Gobble gobble!:
• kick it off with killer mingling snacks:
  • potato chips
  • black olives
  • baby carrots
  • onion dip
  • ranch
• move on to the actual dinner meal:
  • Colin's Smoked Turkey (marinated in a Koren vat of juicy yummyness)
  • mashed potatoes
  • stuffing
  • all of these doused with a generous supply of brown gravy (could very well be made from the aforementioned juicy yummyness!)
  • dinner rolls, and melty/softened butter
  • black olives
  • green bean casserole (with the crispy onions on top)
  • cranberry juice/7up cocktail
• then top it off with the postre:
  • pumpkin pie
  • cheesecake (ok... never would've thought of this if I hadn't seen Annie's on their table today *licking lips*)
  • vanilla ice cream, for a la mode
  • whoop cream
  • coffee

Today has been great thus far.
Despite late night ventures I woke up promptly @ 9am, piddle paddled around, made some calls, poked around the net without much avail, showered/pampered, and headed out the door. I popped by Harvey's to say Happy Thanksgiving, and possibly commiserate with, Miss Sue who had to work this morning. Hit the office to pick up the material for Emily's gift. Then I went to Lind & Randy's where I finished the gift[s], ate a sticky roll, watched an ER I'd missed when I was in Eugene, & wrapped the gift[s]. Finally I hit the Griffin's to give Mr. Matt his b-day gift #3: [one of] my [and hopefully his] favourite of 'em all!

It was eerily odd to walk into a house I'm hardly familiar with, and have a crowd of people chorus, "Happy Birthday, Amancay!" left & right. MamaV gave me a small bag o' birthday, saying I'd laugh. Curiousity got me & Annie was insisting, so I peaked inside... and cackled. It's the cute little salt & pepper shakers I ooed and aahed over the other day at their house. (Ok so there's a longer, much more embarrassing story involved here, perhaps I'll elaborate another time!) Thanks mamaV!

They had a huge smattering of food laid out (ok, so I mostly saw desserts) and it all smelled amazing... alas, I left to come here.

So now, here I sit. Waiting for the family to arrive and festivities to begin.

Happy Birthday to me... and matt... and emily!

1. What holiday or holidays do you celebrate this time of year? Christmas, Thanksgiving, some birthdays...

2. What was the best gift you have ever received? Probably the tv/vcr combo dad got me back in highschool... it's lasted me until recently (it's still in working order, I just have it stored away) so it's definitely quality!

3. *What was the worst gift you were ever given? a periwinkle polyester dress with an elastic collar, elastic cuffs, and a tie for the waist band... no other shape to speak of. Bless my gma's heart, she couldn't peg a gift for the life of her! Thankfully, in the end, (thanks to Malen's ever crafty eye) I was able to spare it into a skirt and headband-y hair tie thing.

4. Where will you be celebrating the holidays? Are you hosting? Going away? on the Eve: @ dad's [with immediate family], on the Day: @ mom's [at first with immediate family, then with aunts, uncles, and cousins] (as is the usual split), and the Saturday after: @ Carol's mom's [with her side of the extended families]

5. If you could spend the holidays with someone who isn't around, who would it be with? Why? many, many people in Argentina, especially Oma
   Because I hardly ever get to see them, yet they are all so close and dear to my heart!

* I had to edit this question since I'm a dork and didn't realize [until reading other's answers] that it said "What was the worst gift you've ever given?"