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November 26th, 2007Three days without internet access. Oy.
Lots of food, Lots of family, LOTS of children, Lots of shopping.
First the food...
Mom made everything besides the mashed potatoes (I brought those.) And while I love my mom's Thanksgiving feast.. I think I've just grown accustomed to my own menu. I missed my apple raisin stuffing, and my way of making green bean casserole (I use fresh or frozen beans, mom uses canned.) I had to practically twist Mom's arm into letting me bring the potatoes, how do you think she would react to my suggestion of making the turkey and stuffing?
I tried Ree's recipe for mashed potatoes when she posted it earlier this month, and I can't rave enough. There are never leftovers. And if there is, they reheat perfectly. Usually leftover mashed potatoes, get gloopy, lumpy and disgusting, but not these. We finished ours off on Saturday evening for dinner and I swear they tasted better than they did on Thanksgiving day!
Lots of family. Got to see my dad, my aunt and uncle.. sisters, one brother, and nephews and niece. It was a lively house with all the children.
Shopping. We (Jill, Danny, Jess, Jay, and myself) were at Penney's when they opened at FOUR A.M., just so my sister could get that silly free snow globe *sigh*. Then Walmart.. then Target.. then Toys R Us. I didn't get the deals I usually snag, because, well.. there just weren't many this year unless you were buying a large screen TV. But the crowds were immense... the worst I've ever seen. And people were just rude to the extreme, though we did encounter many very nice, courteous, and helpful folks.
Toys R Us really ticked me off because items I wanted, were listed on the shelf tag, much lower than they rang up. Not just once but twice. A High School Musical "Gabriella" doll that Cassidy asked for, was 14.99 on the shelf. Rang up at over 20 (I put it back.) A hideaway popup tent for Connor that was 12.99 on the shelf rang up at 22.99. I put that one back too. I swear they do that on purpose.
And at Sears, I tried to buy one of those small exercise trampolines for Connor since his OT has been suggesting we purchase one. It was on sale for 19.99, but the shipment never arrived. The salesman told me I could buy it then for the sale price and pick it up when they came in at my local store here in Syracuse, but the damn "store locater system" wasn't working, so we couldn't get the order to go through.
We had a great time though.. and went to the Glider Diner in Scranton for breakfast. Fries with gravy.. for breakfast.. YUM. As I've said a million times when people ask why I go shopping on Black Friday... its all about having fun with my family. A great deal is just the bonus.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
We did ok on our early morning Black Friday shopping but the deals weren’t great. You’re so right about the TVs that seemed to be all anyone was buying.
Sorry I missed that trampoline deal at Sears. I didn’t even check their sales. Of course my store probably wouldn’t have had it either!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I tried that MP recipe too. It is too die for. I froze half of what I made. I hope it will taste as good as it did the first time. Good to know you had a good TG.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
It is great to spend time with family especially when you don’t see them very often. You had me laughing about bringing your own turkey & stuffing. Do you do the turkey differently as well?
We didn’t do early morning BF shopping but when we went out later the cashier at Target told us about a woman there buying EIGHT — yes 8 — big screen hdtvs! She just built a new house and wanted one for each bedroom! Holy moly!
Glad you had fun with your family.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I skipped shopping on Black Friday this year, and I really didn’t miss it. Glad you had a nice holiday weekend! Now back to reality.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:05 am
They have to give it you at the price marked. Just ask for the manager. Works every time.