Well, I missed posting on Thanksgiving, but it's never too late to reflect on what one is thankful for. It's been a great little break so far. I love Thanksgiving break for many reasons. It's too short of course (although Beau suggests I'm being a little greedy), but it's always busy with fun activities in anticipation of Christmas. And over the last couple of years, it's seemed to take a sort of similar routine:Wednesday is de-stressing day. I always attempt to sleep in (failed attempt #1), but decide I'm going to instead wake up, make something warm to drink, and curl up on the couch for some morning TV. Due to my inability to relax, thanks to my "to-do list addiction," I settle for the couch, a cup of tea, and recipe magazines and books. Our world in the Jorgensen household revolves around food. We can't have a morning to sleep in without cooking breakfast; we can't decorate for Christmas without making appetizers to munch on; we can't let a single weekend go by without having some plans to curse. It's a blessing and a curse. So...I write down some old and new favorites to make this weekend. This year, the list includes my favorite Sausage, Cranberry, and Sage Stuffing and Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving, and Tomato Bacon Cups, Shrimp Scampi, Smokies, Fiesta Dip, and Bananas Foster (Emeril Style) for our decorating extravaganza. Looking for the perfect menu is quite the process; however, it allows me the chance to bring out my inner Martha which makes me very happy!
Wednesday is also a day of cleaning, laundry, watching daytime shows, and feeling normal again. I light candles, clean a little deeper than usual, and stay in sweatpants all day long!
Wednesday night is what I like to call cave night. We order in some Thai food, make a 'pile' under nearly every blanket we own, and watch movies. This year it was "The Taking of Pelham 123." It was a compromise. I'd really like to watch a girly romantic comedy, but it's a battle I don't attempt. So, the three of us (Jadey included), forget the world around us for a night and chill out in our cave.
Thursday, aka, Turkey Day. A day of driving, seeing family, and EATING! This year, we traveled to Beau's Grandma Sanders' for lunch, and Grandma and Grandpa Hoodjer's for dinner.
The food was awesome. Any other time of the year, it is simply not acceptable to pile that much food on a plate, but on Thanksgiving, it is expected. Highlights of this year's eat-a-thon: mashed potatoes of course, Grandma's stuffing and carrot casserole, apple pies from an orchard in Jefferson, cranberry jello, and sweet potato casserole.
Friday, aka, Black Friday. It seems to get a little earlier each year. This year...3:30 AM! I know what you're probably thinking, but it was worth it! I can't put all the deals I snagged on here because of a snoopy reader, but I was able to find everything I was looking for and saved some serious money. Highlights of the day??? The great 5-piece luggage set I found at Kohl's for $47, finding a short line at Target amidst the huge crowd lined up all the way to the back of the store, using cell phones as walkie talkies with Mom and Kelli in Target, getting home after a full 'day' of shopping at just 11:00 AM, and of course, the wonderful nap I took Friday afternoon!
Friday night was so fun. We went with the Shortway clan to the first annual Holiday Hoopla in downtown Cedar Falls. Decked out in uggs, gloves, and hats, we bundled up to see live music, fireworks, and of course, Santa's arrival. It was pretty cold, so we ended up settling for a table by the window at Soho, once again, filling our stomachs with yummy food and drinks, and awaiting Santa's arrival from the window.
Saturday, my house put its Christmas sweater on. Decorating, much like Black Friday, has seen a crescendo over the years. I now have four trees in the living room alone (granted, some are baby trees). Although I still can't compete with my mother-in-law, it looks like a gingerbread house in here and I must admit, it's pretty cozy. I made some appetizers and Beau and I chilled on the couch and watched our first of many Christmas movies, 'Four Christmases.'
Sunday: church, cappuccino, wrapping, leftovers, Bears vs. Vikings, laundry, grading, and blogging. Back to reality tomorrow, only this time, with Christmas music.
Thankful for...
-my husband. He's a blast and he keeps me on my toes. We have so much fun together and I don't know what I'd do without him.
-my family. There's never a dull moment and as everyone continues to grow, it keeps getting more and more interesting!
-health. Especially in the last month. Mary's colostomy ended up being scarier than we all anticipated, but she's proved to be a fighter and a really great sport. She's getting back to normal and we are all thankful for that. Dad proved to be quite indestructable after a scary car accident a couple weeks ago. I thank Jesus every day for keeping my family safe.
-our membership to Orchard Hill Church. We love that place. It's been such a rich part of our relationship with each other and with Jesus. The pastors, the messages, the music. Every Sunday, I leave feeling a little more on fire for Jesus and look forward to raising our family there.
-my gingerbread house. My comfy bed, kitchen, fireplace, garage, TV, and abundance of photos.
-leggings, big sweaters, and uggs (okay, any boots)
-our many music, cooking, and vino nights!
-memories of Mexico and Chicago with Beau...two of our favorite places!
-my furry feline friend and all the funny faces she makes!
-movies. whether in a cozy theatre or on my own couch, I love the escape that movies offer
-my Mom...she's my best friend. I am thankful for our talks, our shopping trips, and our bond.
-Express...my number one stress reliever
-living in Iowa...deck nights in the summer, poolside afternoons, and sundresses, hoodies and crisp walks in the fall, the first fireplace night, comfort food, Christmas lights, gift wrap, movie nights; the first bike ride of spring, the first car wash and lawn mowing; Ron Santo's voice on 1650. I'm a sucker for the seasons and wouldn't trade it for the world (except a week in Mexico every now and then :)).
-our relationship with the culinary arts. Cooking has been our release, our escape, and we're pretty good at it!
-for my job. Although it keeps me busier than I'd sometimes like to be, I love getting the chance to work with teenagers every day. They keep me young and current (or at least I'd like to think so) and it's a challenge I need.
-for Christmas...it's magical. The lights, the music, the specials on TV...everything is a little bit sweeter at Christmas time.
Happy Thanksgiving 2009!
In addition to my usual list of baked goodies for 
Married 
During the school year, Sundays can tend to get a little depressing. They start off great: sleeping past 5:30, church with Beau, a cup of hot tea or great coffee. Then, as lunch ends and Beau settles in on the basement couch for some football, I settle in my chair for a long afternoon of school work: grading papers, writing lesson plans, planning presentations, completing homework for my masters classes...the list goes on and on. It's usually this time each week that I long for an 8-5 job, one that ends the minute the work day is over; one that allows me a life on the weekends.
I remember when Beau and I started dating, we used to embrace spontaneity all the time. Late night trips for milkshakes at Perkins, Sunday 'fundays,' Scrabble nights at the laundromat, and five course dinner nights with tabs way larger than we could afford were all part of our rich dating history. We were in college and being spontaneous was easy...we stayed up late and didn't think about being tired the next day; we charged restaurant tabs unconcerned with paying them back later; we watched movies instead of studied because a test was just a test. 