Family, Food, and the Start of Christmas Season

This past week was one of those full, holiday-heavy stretches where the days feel long in the best possible way. Thanksgiving week always brings its own rhythm; a mix of busy, fun, tiring, and meaningful, and this year was no exception. It felt like we squeezed a month’s worth of family time into just a few days, but honestly, that’s part of what I love about this season.

Thanksgiving Day itself was a two-stop marathon for us. We had lunch at my mother-in-law’s house and dinner at my mom’s. It sounds like a lot, and it is a lot, but it’s also something we’ve gotten used to over the years. We kind of embrace the chaos now. Holly took on turkey duty for my mom’s Thanksgiving meal. She’s been perfecting her “bacon turkey” for years, and at this point, it’s become something of a tradition. She layers the strips on top in this perfect pattern, and it comes out tasting amazing every time. She knocked it out again this year, and everyone raved about it.

One thing we always appreciate about our family Thanksgiving is how peaceful it is. No big drama, no tense arguments, none of the wild scenes you see in movies or sitcoms where someone flips the table. Ours is calm, warm, and full of laughter. People sitting around talking, catching up, telling stories about the past year, sharing what they’re grateful for. We know how lucky we are to have that, and we don’t take it for granted.

Once Thanksgiving Day wrapped up, we shifted into the other big tradition of the holiday weekend: the beginning of Christmas shopping season. Now, we aren’t the “line up at 4 a.m. for a TV” kind of Black Friday shoppers. We don’t do the elbow-to-elbow madness. But we do enjoy heading out to walk around a few stores, see the decorations, and pick up a couple of things if something catches our eye. It’s more about wandering and soaking in the early holiday energy than chasing deals.

Since the boys were home from school, we like to take them shopping too at some point. This year, we made our way to Sugarloaf Mills, which is about a third of the way toward High Point. It made sense; we could shop together, grab a few things, and then the boys could keep going the rest of the way back afterward. We found some really cool stuff there. At one point, we came across a little go-kart. It was one of those things you look at and immediately think, “This would’ve blown my mind as a kid.” It looked fun, no question, but I have absolutely no practical use for it. Still, it was fun to admire.

We also ended up in the Lego section because the boys know Holly loves Lego plants and flowers. With her allergies, real flowers aren’t always the best option, so the Lego versions are perfect. No pollen, no sneezing, and they last forever. They had some sets that looked really impressive,  more detailed and realistic than the ones from a few years ago. The boys love getting those for her, and it’s turned into a sweet little tradition between them.

One of the highlight moments this week was seeing Holly’s reaction to the advent calendar her mom made her. It wasn’t a store-bought calendar; this one was handmade, with little cross-stitched pockets, each holding a tiny surprise. Holly was genuinely thrilled. What made it even more meaningful was that we weren’t sure if her mom would be able to continue cross-stitching after her eye issues. But with her recent eye surgery and recovery, her eyesight improved enough that she could return to this hobby she loves. Seeing her create something that thoughtful and detailed again was special, and seeing Holly’s excitement made it even better.

And now that Thanksgiving is behind us, you can’t escape the other unofficial tradition of the season: Christmas movies everywhere you look. Years ago, Hallmark had a monopoly on the feel-good, cheesy, romantic Christmas movies. Now it’s become a full-out competition among all the streaming platforms: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, everyone. Each one tries to release the most heart-warming, predictable, holiday-spirit-filled movie. And honestly, we just lean into it. It’s part of the fun. You know exactly how the plot will go, the ending is obvious from the opening credits, and that’s the whole point. It’s comfort entertainment.

Looking back, it was a great week full of family time, traditions, food, and the start of all the little things that make this season feel special. These holiday weeks always remind me how fast the year moves and how important it is to slow down and appreciate the people around you. Seeing everyone, laughing together, enjoying simple moments; that’s what makes the holidays meaningful.

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, good company, and plenty to be grateful for. And as we head into the Christmas season, I hope the next few weeks bring nothing but joy, peace, and a little bit of that holiday magic.

Until next week,
Shane

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