We all set goals. Sometimes we meet them on time, and other times, reality hits like a ton of bricks. And in life with seven children, reality is an ever-changing state. So, with the fullness of life, my blog posts missed a couple of weeks — but part of the purpose of this space is to reflect real life. So here I am, catching up on our past couple of weeks, where our focus has been on Theodore (#4 kid) turning eight years old and celebrating Thanksgiving.
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A Thanksgiving Birthday: Celebrating Theodore
I know there are mixed feelings about having birthdays and holidays close together, but I’ve really enjoyed having a birthday near Thanksgiving. Theodore was born the day before Thanksgiving, so his birthday sometimes falls right on the holiday or very close to it. This year, it was the weekend before — which gave us a few days in between. Still, when it lands on Thanksgiving, it’s nice to kill two birds with one stone and celebrate with a big, joyful meal.
God has a funny way of lining things up just right, too — because Theodore loves pies, which are always bountiful around his birthday. And he really loves Christmas. This kid is going to grow up to be the dad with the Christmas lights synchronized to music.
The Sunday after his birthday, our priest told a story — I couldn’t catch every word while juggling toddler chaos, but it went something like, “Some homes have so many Christmas lights they can be seen from space.” I glanced at Theodore and saw the grin spread across his face, those little wheels turning.
We never have enough lights for him. He’d decorate every day in December if we let him. This year, we told him he had to wait until the day after Thanksgiving — so we could focus on his birthday and the holiday prep. He could hardly contain himself. Come Black Friday, he was up early, pulling out the Christmas boxes with glee. What a joy to have a little Christmas elf.
8-Year-Old Birthday Gift Ideas: What Theodore Loved
Theodore is one of those kids who is so easy to celebrate. He’s always happy and grateful — which makes gift-giving fun and simple. He loves using his hands (hence the obsession with Christmas lights), gardening, and creative play. If you have a busy 8-year-old boy (and really, isn’t that most boys?), here are a few gift ideas he loved:
National Geographic Science Magic Kit – Hours of hands-on experiments and science learning.
Soft Boomerang – Tons of outdoor fun, and gentle enough not to break windows!
Desert Dome Terrarium – He loved planting cacti and setting it by the sunny window.
The Secret World of Plants (Book) – A colorful, fascinating read with wild, weird plants.
Hosting Thanksgiving in Our Home: A New Milestone
After Theodore’s birthday, we shifted gears to Thanksgiving. This year looked a little different for us — no one was coming into town, and we weren’t traveling. We had just four additional adults at our table, but Paul and I took on the cooking ourselves. We didn’t cut any corners. Honestly, I was nervous — but it turned out to be great practice for the future (hopefully full of even more big gatherings).
Paul journaled our 2024 Thanksgiving Day, so I’m sharing his thoughts here — with a few of my notes in italics.
Paul’s Thanksgiving Recap (With My Notes Added)
We had an awesome Thanksgiving at our house. (This was our first Thanksgiving in our own home, so it felt monumental.) Jess’s dad and one of her brothers joined us, along with her aunt and uncle. For dinner, we made: turkey, stuffing, cranberry mold (pre-made by Jess’s aunt), mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato and apple side dish, salad, and gravy.
Jess’s aunt came over early to help Jess with the sides. I handled the turkey. Her dad had purchased a 23-pound bird — yes, that big. (Our family runs large. We really don’t know how to cook for a small party.)
The night before, after confession with Kateri and Drew, and I got to work spatchcocking the turkey (removing the backbone so it lays flat — it helps it cook evenly without drying out). Jess had bought these golden meat scissors that looked like pirate treasure. (They were a dollar cheaper, and I do love gold accents. They came a bit gaudy, but now we own pirate scissors — and they make a great story.)
We prepped the turkey with a seasoning rub and let it sit overnight, following this NYT guide.
The next morning, around 11 a.m., I prepped the bird: laid it on cookie cooling racks over a large baking sheet, added a mix of cut lemon, garlic, and sliced onion, then poured in two cans of hard cider and white wine vinegar (since we didn’t have actual white wine). Note to self: white wine vinegar makes drippings very vinegar-y.
Jess and Vera worked some magic on the gravy — brown sugar and garlic powder helped mellow it out. (It turned into a running joke. We kept adding ingredients trying to balance it, but it turned out surprisingly delicious.)
We roasted the turkey, starting at 425°F for 30 minutes, then lowered to 350°F. It cooked faster than expected and was done by 2:30 p.m. (Our newer oven is a dream compared to the one at my dad’s house.)
Around 3:30 p.m., I carved the turkey: legs, wings, and breasts came off beautifully. (Paul was seriously a pro. He treated this turkey like a firstborn. We devoured the leftovers within three days.)
A Quieter Thanksgiving to Remember
Even though Thanksgiving was quieter than usual, it was a beautiful one. The company was perfect. I really enjoyed cooking alongside my aunt and having slow, meaningful moments together. The kids played video games post-dinner while the adults talked and lingered.
I usually love a loud, bustling holiday, but this slower one was a gift. I found myself truly relishing the peace. There is so much to be thankful for.
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