A Picture Perfect Thanksgiving

by Claire on November 26, 2009

I can get really caught up in reading a lot of home decor blogs, or watching too much HGTV, and then I feel like I have to have a perfectly decorated home for the holidays. You know what? I don’t have a perfectly decorated home, and that’s just okay. I never have – not that I wouldn’t enjoy it – but to me the most important thing is that I have a place where my family and friends feel comfortable coming in and kicking off their shoes (or dumping out their toy basket) without worrying about ruining my decor.

I  was looking at the pictures I took today of our Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter’s and I was laughing at just how imperfectly perfect everything was. Granted, we had dinner at my daughter’s and not my home, but it’s illustrative of just how our family rolls.

My younger daughter went to pick up my mom while I finished up stuff at home, and we got to my older daughter’s about 90 minutes later than we should have. I forgot the orange juice for the sweet potato recipe, the creamer for the coffee, and the extra folding chairs for the table. But you know what? Everything turned out just fine. Let me show you in pictures.

Setting the table. The only thing holiday-ish about this is the tablecloth that I made a few years ago. Um, that purple ball? Ya, that’s a chair.

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A closeup of the dinner dishes. I love how nothing matches. I just bought the red and white bowl and the white dish in the center is holding the gravy. That gravy dish, and the one holding the beans, has been in our family for years – as long as I can remember. And that giant serving spoon? Ya, that’s a Weight Watchers one cup serving spoon. Isn’t that HUGE?

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Mom and Cayden waiting patiently for dinner to be served. He was so excited to have his great-grandma there and insisted on sitting next to her. :)

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Elise and Cayden, also waiting. I love Elise’s big smile. She was so eager to help in the kitchen, but oh, so ready to have some cranberries – her favorite!

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And Cody – he cracks me up. Since I forgot the folding chairs, he pulled in one of their patio chairs, which happens to be hella high. I was totally cracking up at this. He’s such a great sport. And he’s totally posing, in case you wondered. Notice the beach towel on the chair too?

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Me (self-portrait)

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My pregnant daughter, Stacy.

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Evan.

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My sweet daughter, Cindy, and Evan. Thank you, Cindy & Cody for hosting the holiday. I love our little Thanksgiving traditions.

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So, it may not be Family Circle magazine worthy, or whatever, but it’s the best family circle I have, and I love everyone in it.

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{ 7 comments }

April November 26, 2009 at 11:32 pm

Looks like you guys had a great day! That is a really good self portrait of you too. I LOVE your hair!

Claire November 26, 2009 at 11:43 pm

It was a very good day, April. So glad you are feeling better and you guys all made it through the flu trauma. Enjoy your relaxing weekend – well, maybe the outlet mall might not be so relaxing. LOL. (Thanks on the haircut too – I love it too!)

teri November 27, 2009 at 12:51 am

people would enjoy the holidays a lot more if they stopped trying to imitate magazine spreads. does it really matter if all the plates match?

Claire November 27, 2009 at 9:00 am

Teri – I’m finally accepting that I can truly have a ton of fun if I forget about trying to have a magazine spread for my dinner table or what not. And if we waited for plates to match, we’d all go hungry. LOL.

Joanne Schiffbauer November 27, 2009 at 6:22 am

Whoever said that a picture is worth a thousand words was right! And, your
pictures say that you have a beautiful and happy family; clearly showing how
very much you have to be thankful for!

Claire November 27, 2009 at 9:00 am

Joanne – thank you so much! You are right – I have tons to be thankful for. Especially thankful that my daughter and son-in-law did all the heavy lifting and I got to enjoy my little grandkids!

Bev November 28, 2009 at 9:46 am

Looks like a wonderful day! I especially enjoyed the pics of your mom with the little ones. And hey! I figure if the cat’s not sitting on the table, it’s all good, no matter whether dishes match or not.

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