No. Way.

Are you serious?? FIFTY-SIX DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS????

Why didn't someone wake me up in September and tell me the calendar was in overdrive??

When I saw this today as I was blog-surfing, I actually spilled my coffee down my shirt in shock. 56 days!!?? Goodness, I'm so far behind the power curve AGAIN! Seriously, how does this happen every year? Tell me I'm not the only one who does this, will you?

Enough already. I have a TON of work to do. Maybe a countdown is a good idea. What's today's topic? Thanksgiving meal planning? Hey, that I can do! Considering that we'll have Pete's dad, his wife, and a couple of extra soldiers from Jon's platoon eating with us this year (Dude, we need a bigger table!), I guess I'd best get going on meal planning anyway! Hmm....a menu, huh? How's this look?

Spinach dip and fresh veggies to snack on

Seven-layer salad (Pete's favorite, no holiday goes by without a request for this one)

Deviled eggs

Green bean casserole (would it be Thanksgiving without it?)

Sweet potatoes with apples

Mashed potatoes

Turkey and Mamaw's stuffing (made with chicken and turkey giblets...sounds weird but WOW)

About a gallon of gravy

Crescent rolls

Cranberry sauce(s?)

Enough sweet tea to float a US Navy destroyer

Cheesecake (another of Pete's must-have's)

Pumpkin pie

Cherry pie

Goodness, do you think that'll be enough food? Maybe I should start clearing out the fridge now! I'm beginning to think that one of the requirements for whatever house we purchase next year is a BIG dining room so we can put a huge-normous table in there and fill it with just tons of people--kiddos, grandparents, SONS-AND-DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW (woah....), grandkiddos....not to mention guests!

It took nineteen years, but finally I'm hosting that holiday I've dreamed of being able to 'do'...family, extended family, AND our kids' friends. I refuse to stress, because this is a huge blessing to have the opportunity to do this! Okay, I'm refocused now. Whew. Deep, cleansing breath. Maybe, just maybe I oughtta bookmark this 100 Days to Christmas countdown?