Thanksgiving 2011

We spent Thanksgiving at home this year.  This is the first time in the past 13 years or so that we spent it as a family at our own home.  Note: 13 years is the number of years that Michelle and I have known each other.

In short, we don't do this.  In the past, we have gone out to eat.  In Idaho, it was the Shilo Inn.  It was good.  Or, we'd take the trip to SLC to eat at Little America.  It was good, too.  Before I was married, we'd drive as a family to Twin Falls or Jackpot Nevada.  Nothing says "Thanksgiving" like sidling up to the buffet line at Cactus Pete's... or, watching in disbelief as the waitress at the Golden Corral (it could have been another restaurant... I forget) dumps the entire tray of Thanksgiving meals (all 7 of us) at our table.  It took the rest of the day to pick the gravy-covered mashed potatoes out of our shoes.

Since we've been in Pittsburgh, its been the Marriott here in Cranberry or the Grand Concourse in Pittsburgh proper.  The Marriott was good... the Grand Concourse wasn't anything to write home about.

A few times during the past decade, we would meet up with friends or family and do a big combined shin-dig.

This year, I had mentioned that we go to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, which is about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh.  By the looks of it, it would have been a honkin' good time (http://www.nemacolin.com/).

This year, we decided almost at the last minute (roughly 3 days before the holiday) to stay at home.  It was an odd feeling, really... kinda like deciding to do your own appendectomy since you already have the time and the tools to do it yourself.

So, we made up the menu and went out to buy the ingredients: ham, stuffing, salads, dinner rolls, baked mac-and-cheese, cole slaw, baked spaghetti squash, mashed potatoes, breads, fruits, vegetables, etc.  It was quite the spread... and we only ate about 1% of it.  To top it off: key lime cheesecake and Michelle's blackberry and raspberry topped creme brulee (which is probably more addictive than chocolate-dipped crystal methamphetamine).  And, in true Jensen fashion, Amberlee started to feel a bit ill later that day.  She ended up snuggling next to me on the couch... then showed her true love for me with a sudden barf explosion.  Semi-digested Thanksgiving is so nice to have all over one's self, the couch, the carpet, etc.

All said, it was a good choice to have it at home this year.  I'll save Nemacolin for dogsledding, skiing, or the 4X4 adventure.

The Spread

The Creme Brulee.... do'h!

The Gang

The "Full" Mark

Young Einsteins

Michelle and I keep telling ourselves that we were blessed with brilliant and obedient children.  As you can see below, we usually get the same reaction from our boys no matter what is asked of them.  Now, we can interpret this in one of two ways.  First, we can interpret these expressions as proof that our kids' intellect is so advanced that our questions to them are obvious-- and a waste of their time to even consider, OR we can interpret these as proof that our kids need to start wearing beanie hats with a chin strap when they ride the bus to school, dimly aware of their own existence.  

We just can't figure it out yet...

Amberlee Turns 3

A few weeks ago, our youngest turned 3 years old.  This is significant because it also represents the number of years we've been in Pennsylvania.  I left for PA when she was just a couple weeks old, and she moved here with the family on a permanent basis when she was just a bit over a month old.

She's changed a lot...

Before--

After--

Never Trust Your 5-Year-Old With A Secret

It was time for the dentist yesterday when we ran squarely into Preston's stubbornness.  He was NOT going to go.  He had a small cavity that needed to be filled, but he insisted on staying home.

I pulled a suggestion from my "How To Be An Awesome Dad" handbook-- bribery.  So, I took him aside to tell him that if he chooses to go, I'll make sure that one of Ethan's upcoming birthday presents is opened early this year (his b-day is on Dec 1st), just in time for Thanksgiving.  The gift: Phineas and Ferb: Across the Second Dimension (the Wii game).  These two runts have been bugging us for months to purchase this for them.  We caved.

But, to date, its been in a bag downstairs in the basement, waiting for his birthday to arrive.

Upon telling Preston of this plan, he relented and went to the dentist.  When he got home, he insisted on seeing the game.  So, I showed it to him.

Me: "Now, you cannot tell your brother... it'll be our secret, OK?  Just wait 2 days!"
Preston: "OK, dad."

Roughly an hour later, Ethan comes up to me to say, "So, did you buy me that Phineas and Ferb game?"  I said, "No" (this was a must-lie situation).  Preston, fearing I was lying to him, came up to us and said, "But, dad, you said you bought one."

The gig was up.  Ethan was on to us.

Ethan: "So, you DID buy the Phineas and Ferb game, didn't you!"
Preston: "Crap, dad, he knows!"
Dad: "Uh, no."
Ethan: "Preston?  Did he buy it?"
Preston: "Umm...."

Moral of the story: don't trust your kindergartner to hold a secret for very long.  I guess when you raise them to be honest, its hard for them to purposely be deceitful when the time calls for it.

I mean, how hard is it to lie?  It isn't that hard.  Clearly, I need to do a better job at raising these boys to be men.

Finally, I Have Struck It Rich

Somehow, I always knew I had money hidden somewhere that would one day change my life... inheritance, someone taking pity on me and leaving me his estate, whatever.

Moving to Pennsylvania made it a bit harder to find me, apparently.  But, the State of Idaho finally caught up to me and forwarded the money that was found in my name.  Today was my lucky day.

Rather than spoil the surprise, I'll let you read it for yourself.  My only question now is-- how do I spend it?