giving thanks

Stuff we are thankful for in 2010:

jobs

new friends

old friends

getting involved in a new church

salsa at Cyclone

queso blanco at Escalantes

Mexican food in general

crossing the finish line at the half ironman

getting CCC's and becoming a certified SLP

Friday lunch dates at Demeris

great family, including in-laws we love

Catchphrase (aka Outbreak) with PaPa

surviving white water rafting

Keurig one cup coffee maker

successful kickball season

1year anniversary in San Antonio

weekend lake trips

baylor bears bowl eligibility

our little home in b306

new opportunities on the horizon

We spent Thanksgiving this year in Allen. It was Tate's first Nicholson Thanksgiving...lucky. Both of us had Thanksgiving Break with Wednesday-Friday off, so we drove to Allen Tuesday night. We've come to the conclusion that when working for the great state of Texas and being self-employed, the only real "perk of job" is the vacation. No holiday parties or concert tickes, no paid lunches or Reliant boxes. But we'll gladly take our time off and enjoy it. And that we did!

Wednesday consisted of a morning of swimming for the triathletes and sleeping-in for the other people. We met up for casual lunch at a new restaurant in Village of Fairview and gave it the full "Nicholson Restaurant Review." You see, most families would go out to eat at a new place and either say, "it was good" or "it wasn't", but no, no no, not my family. We go through a mental checklist, a full evaluation, analyzing everything starting with the wait time, followed by the service, the food, and then its a free-for-all, evaluating everything from the loudness of the speaker used to announce your order to the presentation of the mayonnaise packets (which were both mentioned in this particular review).   It's one of those things that's never really been talked about, but we all four unconsciously partake in, throwing in our two cents (which is probably worth more). I never realized it until an "outsider", we'll call him John Dolleson, brought it to our attention. Now it's just funny. Say what you want, but it's become an unofficial tradition, a ridiculous bonding experience. It serves as a prelude to meals at almost every restaurant we go to, and this one was no different.

Moving on, after lunch the guys went to do other manly/athletic activities like going to the bike store and watching football, while Mom and I ran wedding/shopping errands and Lynley went home to do some chores? On Thanksgiving Eve, Tate and I met up with the besties (minus a few: Lynley, Nikki, Lindsey) for dinner at Mi Cocina, or Mi Co as it is called by the natives. It was so much fun catching up over dinner (and the queso and brisket tacos weren't bad either)! Growing up, my favorite thing about Thanksgiving was the food. Now that we are grown and not in the same town, it is a tie between catching up with friends and the food. After dinner, we went home and helped mom get ready for the next day's big meal. I made my usual, which used to be pumpkin pie, but now also includes chocolate chip pie because I heart my picky selective husband!

Thursday was Thanksgiving! At our house, both sides of our family get together for the big day. So we got to celebrate with my dad's family and mom's family-- all 25 of them!  Grandpa Lyn gives the practical life advice: don't get in a white van, if someone attacks you stab them in the armpit with your car key, scratch out your security code on the back of your credit card, etc., while Grandpa Billy Bunk provides the comic relief. Grandma Flo brings the pea salad with a helping of sassy charm. Grandma Jackie was our question-asker, but luckily she instilled that trait in her eldest daughter, Jan. Everyone knows their role and plays their part quite well!

This year, I am proud to say, I took a more active role in the Thanksgiving meal. I learned how to make dressing and sweet potatoes, thanks to Aunt Jo's supervision. I figured at some point I am going to need to know how to make this stuff anyway, and was reminded that " in a few years" I will be the "family matriarch"...does someone knows something that I don't? Anyway, the meal turned out great! As always, we had too much food, but isn't that what Thanksgiving is about anyway? After we ate, we ate some more, played Catchphrase, watched football and looked through sale ads. It was a great Thanksgiving!