Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Guess what I will not be doing this year. I will not be baking a turkey for hours. I won’t be peeling apples for pie. I won’t be baking. I won’t be stirring. I won’t be mixing.

Since me and Mr. T have been married, we’ve essentially done something different for Turkey Day every year. We’ve made a tiny Thanksgiving meal for two adults and a baby, we’ve gone to our close friends’ family’s home, and we’ve had family here.

This year, we have six puppies in addition to three adult dogs in our house. T Junior is 3-1/2 and full of energy. I don’t want to stand in the kitchen all day. Neither does Mr. T.

At Costco a couple weeks ago, we made a quick decision to do an all pre-made Thanksgiving. Costco stuffing. A pre-cooked turkey breast from Costco. Costco pumpkin pie. Even Costco mashed potatoes. It was Mr. T’s idea, and I told him to “just do it before I change my mind.” Later, I picked up canned cranberries at the grocery store.

At some point we will have to put an apple pie in the oven, but the filling was pre-made from apples picked from our own tree a few months ago. Refrigerated pie crusts are chilling.

I know some people might guffaw at what I’m calling “A Very Special Costco Thanksgiving,” but I am enjoying the non-stress I have about the day. And I’m loving that we are flexible enough to do something different every year. In fact, I feel like in our little family, the fact that we do something new each holiday is sort of our tradition.

Tomorrow I’m going on a long run with friends early in the morning to burn some cals, then coming home for breakfast with Mr. T and, of course, the Thanksgiving Day parade with T Junior. Then we may play games or do a puzzle. I have a new craft I want to try. There’ll be football on TV and a fire in the fireplace. And I’ll be ENJOYING it all.

I won’t be standing in the kitchen watching everything from behind an island piled with pots and pans and casserole dishes. I’m aware I won’t be having my sister’s OJ-infused sweet potatoes or my family’s traditional corn pudding or Mr. T’s mom’s pecan pie.

But it’s just food! Am I thankful that my family has food to eat? Yes. But, this year, I’m also thankful that I won’t have to make it.