Sunday, October 11, 2009

Thanksgiving in Canada

Well, we're not in Canada. We're in Sweden. Another holiday passing without the comfort and craziness of being surrounded by those we love. And this is also the first holiday in a long time without our dear Tanja (little man's Montenegrin Nanny). So, just me, the boy and Dada and an 8lb turkey. I've always had a turkey mentor close to me on such special occasions. But this time, it was me on my own with the big bird.

It went well. The bird was great. All the side dishes perfectly timed. I am the champion my friends. We stuffed ourselves and now, it's over.

For over three years now, with the exception of being home for the holidays on a few occasions, we've celebrated our traditional holidays in other countries. And this is the first time we were truly alone. It was nice and it was sad. Thank God for Skype though.

And speaking of being thankful, here's my list of things to be thankful for. Of course I'm thankful for the usual: health, happiness, husband, child, parents/extended family, roof over head, food, etc. so here's a list of stuff I'm thankful for lately.
1. Thanks to the makers of Play Doh for inventing a product that is forcing me to create bad interpretations of a Stegasaurus, a turtle, a tiger, a shark and...repeat. Oh and also, big thanks for that distinct play-doh odour.
2. Thanks to my brain for finally realizing that the little guy's bad potty aim was a direct result of him standing on a bench to pee. Removal of bench = pee IN toilet.
3. Thanks to the neighbour lady for letting me crash my son's first official playdate with her daughter. She actually thought I was leaving..bahahahahahhaaha.
4. Thanks to my husband for being creative and making Play Doh creatures that actually resemble the real thing!
5. Thanks for living in a country where a clothes dryer and a dish washer are staple appliances. I challenge ALL you friends in developed countries to live without either of them for over two years. It CAN be done, but it's not pretty.
6. Thanks to all the North Americans in Sweden who overhear me speaking English and immediately begin chatting up a storm.
7. Thanks to the lady I cornered in the grocery store today for a) not freaking out because a random stranger was speaking to her, and in English and b) for being 100% sure that the box she pointed out to frantic me was indeed cornstarch. FYI: It was NOT.
8. Thanks Swedish businesses for booking appointments for me. "You have an appointment for your winter tire change at X o'clock on X date." "Your child has a dentist appointment at...." I seriously love this. I always leave these things to the last minute anyway. Swedes are so bloody efficient.
9. Thanks to all those wonderful law breakers who post free streams to my favourite TV shows.
10. Thanks to me for remembering to pack that little liquid strainer thingy from Montenegro. Otherwise, we would have had gravy flavoured with turkey bits and clumpy flour.

What are you thankful for lately?

5 comments:

Hyacynth said...

Lol!! That's a great top 10 Thanksgiving list. I give you credit for doing the holidays without the extended family; I think I'd be a big ball of tears!

SwedishJenn said...

Hi there HFW. glad you enjoyed it! Thanksgiving is certainly a celebrated holiday in Canada but not nearly as cherished as it is in the US. I've read that over there it's "bigger" than Christmas. For us, Christmas is the holiday, where if we missed being with family (which was the case last year), we're a big ball of tears. But any holiday without family gives me the sniffles:-(. We made it through though. Christmas is still up in the air. I honestly don't think I would be able to celebrate another year without our families.

Unknown said...

You cooked a big ass turkey! Great stuff! lol

I know you're missing fam and friends. I do think it's an opportunity to make it ALL about you guys and cherish the extra moments and intimacy that would be drowned under a sea of relatives.

Funny list.
Playdoh stinks? ugh
I haven't used a dryer in over 10 years. (did own a combo washer/dryer)
Glad you're finding N.Americans to chat with ehre and there.
And yay to pee IN the toilet. Always good
x

SwedishJenn said...

Thanks Mon! You're right about making it all about us but we sometimes always want what we don't have :-(. And holidays for me have always meant, "Bring on the FAMILY!" I found a super cheap flight back home for Christmas and am excited and stressed at the same time. And yes, Playdoh does have a stench. It unfortunately stays with me forever as it's impossible to get it all out from under my fingernails...ick...

Den said...

Me, I LOVE the smell of Playdoh! Turkey mentor - that made me chuckle! Now you have graduated to the school of 'going it alone' Bravo!
What am I thankful for? Good folk who visit my blog & leave supportive, practical comments! Thanks hun! Good to visit you today.