Welcome to The Week Ahead: Thanksgiving Edition! Many of you are probably home, prepping for the big dinner and you are probably wondering where I am, right? I know you are wondering. Anyway, I am at work! That’s right! I have to work today and tomorrow and then I am off until Monday. I am happy to say that my grocery shopping is finally done. It only took 4 trips.

Usually the kids are in school on Wednesday so I have the entire day to cook but this year, the school district pulled a fast one and they are off that day! I will be home, cooking and cleaning with them under foot but maybe the little one can help me in the kitchen. You think? I know the other one will be a bump on the couch for sure.

Here’s my week which is entirely too crazy:

Monday, November 24, 2008 – Working today. At lunch I am attending part II of a workplace violence seminar. I’m actually looking forward to this. Part I was fabulous and very informative. This evening, Kidlet #2 is in her Kindie Thanksgiving play at school. Right afterward, Hubby has to run Kidlet #1 to rehearsal and somehow get them both fed in between because I have a PTO Board meeting to attend. Right after the board meeting I have to pick-up Kidlet #1 from rehearsal. Whew! I’m tired just from writing that!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 – Working today and someone actually scheduled a meeting. The nerve. I have to leave early so I can take Kidlet #1 to his specialist appointment. Yes! This is the one that was cancelled last week without a phone call to me. The patient advocate and I managed to get it re-scheduled so cross your fingers that all goes well. I have a friend coming over for dinner tonight while Hubby goes to the movies. She just came back from a trip to China so I am anxious to hear all about it.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 – Time to get cooking! I plan to make Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, Ambrosia, a Pumpkin Pie, a Peach Cobbler and the Cranberry Sauce today. I have to get all the china out along with all the serving pieces. I want to pre-chop all the onions and celery today too. I’m sure I will have to clean the house like five times with the kids home but so be it.

Thursday, November 27, 2008 – Happy Thanksgiving! Along with the bird, “Bessie”, yep, I gave her a name I will be making the mashed potatoes today as well as the dressing. To stuff or not to stuff? I normally do not but this year I am going to. I also have to arrange the appetizer tray. Once stuff is cooking away, the family and I hope to take a family portrait in front of the Christmas tree. We have all the decorations up and I want the picture for our Christmas card. After that, everyone will be changing their clothes I’m sure and then we plan to have a mini movie fest! We are going to watch Miracle on 34th Street (a classic and everyone must see it), Wall-E, and Kung Fu Panda. Dinner will be served around 4pm.

Friday, November 28, 2008 – Black Friday! My friends and I plan to have breakfast before hitting the stores BUT, we are not getting up at the crack of dawn to do it. I don’t care to fight with some woman over the last door buster item so we prefer to hit Starbucks, wake up slowly over breakfast and then hit the stores fully awake. After all the shopping, we plan to see Four Christmases, that movie with Reese Witherspoon. It will be a full day for sure. What “hot” item are you looking for this Christmas? My kids do not want toys this year so I am presented with a bit of a challenge.

The Weekend – Hubby and his Dad will be attending a special memorial service at the cemetery on Saturday. His Dad plans to spend the night at our house so we will probably go out to dinner at some point. Sunday, the kids have rehearsal but that’s it. I hope to be able to relax a bit after such a busy week.

As you can see, there is no reading scheduled in this post but you can bet that it will happen. I’m carrying books with me everywhere I go and there’s always that empty hour right around 1am. Hope your week is not as crazy as mine!