We made it through another COVID holiday. Good, because we’re healthy and together. But it’s not as good as it can be. Because God love my incredible family, but, you know, I see them all the damn time. So we made some delicious food that we wouldn’t normally make. But it wasn’t the same. And I won’t pretend it was preferable to our normal. There, I said it.
A few months ago, I ordered these Thanksgiving outfits from Zulily. Cue the asshole anyway for buying non-Christmas holiday-themed outfits for her kids. But as soon as I did, I was all, “What am I thinking? Are we even going to have Thanksgiving with the family this year?”
My mom is Gigi to Olivia and I found the perfect dress. Her seeing Olivia’s outfit just wasn’t the same on video chat. And Emelia. I was feeling pretty accomplished with this onesie and while I got photo evidence and that’s all that matters…just ugh.
Olivia did say this was the best Thanksgiving meal ever. We didn’t want to get a giant turkey, so we got a turkey breast and put it in the sous vide. It turned out amazing and now Chris wants to do an entire turkey in there. I made my mom’s mashed potato casserole that we have every Thanksgiving, and Chris made homemade cranberry sauce which was more of a happy accident since I didn’t feel like running back out to the store and we got fresh cranberries in our Misfits Market box. I made glazed carrots in the air fryer (amazing) and we just used a boxed stuffing and corn. Chris made a homemade pumpkin pie (happy accident again. We dropped the ball at getting our order in at any decent pie place) and that was amazing. So, overall, kudos on the food.
Emelia got to have her first Thanksgiving dinner, which again, wasn’t the same as being at my parents, but it is what it is. Olivia did great eating.
The pumpkin pie was a hit with everyone.
We Skyped with both our families, but eh. I’m so thankful for my babies, but staying home for these holidays is hard, especially when those around us were still out celebrating with family. It’s hard. It’s isolating. You start feeling like everyone else is doing just fine maintaining the status quo and here you are trying to do the right thing and make your sacrifices, but you can’t help but wonder who’s sacrificing the most?
As I’m sure this is going to be our reality come Christmas, I need to figure out how I’m going to handle it all. But really, it was a good day, even if it felt like a normal day in our world now.
Please keep on staying careful and safe. Everyone safe and alive for next year’s holidays PLEASE. It is not fun, esp at holidays but alive and not hospitalized and not long-hauling serious illness is really really key. AND, because if you guys get sick you will not post and I really really need the lift and cheer and reality and normal your posts bring me. Olivia’s plate of separated foods in small quantities…… such memories … such joy.
THANK YOU. You are vital to my courage.
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Thank you Rose!
Thank you for being real. It was really hard. I love my nuclear little family, but damn, it was hard. My anxiety was at a level 9 pretty much all weekend. I had to get off of social media because I got really sick of the posts and pictures of “our perfect little family Thanksgiving — look at us all dressed up…” or “I need a break away so I decided to travel by plane to see my family”. Yep, I need a break too…
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YES! It makes me feel so negative, but seriously. Love them. See them all the dang time. 😀
I am so jealous of your good eaters!! I don’t think Bowen ate a thing at very small Thanksgiving lunch other than maybe a few bits of ham. Love their ourfits!!
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Ha ha! Well the turkey I wasn’t sure about, because of her weirdness with meat, but she had seconds of it. You never know what she’s going to do. Hope you guys had a good Thanksgiving!
So cute and the food looks yummy! But I definitely hear what you’re saying! We are spending time with my dad and sis and bro and kids because we have been all along and my dad is older and I want Ellie to know and bond with him and be with cousins. But I totally respect wanting to keep risks lower than that.