How To Celebrate a Major Holiday Grisdale Style

Get a jump start on the holiday by working four twelve hour night shifts in a five day stretch with only 3-4 hours of sleep in between; while simultaneously preparing to drive 900 miles the next day for the Thanksgiving holiday. Packing for three kids, plus two adults, on a 14 hour car trip. Prepping the dog for the kennel, stopping the mail, clean out the fridge, etc.

While on one of my many runs to the basement for packing supplies, what do I find? Water, and lots of it. Seeping out of the hot water heater and under the wall into our storage room. Where we still have quite a few cardboard boxes (yes, I know it's been 2+ years since we moved. Yes, we should probably empty them).


So instead of driving to sunny AZ to see the family for the holiday, we waited here for a plumber to fix our leak. And just to top it all off, the water pump on our minivan is leaking and not up for a major road trip. All three kids are sick with fevers, coughs, two with ear infections. Paul and I have the creepy crud too, oh joy. And the dog has obviously been eating odd things as her digestive tract is ' not up to snuff' shall we say. A definite "no no" at the kennel.

I'm waiting for the plumber to finish, and Paul to come home from work so that I can fight the mad rush at the grocery store sans children. Anyone know how to make a turkey?!