Erieversible

They have always been, of course, but this weekend felt particulary bad as hubby was home and the time just flew past.  Now he is on his way back to Buffalo and the house feels really empty.  Of course the kids are here, and usually they make enough noise and commotion for ten kids, but today it just feels too quiet and too empty here.

I know I’m overreacting!  The week will just fly past and hubby will be back on Friday night.  Then there are two short work weeks with Christmas and New Year.  And, hopefully, by the end of all of that we will be much closer to closing on the house and getting us moved to Buffalo as well.

It just feels “wrong” to be apart.  The kids are grumpy and hard to get along with (and at least SOME of that can be blamed on hubby being away!) and I feel even more short-tempered than normal!

I know there are a lot of people who are a lot worse off.  I have nothing but admiration for the spouses of the brave men and women who serve in the armed forces throughout the world, for instance.  It is hard having hubby away for a week at a time.  At least I know the most dangerous thing he is likely to encounter this week is “IT Pig Fest”, and that should be dangerous only to his waistline!!! 

This was our first American Thanksgiving for the four of us.  We did make it back to Erie one year at Thanksgiving time when the oldest was about two, but that was the last Thanksgiving we spent in the States.  So how was it?

Wonderful!  We went to my cousin’s house and she very kindly did all the hard work.  The kids had a wonderful time with their cousins.  I had a wonderful time with my cousin, Aunt, mom and sister.  Hubby watched some football with my cousin’s husband and the Cowboys won.  (Cousin’s hubby is a Cowboys fan…it would have been a less happy Thanksgiving if they had lost.)

We all ate too much (of course), laughed a lot and really enjoyed each others company.  This is one of the main things that I wanted to move back to the US for…holidays with family.  Every year on the Isle of Man we would celebrate Thanksgiving, but it was just us, the kids were at school so we have to wait to eat until they got home and some years we couldn’t even get a fresh turkey!  (Turkey is the de facto Christmas meal in the UK, so in November they are all still busy being fattened up for the big day.)

I am really hoping that next year everyone can come to Buffalo and have Thanksgiving at our house.  If we have a house, and furniture, and…everything.

Real Cadbury’s chocolate decorations for the tree.  Paxo stuffing.  Rowntree’s fruit pastilles to add to the kids’ stockings.  Plus maybe an extra roll as my commission.  Soreen malt loaf.  Branston.  Multiple jars!  

Okay, so the Christmas we are planning is not strictly an American one, but while we were in the UK we always tried to introduce US elements of Christmas to the overall family experience.  So it is only fair that Christmas in the US should have British elements.

Back to Buffalo tomorrow to look at a couple of houses that we liked on Monday.  The second visit will be a much more thorough examination.

Meanwhile, a gentleman from the removals firm dropped round today to carry out a survey of the stuff to be moved.  I did warn him beforehand, and it did indeed take a lot less time than he was planning.  The new house, whichever one it turns out to be, is going to feel very empty until we go on a furniture buying spree.

Busy, busy!