Oh, Thanksgiving, the best day of the year. I mean, sure I've been listening to Christmas music since September and in my mind, it's Christmas time the minute it's November first, but I will be the first to say that Thanksgiving has a dear place in my heart--mainly because of apple pie, but also because of the pilgrims, duh! I don't know if it's just my family, but there always seem to be some mishaps along with these joys. Would it really be Thanksgiving if someone didn't get lost in a grocery store or burn some sweet potato casserole?

Here are 12 events that just make Thanksgiving, well, Thanksgiving:

1. When you wake up and remember it's Thanksgiving:

It's the day of apple pie and also the dog show, which is half of what makes the day so magical, obviously.

2. Your mom sends you and your siblings to the grocery store, but you all get lost trying to find what she sent you to get:

There's at least 500 other people in the store, and you're pretty sure the ingredient you're looking for isn't even available in America, but you're trying to stay cool.

3. You get home and you try to ask someone to show you how to cook, but it's not really working out:

And you realize all that time you spent watching Chopped over the years hasn't been helping like you thought it was.

4. Then you realize you messed up the one thing you were supposed to make, and you have a little meltdown inside:

Some of us just weren't built for the pressure of the kitchen on Thanksgiving.

5. So then you're family gives up on your culinary skills, so you get put on dish duty:

It's a little hurtful but you know you're the true hero of the day in the end.

6. While you're dying over the mountain dishes you now have to wash, you try to turn on the Macy's parade, but someone wants to watch football instead

I just feel like football has no place in Thanksgiving, and if that makes me unpatriotic then so be it.

7. When everything comes out of the oven, and you realize what a beautiful day Thanksgiving truly is:

Then you realize you're a little bit scared of how much food there is, but then you remember you aren't a coward and you were born for this challenge.

8. When someone decided to make a new recipe, and you are both concerned and excited all at the same time:

It could go horribly wrong, but you're willing to risk it all for the chance to find true love in a new side dish.

9. When it's finally time to eat:

It's been a journey getting to this point, but in this moment you realize it's all been so worth it.

10. That point in the meal when someone tries to tell you to eat some vegetables:

It's honestly rude to think about vegetables on Thanksgiving unless they're made unhealthy, it's just one of the rules.

11. When you're eating dessert, and you realize new facts about life and nutrition:

Everyone knows that pumpkin pie is the real brain food (sorry to almonds and blueberries or whatever).

12. Then the meal is finally over, and it's emotional and you say you'll never be able to eat again, but everyone knows that's not even a little bit true

Leftovers are the real MVP of Thanksgiving. This is pretty much in the constitution, probably.