked me in!
I was in bed by 9 p.m. and fast asleep by 9:15.
I would like to wrap up this post with a big THANK YOU to all of you. I’ve been blogging for over eight years now and this last year has been incredibly special when it comes to the connection, love and support I’ve felt with my readers. I truly feel like I’ve been wrapped up in a virtual hug as I’ve walked into motherhood. Finn is absolutely the light of my life and I can never thank you enough for all of your insights, shared antidotes, suggestions, encouraging words and silent prayers.
Tell me about your Thanksgiving! What did you do? What did you eat? What did you have for dessert?
Your Great Aunt Ruth made a wonderful Apple Cranberry Pie and until you mentioned it in this blog I had forgotten about it and how good it was. Finn is so beautiful, I really enjoy following the two of you.
Love, Carolyn
Oh wow, I’ll have to share this with my dad. 🙂 Carolyn, I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you read my blog. I love you bunches! xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving! We had a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner. Lots of family and friends. I was responsible for the turkey’s. I go to our People’s Food Co Op. I ordered two locally raised organic turkeys, brined them, and boy they were so delicious!
Finn is so precious, I enjoy your blogs so much.
I would love to know how you dad,s pie crust is made, also his apple cranberry pie. I clicked on the link for the pie, but taste of food makes you pay for the recipe.
AnywY, can’t wait to see how Finn gets into Christmas!
Fondly
I LOVE the sound of your Thanksgiving and your local turkeys. I really, really appreciate you reading my blog and commenting. It is so nice to connect. I will let you know about the all-butter crust and the pie recipe!
FINN IS THE CUTEST!!
AHHH THANK YOU! I’m biased but I agree! 🙂
Finn is absolutely ADORABLE! Thanks for sharing your lovely Thanksgiving! I spent yesterday skiing with Dad here in Colorado so we moved our Thanksgiving meal to today 🙂
My parents and brother and I are not fans of turkey and the traditional Thanksgiving foods so instead my Dad made Bo Ssam (pork shoulder!) with all the fixings and it is INCREDIBLE! My brother was not here but he FaceTimed us which was nice 🙂 I made HowSweetEats’ coconut pumpkin cake even though I am so not a cake person – it was delicious and a small piece was almost too much for me so the leftovers will be taken to work on Monday haha!
Happy Thanksgiving and so glad you got to spend it with family!
Oh wow, skiing! How fun!!! Your Thanksgiving meal sounds super awesome!
Those pies looked amazing! Looks like a nice holiday. And Finn “hugging” you while in the carrier in the first pic …aww!
The pies were awesome!!! They were a great compliment to each other. And yes, I love babywearing so much!
Omg Jen, Finn looks so adorable in his thanksgiving outfit. Everything looks delicious. It sounds like you had a nice relaxing thanksgiving surrounded by lots of love.
We had a small gathering this year there were 6 of us including my two little ones. The kids were not big fans of thanksgiving dinner this year. My 4 year old said he didn’t like this dinner it was yucky ? and my 12 month old was having a rough evening and only had a few tastes of everything before he decided he didn’t want to sit in his chair anymore. Overall it was a good day.
Thank you. It’s fun to dress him up in “little man” clothes! I have heard that Thanksgiving meals can be VERY hit or miss with little ones. I’m glad it was overall a good day for you guys. xo