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EP 71: Feeling Thankful
1.6k Plays1 year ago
Thanksgiving is almost here, and we’re leaning into all the gratitude vibes this week on Mom Group Chat! 🍂🦃 In this episode, we’re sharing our family’s Thanksgiving traditions—the ones we love, the ones we question, and the ones we hope to start with our kids.
We also take some time to reflect on what we’re most thankful for this year (spoiler: it’s more than just pumpkin pie). And because no Thanksgiving episode would be complete without it, we’re tackling the big question: Are we a “turkey trot” family or not? Our answers might surprise you!
So, grab your coffee—or maybe your mashed potatoes—and join us as we get into all the fall feels.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Mom Group Chat'
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. what up moms i'm whitney williams and i'm here with my best friend candace and this is the mom group chat podcast I would have bet money that you were going to say something like, hello turkeys or something. I almost would. It's turkey lurky time. I was so convinced that that's what you were going to say. I didn't know if we wanted to run with that. I know. We really like we're having problems committing to the bit with this. It's like we need to pick a lane. Yeah, yeah.
00:00:45
Speaker
I don't know. Maybe it keeps our listeners on their toes. Like they never know what they're going to get. What are you going to get? Whose podcast am I listening to today? Because they can't fucking make up their mind.
Thanksgiving Excitement
00:00:57
Speaker
It's fine. Literally. Well, but guys, it's freaking Thanksgiving. Like how are we here? It's the end of the year. And I always feel like this time of year flies by. It's in insane. It really does. It really does. I think.
00:01:15
Speaker
All of you should know, all of our listeners should know that like every episode from here on out is like we mentioned some sort of holiday. Like whether it's gift guides or Christmas or New Year's, like we are just in the holiday spirit and we are going to address every holiday in some capacity and talk about it at length. So I hope you're not a Grinch this year because it is, we are in the holiday spirit.
Santa Photos and Advertising Impact
00:01:42
Speaker
I don't know how you could like even like in your situation that you're in like something about the holidays with kids makes it so special like yeah I don't know i could be in the worst mood and then like the day comes and like they're so freaking excited and they feed off your energy so it's like totally you know I mean I didn't give you an update about our pictures with Santa oh my god tell me Oh my God, Winnie, it was so amazing. It was like night and day from last year. Like, and if you have a two and a half year old or a three year old this year, like you guys, it was so great. So it's, it's a quick like 10 minute session and they have a Santa and he is very legit. Okay. This Santa is from the North Pole and most holy moly. He is a legit Santa.
00:02:36
Speaker
And um he's so nice. And we had been like you know talking to Alice beforehand. like You're gonna meet Santa. they ah The photographer also sends these little letters from Santa to your house beforehand. So like yeah, she goes all out. So they get letters in the mail beforehand that's like, I can't wait to see you soon. I've heard you've been a good girl, like blah, blah, blah.
00:03:00
Speaker
and they got she got an official ah nice certificate for being on the nice list, which I'm like too soon to tell, to be honest, but it's fine. I got to use that as a bribe. like let's Yeah, yeah, like please. this isn't us This is not sealed yet. like im I need her to know that like Santa's still thinking about it. you know um But we had been talking to her about it and she had been telling us that she was going to tell Santa that she wanted a Barbie dream house and classic. Yeah, I know. She's a classic, classic girl. um But she's we've been watching a little like in the mornings. as but Sorry, this is like a tangent. But we've been watching like TV on cable because my mom still has cable here. So she's getting the. Yeah. So she's getting the commercials.
00:03:49
Speaker
ah And that's where the Barbie Dreamhouse has invaded her brain. like You're probably thinking, like how does she know what a Barbie Dreamhouse is from the Nickelodeon or Disney commercials whenever we're watching Bluey? The Barbie Dreamhouse commercial is on every freaking Can we talk about commercials for just one second? Graydon doesn't know what they are. And when they come up on because we pay for Hulu, we pay for like Netflix, we we have we pay for YouTube. But like on one of our TVs, um the ads still pop up like I didn't connect our YouTube to that.
00:04:25
Speaker
Oh, he freaks out. He's like, but my show is gone. And I'm like, oh, a commercial like he has no idea what's happening. And oh, my God, that is so funny. I'm like, wow, we are living in two different worlds. My guy like no idea. OK, Alice is the complete ah especially if it's a toy. I guess that's probably the difference. The whenever we're watching Disney,
00:04:47
Speaker
Junior or Nickelodeon Junior or whatever well like cable. They're not, um you know, how here, like every connected to your phone. So like you're getting totally ads based off that. But with cable, it's the spray and pray kind of ad totally. And it's like geared towards little ones and kids. So it's like the bluey toys, the Hot Wheels. the So that's why I'm saying like Alice loves for so she calls them commercials, which I think is so cute.
00:05:13
Speaker
yeah but She's like, it's a commercial. I'm like, yeah. And so she loves them because it's just like toys. And she ah is always like, I want that. And I'm like, we know. um But yeah, so she had been planning to
Heartfelt Santa Moment
00:05:29
Speaker
see. So we went to the pictures. And I was nervous because every year that we've done this so far, this is our third year. And it's been tears and meltdowns like every time. agree Like pictures are like Like, not fun. Yeah. Oh, no, they're not fun at all. Actually, this was our best one we've ever had, like, for sure. And I think it's a sweaty, rushed mess. And thank God you got a picture of a smile because that's not how we felt that day.
00:05:58
Speaker
right Yeah. So we get there and we go in and she's like hesitant at first, but no tears. She's just like hesitant. And she and I just say, oh, it's Santa. Go up and sit on the bench with Santa. And and she sits there and she's kind of like.
00:06:18
Speaker
like She's looking at us, she's looking at Santa, she's looking at us. She's like scoping it out, you know? But finally, Santa's talking to her and he's like, whoa, what do you want for Christmas? And she's like, a Barbie dream house. And she says it so clearly and the photographer starts dying laughing.
00:06:36
Speaker
It was so great. they She warmed up to Santa as they sat there for a couple of minutes and they like chatted. and Then there was like a really sad moment that made everyone in the room, made me cry, made Vinny cry, and made our photographer cry because the Santa was just like trying to make conversation with her.
00:06:56
Speaker
and, you know, trying to get her to warm up. And so he asked, like, what ah what about your mom? What does your mom want for Christmas? And she thought for a second and she goes, probably a house. Oh, no. Oh, my God.
00:07:12
Speaker
And our photographer turns around and she was like, oh, my God. Yeah. And and I was like, she's right. I do. I would just want a house. It was really sweet. But um and also just Vinny and I left and we were like, damn, she really does know what's going on because it's kind of hard. Like sometimes we're like, oh, she has no idea. She's just living and like everything's fine. And then she says things like that. And she's like, we're like, oh, wait, she really does know what's going on.
00:07:42
Speaker
They remember everything. ah Yeah. Which I don't have to go into mine, but this happened yesterday and I don't want to cut off your story because i no, no, no, I'm done. It was just it was really sweet. And we got great pictures. Evie had a had a little bit of a hard time with Santa, but they always she makes these like custom cookies that have their name on it. You know, those like pretty ones. why That's I know. I know. And they're the pictures are like so reasonable. It's crazy. But anyways, they handed the cookie to Evie and she's She's good with a cookie in her hand. yeah Yeah, so she's gonna be holding a cookie in all the pictures, which I don't care. yeah um It was just so great and it made me like, she I feel like she understands Santa and it was just, I can't wait to see the pictures. there they were It was really sweet. This is the year, it's kind of like Halloween and Christmas, like this is the year they get it and it's so freaking fun and cute, oh my God.
00:08:37
Speaker
to die. I can't wait to see them like I know me too relieved and glad you did it too. Oh yeah and the the pajamas was such a good idea like we were so comfortable every family that was there that was like everyone was like dressed to the nines like women were in heels all these girls are in like tulle dresses and they're hot and And everyone saw us in our matching jammies and I swear to God, like every person was like, we're doing that next year. That's the move. So it made me doing the photos. Like, you know, obviously things aren't exactly like jolly holly over here, but doing that made me excited to like lean into the spirit of the holidays for the kids and for Alice. Like I just, it was so sweet. know ah I'm jealous. I love that. And I, I'm sure like,
00:09:29
Speaker
there's an option like that here in Nashville, but it's like, I just don't have it in me with the move. And then I have- I was gonna say, you have a lot going on too. Like, honestly, don't- But I feel like I make an excuse every year. I'm like, this is the year. And then I never do it. I'm like, oh, I did this and this and this. And I'm like, am I ever gonna be- Maybe next year. Maybe next year. That is so cute. I love that. To be fair, all the photographers here who do these like mini sessions,
00:09:57
Speaker
Like, I paid for this back in July. That's how early they release them. And I snag it every year. And and it's that's why like I feel like, A, they're cheap-ish. And they like I paid for it so long ago. It's basically like, it's free. You know? Girl math.
00:10:17
Speaker
yeah mom And I think that's the thing, like I've used two different photographers here in Nashville, and if they offered many sessions, I'd probably like be all over it, but I think the fact that I have to go looking for it, and yeah i don't I don't know the other people, I'm like, ah I just, I don't got it in me, but, yeah so happy for you, I can't wait to see them, that is really freaking cute. Yeah, it's sweet. Okay, what were you gonna say you were gonna tell a story?
Humor and Children's Memories
00:10:45
Speaker
Oh, just that like Graydon does remember everything. Like it was yesterday morning and it was just a long weekend like I say it. And um we were like rushing out the door and like it it was to the point where I was just I was about to start my period and I'm my periods after having The babies, I'm like kind of like irritated. I mean, I guess everyone gets that way after with their period, but I'm like on edge. No, it's worse after babies for sure. I was just like not having it yesterday morning out the door. And so like, I don't know. Graydon was like, Mommy, I want water. Mommy, I want this. I'm um ah I was like, Graydon, find it yourself. Like I can't help you right now. I'm trying to carry these diapers. I got to take in the daycare.
00:11:31
Speaker
Like I have to bring your backpacks full of your blankets that it so I had like tons of shit in my hand and like we're about to walk out the door and he's like Water and I was like, yeah, you know nip down and then we got in the car and and um took him to school. And then I fucking felt bad, of course. And when I picked him up, I said, Graydon, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about this morning. And I was like, I was in a bad mood and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. And he goes, yeah, mommy, you yelled at me in the kitchen. Like he remembered that from the whole day. And I was like, oh my God, he remembers everything. long ago This was funny though. And he goes, mommy,
00:12:14
Speaker
You cannot yell at me. The policeman is going to get you. And I was like, the policeman's going to get me. I was like, am I going to go to jail? He goes, no, mommy, I'm going to punch the policeman. You're not going to jail. Oh, suddenly he's the hero.
00:12:29
Speaker
Wow. He's built out a whole scene yeah in his head. All of a sudden he got nervous that I was going to jail and he was like, Oh my God, I'll punch him. You're not going. I was like, Oh my God. That is so funny. Yeah. It became this whole thing. And like I was cracking up in the car. I was like, thanks for being my protector for me yelling at you. You know, it was just so funny.
Thanksgiving Traditions and Food
00:12:51
Speaker
He's crazy. That is so funny. And such a boy scene to like make up in their head, you know,
00:12:57
Speaker
Yeah, and the fact that he's gonna punch a police officer is like this foreshadowing in my life. I don't know. Jesus Christ, I hope not. let's Don't do that. That's only gonna get you in more trouble, Graydon. Please don't. Lord have mercy, but it was funny. That is funny. These kids, you know, um which I think all this plays into our episode today, which is about being thankful for the things that we have in our life and really playing off of this Thanksgiving vibe. and I thought maybe we could talk about some Thanksgiving pasts and like funny stories with family and then maybe get into like Thanksgiving with Thanksgiving is going to look like this year. Some games you can play with your family to pass the time versus just like watching football and like falling into like a turkey stupor. um And then. What we're thankful for, of course. Amazing. I love it. Love it, love it, love it.
00:13:56
Speaker
So you have a big family. I know you got some stories. I do have some stories. Thanksgiving has always been but one of my absolute favorite holidays. like it First of all, i Thanksgiving food is for me. like It is heavy and delicious and rich. It is like my favorite Like, honestly, some mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, pie. I mean, ugh. That's in my shit right there.
00:14:28
Speaker
I took a swig of coffee and almost spit it out because I said it was heavy because you were just like, it's for me. It's heavy. It's rich. Literally, though, it is like I love Thanksgiving food. Like I can't get enough. It is a Southerner's dream. Yeah, yeah I will say like all the stuff being what we call it dressing. What do you call it? Stuffing.
00:14:55
Speaker
That's very Florida of you. We call it dressing. I know. I remember when I met you in college and we talked about this and I was like, dressing is for salad. I know. like But um and yeah God, we do the turkey and like growing up in the South.
00:15:14
Speaker
They always had goose as well. and they Oh, wow. That's a very country of you. i The standing joke is watch out for the pellets from the gun spray. Like, all right. OK. Love that. ah fell out I will not be eating goose. So thank you so much for the turkey.
00:15:33
Speaker
um But yeah, traditionally like us growing up, we always went to my aunt Diane's and like, ah gosh, loved going over there because it was like my mom's side of the family, um which they're just a frickin riot. Like everyone's so fun. um But yeah, growing up, we always went there and.
00:15:56
Speaker
Thank God we were there. Well, half of them are like the turkey trot 5K fam and the other half is like the chill. Oh, this is a good debate. This is a good debate here. Okay, so half of them are turkey trot. Were you a turkey trotter? In my past life, I would say yes. I feel like you're married to a turkey trotter now.
00:16:18
Speaker
Yeah, and he's hit or miss. I mean, which is fine. If he went and did it like first thing in the morning and then drank all day, that's the Chris I know and love. But if he decided to do it like after Thanksgiving or it got in the way of like the fun plans, I'd be annoyed. but Right.
00:16:36
Speaker
Um, I'd say like me personally, I was in a past life, a turkey trotter. Okay. But it's been years since I've like wanted to do that. I remember at Thanksgiving when we went down to Alabama and this was like when I was deep in my Weight Watcher era, like OK, you could not steer me wrong off of Weight Watchers. And I was like, really not eating a ton like I was very, very, very strict. And I remember diet culture literally when I was like 26, 27 and 28 when I was like, I like have it memorized. I didn't even need the app anymore. I knew how many points everything was. I still do. It's like ingrained in my head now.
00:17:20
Speaker
um But I remember like one year, like I was really into it and I like lost all this weight. And the next year I like looked back on my app and I was so proud of myself because I was two pounds lighter than the Thanksgiving before. Like I was psycho, like so psycho. Oh my God. Where I just like I remember like not eating Halloween candy. Like I was just I didn't let myself live, man. Yeah, that's not how you want to be like.
00:17:48
Speaker
especially with kids, like you don't want to see them or they don't like I don't want my girls and my kids to learn that like they have to give up like life, you know? Yeah, I was giving almond mom before I was a mom. um And now like, yes, I would love to go like walking or running in the morning, but I'm going to enjoy freaking Thanksgiving. So.
00:18:13
Speaker
Yeah, I would say, okay, so I have never been a turkey trotter, never done it. and never like I remember being the girl that was like, if if I'm on a date with a man and we're getting serious and he tells me that he's a turkey trot family, like I'm out. like we're We live different lives.
00:18:31
Speaker
I do have to say that, first of all, if any, his family doesn't do that. And then, um, now that I'm older and have kids and I'm up at 7 a.m. anyway, like I kind of feel like a 5K walk with them in the jogger stroller. Like I'm down. I'm actually down. It would pass the time. Then you totally turn on the Macy's Day parade. Well, yeah. Love it. And then boom, it's time for lunch.
00:18:59
Speaker
Yeah, should we? So honestly, like I might look into it. I'm feeling crazy. Like I feel like I might be into it just because it would like, you know how it is as a mom, you're just finding anything that will pass an hour. And I feel like a 5K like in a with them with snacks in the stroller. That's an hour.
00:19:21
Speaker
And it's probably so fun. Like any race you go to, it's kind of energizing. Like, not that I've done a ton of races. I've done five K's or whatever, but the music's so fun and everyone's so excited. And and I'm sure they're dressed up in tulle and skirt. Yeah. Okay. I might look into it. I'm feeling crazy. And then they always hand out beer after like, wait, have we been Sam? I didn't even know that because I've never done it. We're sleeping on the trot. Like maybe everyone else has it figured out. And that's why they can eat everything. I should do it because so we do two things. Givings, you know, because we have Vinnie's family. We have at 11 a.m. It's early. OK.
00:20:03
Speaker
My family's like 5, 6 p.m. It's truly like we eat a Thanksgiving lunch and then we do it all again and eat Thanksgiving dinner. um And I have to say, like, I don't mind that. yeah Like, although there are times where I get to my families and I'm like, oh, like, I can't do it. I do. And that kind of sucks because I love also like the appetizers. Like, I love the charcuterie board. And like most of the time when I get to my family. I'm like, oh, I can't eat these appetizers. like I'll throw up yeah if I want to eat dinner. So maybe the turkey trot will burn some extra. you know Oh, for sure. um Wow. I love how we just did a 360 for ourselves. We're so evolved, honestly.
00:20:54
Speaker
Oh my God, if you do it, I'll do it. OK, I'm going to look into it after this. Hopefully it doesn't. Does it cost money? Probably. But also, I could just do it in my neighborhood, too. Like, I don't have to go. Well, I'll be in Clarksville. We'll see. That's OK. We'll see. That's fun. OK. I'm trying to think of other. I mean, so back before I was married.
00:21:19
Speaker
And before I did two Thanksgiving's, like we hardly ever did both my dad and my mom's side. My dad's side, they're a little more spread out. We don't see them as often. So we like we typically if we did see his family, it would be like the weekend after Thanksgiving, like that Friday or Saturday, that's when we would get together. So it wasn't like on the day. So we like the whole day was with my mom's side, which is huge, okay, like big Cuban family because it's my Oella, like my mom is one of five. No, sorry, my mom is one of four, my dad is one of five, sorry. My mom is one of four. And then my Oella's sister
00:22:04
Speaker
my great aunt and all of her kids, which she has four kids and all of their kids and grandkids. It's huge. um And we used to we haven't done this in a while, which is sad. um But we used to play a huge game of capture the flag that was like, y'all, it was so intense. Like you you would come to Thanksgiving with workout clothes and like you were prepared to throw down. OK, it was like I picture like wedding crashers on the front lawn. like Literally, that's exactly it. my My uncle lives on a golf course. We would usually wait till it would start to get dark so that by the end of the game, like you're playing in the black like night. You can't see what's coming. You actually wear a headlamp to get ahead. Literally. And there have been some crazy injuries that have happened. The first year my cousin Chantal brought her boyfriend, Joe, her now husband. They have five kids together. I talk about her all. The first time she brought him, you know, her husband got or her boyfriend got in there. He was like fitting in perfectly, was in the game.
00:23:14
Speaker
Boom, dislocated his shoulder. Like, fully injured himself. and And I want to say, like, bitch literally like, and I want to say like he was in medical school or something because he's a doctor. And I'm like,
00:23:30
Speaker
I remember it being like dramatic and I was probably in high school or something or maybe early college. I don't know. But it was so, and looking back now, like it's something we joke about all the time at Thanksgiving. We also play a game um now. We don't, again, ah for some reason, Capture the Flag is fizzled a little bit. I think Everyone's just, I don't know. Everyone's getting a little old. Like, this really could start breaking for real. Right. And we have a bunch of little kids now because like all of us have started to have kids. So yeah. Yeah. But we play a game where everyone writes a name of a like famous person or a known person on a big whiteboard. They have like a rolling whiteboard in their house. Like you would see in like a corporate room, you know. Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:21
Speaker
And everyone picks a name and you write them all up on the board and then you you go around and you have to try to match the person, like the family member with the name that they wrote on the board. And if your name is guest, you're out and you can no longer like match people. And the last person standing wins. They get the wishbone.
00:24:45
Speaker
Yeah. So that's always been a fun game. um And then another game. This is kind of more at Christmas time, I think, but we always play left, right center, which is oh yeah we always sleep. I get nervous about that game because I feel like it's going to spark when he's gambling back up. Like it is intense. It is like for real, like he's shaking the dice and blowing on him. And I'm like sweating because I'm like watching him get so into this left, right center game. And I'm like, Oh my God, we're going to stop at the casino on the way home. Not like right center being like the gateway drug. Literally. But our family's so big and you have to bring $3, right? And then you, the money moves around the table. You end up walking away with like
00:25:29
Speaker
hundreds of dollars because my family's- My mom's the money pusher. She's like, bring $20 and ones and like we'll play multiple rounds of it. But she's like hounds everyone. like We get texts for days. I'm like, we get it. I'll stop at the bank. Jesus. Yeah. I think this Christmas, we should go be crazy and everyone bring three fives instead of three ones. And do three rounds.
00:25:58
Speaker
No, like do it with five dollar bills instead of one dollar one round of the game. Yeah. And one round of big money. I like to. I like bringing all the ones and then. um You get to do multiple rounds. So yeah, that's true. And it's fun. But my family is so big. The games take a really long time. That's the problem. Yeah, I think the most that we have at one time is like maybe 20. Like my mom's side of the family is bigger. Like eat my my aunt and my uncle both have two kids. So those are my cousins. And then my mom and dad obviously have three of us. So and now we all have kids and like
00:26:37
Speaker
my nephews like to get into it and like Addie will play. So like everyone's playing now. That's so fun. Yeah. It is great. I do love a good left, right center. We play that game at the lake a lot too. Like if we have a big group coming, we're always like bring the Dallas dollar, dollar bill. And we play on the pool. We never play pool. We just play the price center on the pool. table It's a left, right center table. Well, it's a perfect like you can knock it up against the sides and you're like, yes, let's go. You know, and it's fun. But um I'm telling you, it can re spark the gambling thing. I'm like nervous about it. Then he gets so into it. I'm like, oh, my God, it is fun. in You know, like ever since having kids, I really miss playing cards like I used to be a big, yeah, hard player. That is something that I miss, too, because with little ones, it's so hard to like focus, you know,
00:27:28
Speaker
And I still like I used to do it when Graydon was little and we just had Graydon. But now it's like I can't um like risk the house getting loud like with both of them asleep. Like if I was going to play, I'm like, I mean, my house now, if we ever had people over, like they honestly have to leave because it's bedtime for everyone. So it's like, man, I miss playing cards with people. I love doing that. Me too. I love doing that too.
00:27:55
Speaker
Do you play, um, with this is a game that we play with our neighbors a lot. And I actually played this with the girls on our goal girl trip, where you write down as many things as possible and you put it all in a bowl. And, um, the first round, like you're on teams. So, okay.
00:28:13
Speaker
And everyone throws everything in the bowl. And you have like 30 seconds to write as many random shit as possible, like cat, roll tide. It can be a sentence like Taylor Swift poops on the toilet. You know, it can be like crazy shit like that. OK. And the first round is you can describe it, but you can't say any of the words. And then, you know, people on your team guess and you have like whatever. So a minute. And then the second round is you act it out.
00:28:40
Speaker
So you have to try and remember like what the words were in the bowl. Oh, oh like the same item. Yes. Oh, wait. So you would be like you'd be playing guitar and pooping on the toilet like that would be your and you'd be like Taylor Swift pooping on toilet, you know. And then the last round is you can only say one word and you have to guess like what it is. But that kind of memorized all of them. But if you have a lot of people You're like, what the fuck was it? And you would just say like, dumb. And you'd be like, Taylor's pooping on the toilet, you know. And yeah so when you say the one word, it can't be a word that's in that. Like if it's so can't a cat, obviously, if it's a cat. OK, no, you'd be like whiskers.
00:29:23
Speaker
You know, so it's really, really fun. Like I said, we play that with the neighbors a lot and we did it on the girls trip and it was so funny. But um I feel like the game for ah like a family gathering. Yeah, this conversation is making me like I feel like a lot of since the babies have been born in our family, a lot of the games have like fallen off a little bit like the you know, the ah they've become captured the flag yeah not edge' flag but well not capture the flag
00:29:54
Speaker
um But it's making me like okay like our generation of our family like we are now like the the kids that are my age it's really our turn to like create this new era of tradition. And it's me, it's this conversations and inspiring me because I feel like those are my favorite memories of Thanksgiving and like laughing so hard with my cousins. yeah And like, I want my kids to experience the same thing, you know?
00:30:27
Speaker
Yeah, and um I mean this year, you were pregnant last year. Margot was just a wee little thing, but she like slept through the whole Thanksgiving. I like, I remember I dressed her up in her first turtleneck. I'll never forget. I got it from Gap. It was so freaking cute. And she fell asleep on the way there and she slept for like two hours into Thanksgiving. And I just left left her in the car seat in a different room and I was kind of getting nervous. I was like,
00:30:53
Speaker
Is she okay? Like, cause she's in this big ass turtleneck that was like a chunky knit sweater. And I loved her. She was probably just so cozy. like I just hope she's like breathing. So I was like kind of nervous checking on her a lot.
00:31:07
Speaker
Um, but this year is going to be like even more fun because now I'm not worrying about, Oh, we gotta to go nap. Oh, we gotta go do this. Like we're, they're both on the one nap thing. Grayton takes on sometimes he sometimes doesn't like, I just feel like this is going to be a good, a good year, a good year for yeah holidays in general.
00:31:28
Speaker
Yeah, I'm excited. Yeah, I'm just excited to experience it all with them and to like just have some fun in this. I feel like it's been a while since we've had fun because of everything that's happened. So I'm excited to just like.
00:31:46
Speaker
lean on family a little bit and yeah you know have some fun. like It is such a special time of year and I really am like grateful and thankful for my family and us being able to all like be together. so No, for sure. And I know that you're living on top of them, but something about the holidays that like, I don't know, it's like a good break in totally dealing with life. You're kind of just like, all right, let's lean into this holiday. And then you have Christmas and you're like, let's lean into this. And you get to get excited about all that. And then I literally asked Graydon also this morning about um what he wanted for Christmas.
00:32:26
Speaker
And he was like, I want a present. And I was like, yeah, but Graydon. OK, you got to be more specific than that, sir. so But what do you want? He goes, a big present. And I was like, all right. OK. I'll just wrap some air for you in a big old box. Does he have a scooter?
00:32:45
Speaker
Yeah, he does. He doesn't love. He's not. He's like the opposite. Margo loves like the ride along toys like she she loves them. Graydon's a little more cautious, which is surprising. um He likes his like Jeep that you drive with the remote control that he'll sit in. I don't know. He's very he's kind of cautious. Like I thought he was going to be like my big sports guy.
00:33:11
Speaker
And figure it out. He's not super into anything. He's still so little. Margot's my daredevil. Chris and I are like, oh, she's going to be the sporty one. Ooh, that's fun. No, she is into everything. And I'm telling you, we have like one of those roller coasters with the yellow little car that you set on it, and they go down the hill.
00:33:36
Speaker
Which by the way, did I mention that someone ran over it and squished the roller coaster? We leave it in the street. Cause all the kids in the cul-de-sac use it. So we'll just like, we like have it shoved up against the curb. ahhu But a dog walker just like literally drove up it. Like when I'm talking about like how you line up your tire ah at a car wash, she drove up it and she couldn't get over it. Like it was stuck. So she flattened it.
00:34:05
Speaker
Chris and I like ran outside and we were like, oh my God, it's okay. She's like, let me buy you a new one. I was like, no, this was like a hand me down from our neighbors. Like we're about to move. It's okay. Trust me. You didn't crush the frickin car that Margot was obsessed with. If you did, I'd probably ask you to buy another one. But yeah.
Parenting Joys and Challenges
00:34:21
Speaker
Anyway, she will fly down our cul-de-sac on that thing. She's one. I'm like, Graydon would have never done that. Yeah. She puts her legs up in there and just shoots down the hill. And I'm running and trying to picture her so clearly. Oh, my God. I need to get a video. But yeah, she's wild. um She's my little daredevil. Oh, my God. That is so funny.
00:34:43
Speaker
ah evi Eevee's like, I don't I can't figure her out yet. She seems to be more persistent than Alice is. Like, she's very persistent about things she wants and like getting to things like if we close the bathroom door, she will sit there and push on the bathroom door. She's like, oh, and I'm like, girl, you are not open in that. Like, I don't know. Like, Alice just would have moved on. You know, no, I don't know. It's so crazy how different they are. Like she's Margot's already like having tantrums. I'm like,
00:35:18
Speaker
I don't remember that happening so early. like And she's so feisty. like I think I remember Graydon hitting, but maybe he didn't really have anyone to hit. like He never hit us. Margot like goes ham on Graydon. She's and not nice to him. She's very sassy.
00:35:35
Speaker
um And she like she will do the the limp noodle if you pick her up and she's doing something. She's so limp noodling, kicking. I'm like, girl, you're not even girl. You're too little for this. Like, yeah, this attitude is wild. That's crazy. Damn, it's all happening so fast. I mean, the second she started walking, it was balls to the wall over here. So, yeah, that's coming up for you.
00:36:05
Speaker
I know.
Yearly Reflections and Gratitude
00:36:08
Speaker
Should we talk a little bit about what we're thankful for? Yes, of course. I know I was trying to think like.
00:36:17
Speaker
You know, it's always that like awkward, like let's stand in a circle and say what we're thankful for. And it almost feels like when you're at school and they're like, tell us something about yourself. And you're like, oh how can I be clever? How can I be funny? Like, and you start to panic and then everyone just says family. But I like randomly looked up.
00:36:38
Speaker
like things to say if you're ever like struggling and don't want to just say family and health but I mean all of these are pretty much the same it's all about health family maybe your education love opportunities in your life whether it's like career or personal growth of how you felt like earlier in the year compared to now um things like the colleagues or friends that you have and music, um which can be a great comfort to most people. And then it said some unique things like literacy, time, rainbows, which you've mentioned that before, yeah diversity, the challenges you've faced and choices you've made. um okay Which- Those are all- Love. i mean
00:37:29
Speaker
If I had to like make a synopsis of the whole year, I'd definitely say, obviously, family, um and then the love for my family, and then also probably like the growth that I've seen in myself this year. um Yeah, totally. You've had a big year. Yes, and not even just like career, but like I think which it is a lot about career, but like sending Margo to daycare is a big change, you know, for anyone that's sending their kid off to school. Like I'm proud of myself for like going through that. Like that is just, you know, and like one of those things that sucks at first. And then you're so grateful for it. So like doing that and overcoming that and being able to like really dive into myself a little more again. And, um,
00:38:23
Speaker
getting the promotion. And then, like no, I didn't have moving on my bingo card this year, but like so thankful to like be able to like afford that opportunity with Chris and my family and like starting totally um a new chapter there. so Yeah. All the good things. And obviously, like so thankful for you and mom group chat, which is like the light of my life. Always. And getting to do that photo shoot and the rebranding was so fun. so Oh, my gosh. Yeah. I feel like I feel like I saw you a lot this year, which I'm really grateful for. Yeah. Spending like I need July together and then. Yeah, that was kind of back to back. I know. I loved it, honestly. um And i we need something new on the calendar. I know. I honestly i like the the girls trip. Like I love family, but it's so nice to just have like adult time. Yeah. In there.
00:39:22
Speaker
Yeah, I would say for me I think the biggest one is just like support like to go through something like we did this year where we literally wouldn't have gotten through it without the support of our family and friends and even like our listeners and people who donated and all of that like it's just really shows you how much like people will show up for you um and how willing people are to help and to give their time and resources. and It's just been so amazing. and we really Vinny and I literally just talked about this on Sunday. of like
00:40:05
Speaker
it It was so eye-opening to see how many people like really care about us and like show up for us, which is so beautiful and amazing. We all love you. It's like i know horrible what happened to you guys. Oh my gosh. Anyway, we can help. you know Yeah, and Vinny and I, the conversation we had on Sunday, like we just talked about how we hope that whenever we do get back on our feet and our life is more stable, like we can pay it forward to other people who are in need of help. And like Vinny was going through a thing where he was like feeling guilty about how much help we've needed in the past two months. And I was like, you shouldn't feel guilty about that because A, the people who love us,
00:40:53
Speaker
actually want to help us. They're not expecting anything in return. No, I haven't thought twice about it. If anything, it's like, I just want you to feel, I don't know, back to normal. Totally. And we know as a couple, we want to help other people whenever we're able to again. And the truth is, life is always going to slap you in the face in some at some point. you know And that's kind of how we feel like life kind of took a dump on us this year. But but there's going to be times in all of our friends' life, in all of our family members' life where their life is going to take a dump on them. ok And we are going to be there. We're going to be the first ones that are there to support them because yeah they were there for us. You know what I mean?
00:41:46
Speaker
So there will always be opportunity for us to help people and that's definitely like in our minds. But if I had to do a positive spin as a thankful, which I've been trying to train my brain over the past couple of weeks is like,
00:42:03
Speaker
I'm grateful for like the blank page in front of us. like Truly, so we have no idea what the next year of our life looks like. We have no idea where we're living. like i I've said that like every episode for the past seven episodes now, but it's true. and um it's kind of like If I switch my thinking, it's exciting.
00:42:25
Speaker
OK, we're going to have a whole fresh new start and new chapter where we can hopefully like create amazing memories and build something that's amazing, whether that's in a new house or a new town or, you know, and yeah.
00:42:41
Speaker
Obviously, once you like get past the grieving point and letting go of what was and then seeing it, like you said, as like a blank page, that's the perfect way to put it. It's like, okay, now I am a little excited that I get to have this like new spark of creativity and a new life and know in a way. um Totally.
00:43:05
Speaker
and I know you well wherever you go or if you build or move like it's going to be amazing and so fun for you guys. Yeah and then the other thing I was going to mention is just like how grateful I am for my girlies and my husband but ah specifically the girls because they add so much lightness to all of these very hard times. like The amount of laughs we've had because of things that Alice has done or that Evie's doing or new things they learn or just getting to experience new things with them. like That is what has brought like levity to our days yeah and I'm so grateful for them during this time because
00:43:57
Speaker
I think if we didn't have them, it'd be so easy to fall into like everything sucks and our life is miserable. and you know I felt that way after Shannon passed too. I was so sad and like the only thing getting me through was Alice and i like same like how she brought joy to my days and I feel that way about the girls now. so I'm just so thankful for them. They're so cute and doing so many funny things and always making me smile and laugh. and So the kids are great. I agree. Yeah. And then, of course, you and mom group chat like this truly. I mean, I know that we go on and on about how much we love doing this show and how much we love all of you as listeners. But like truly, this is the biggest passion of our lives. Like it.
00:44:50
Speaker
has brought me more joy and fulfillment than anything I've ever done in my life to connect with all of you and to laugh with you and cry with you and
Thanksgiving Wishes and Listener Engagement
00:45:04
Speaker
all of that. So I'm just so thankful for this show and this outlet and that all of you have tuned in week after week and I just I'm just so grateful for all that's to come with mom group chat too.
00:45:19
Speaker
I know same. It's so nice to have a place where us as moms can connect and relate on so many topics like, I don't know. It's like what we always say as like, no one understands you like other moms. And so it's just nice to have a relatable spot for this club that we're in and going through all together as first time, second time, third time moms. And man, it is just,
00:45:47
Speaker
A game changer. I love it. Yeah. I'm me too. Oh, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving. The other thing I didn't mention this earlier, but I was thinking it is I remember Alice's first Thanksgiving where she could like she was eating solids, you know, and to watch her try all of the Thanksgiving food like turkey and mashed potatoes. And she got all messy. Yeah. So excited for that with Evie because Evie's a way better eater and like So funny about food like she just loves shoving food in her mouth. Yeah, she's mama's girl and I have to get Margot naked because Yeah, I was thinking that too. I'm like, well I need to mental note either take off her outfit or pack a bag with a whole extra outfit cuz Your girls gonna get messy
00:46:35
Speaker
Your girl is going to eat. That's for sure. Me, too. I'm excited. Me, too. What's your um one more question? And then we'll wrap this up. What's your go to Thanksgiving dessert? Are you a pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie? What do you pick on? I don't know what it is. Yeah. I'm a big pie girl like that's my favorite dessert in general.
00:47:02
Speaker
Um, and I call it pecan, but ah teach there I don't care. I don't know what I call it. I flip flop. Uh, I love pecan pie. And also this is very fucking weird. I'm allergic to strawberries, which I think I am. I don't know. I'm like kind of scared to try them now. Anyway, I used to get hives growing up and we like always blamed it on strawberries.
00:47:25
Speaker
But my aunt makes strawberry pretzel salad. Have you ever had that? yes ja Oh, My job and I have problems. And then there's like crushed up um pretzels. so I like flip it upside down and I'll eat the whipped cream and the pretzel part and I don't touch the strawberries, but I'm like, I love that for somebody like the salty and the sweet. Salty, sweet and crunchy. It is so Yeah. I always look forward to that. What about you? Um, it's, I am like shockingly just not that big of a sweets girl when it comes to Thanksgiving. Like I'm just all about the savory stuff. I do love an apple pie.
00:48:09
Speaker
So if there's apple pie, I will sometimes eat that. But most of the time, like I get to the end and I'm like, I'm good. Sometimes. Yeah. Like I just prefer the mashed potatoes and the like, I i just, I'll take like a bite. And then, yeah, that's how I am. If I am most of the time, if Vinnie gets something or if my mom, I'll just be like, can I just have one bite? That's all I want truly is one bite. And then I'll be like, I'm good.
00:48:35
Speaker
Well, it sends you over that that sends you over the freaking edge. It's like, why did I do that? I feel like yeah shit now. yeah So i yeah I try and restrain, or I'll take a piece home and eat it later because you know how weird it is you're starving because you've eaten so much and your stomach has expanded and you're like, now I'm freaking starving later.
00:48:58
Speaker
I know. Or the next morning, I always wake up and I'm like so hungry. I'm nauseous. I'm like, what the hell? I so literally stuff myself like a turkey and I'm nauseous right now. I don't understand. Exactly. it's So funny. But ah well, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I hope that you all have the best day. um Send us pictures of your little turkeys, aka your kids, not your actual turkeys. um And we'll do a little question box of what you're thankful for on Instagram so that i love it we can share everyone's things that they're thankful for. Yeah, we'll share it on Thanksgiving. So love you guys. And maybe we'll see you out on the streets of the Turkey Trot, my guys. I can't wait.
00:49:43
Speaker
yeah all i love you by i love you Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there. All right. Got to go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.