The Feast 2009

I forgot to take pictures of the lovely spread so I took one of a few people chowing down on pie

and one of my sister feeding Ty sweet potatoes

and of the kids drawing on grandma and grandpa's wall.  I mean, whiteboard

We had a great day and are so thankful for family 

For delicious Thanksgiving food

That Cameron gets to fly airplanes

For good health

For helpful people who know more than we do

For good TV shows (sorry- I couldn't help myself. I LOVE to have something to veg out for at the end of an exhausting day)

My sister who moved to California today.  Boo.  I mean yay for her!

For the restored gospel. 

The feast and Christmas lights

The transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas is so quick, don't you think? One day I'm enjoying some fabulous turkey, the next, I'm gazing at Christmas lights and singing, "I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause." Just seems so unsmooth. But no more complaints here. I love the holidays.

Colby insisted eating a huge turkey leg and loved it

And because Kara has to do everything her big brother does, she refused to eat the turkey I gave her and had to have her own leg.

The whole crew. Our dinner was lovely, just as it always is. Have I mentioned I love Thanksgiving? Thanks grandma and grandpa for a perfect Thanksgiving feast and good company!

After our feast and dessert of pies a plenty, we headed to Cameron's dad's house where we played games and the kids spent the night. Despite the fact that Cameron had to be at the airport early, I still got to sleep in and go shopping. Hooray for grandma and grandpa!

Last night we met my sister in Salt Lake to see the lights. It was fun and the kids enjoyed it more than I thought. Thanks to a cute little granny who befriended Colby on the frontrunner going home, our trip was pretty decent, even though halfway through I had started to regret taking the kids by myself on such an outing. Thanks random granny!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This year I am thankful for:

1. Comments like, "I love you mom. You're my best friend."
2. Being able to get a job, when I need one, even when I don't necessarily want one.
3. 2 totally healthy children
4. Parents who are still around to continue to parent me.
5. Cameron's job in an unstable and unpredictable economy
6. 5 really cool, quirky, smart brothers and sisters
7. King size beds when you're pregnant
8. Friends who would do anything for me and my family
9. Catching a hug between my kids when they don't know I'm looking
10. Food that is so delicious, you are excited to go to bed just so you can eat it in the morning
11. Feeling a tiny little baby kick inside of you

spuds and even more spuds, please

The best holiday of the year is just a short 4 days away. Each and every Thanksgiving bite is pure deliciousness. I can't think of one single thing I don't like about that beloved feast. (My poor mom doesn't like Turkey- what a very sad, sad thing). However, I have decided to rank the usual Thanksgiving dishes in order of yumminess with #1 being the most yummy and savory and good and make-me-sick-with-multiple-helpings (I'm pretty sure I have shed tears when finding that we were out of #1 before I got a second helping).

For fun. Because I'm bored. And because I like lists and this helps me to visualize how much of each dish I should take.

8. sweet potatoes
7. pie
6. fruit salad
5. corn or whatever veggie
4. turkey
3. rolls
2. stuffing
1. mashed potatoes and gravy

This year, we're headed to Cameron's family's for the big day. I always look forward to their traditional noodles and broth over mashed potatoes. It sounds odd, but is surprisingly good. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish and does your family do anything unique? I'm thinking of trying this yummy-looking corn and wild rice dish featured on PW cooks for something different this year. Oh, and one more question. Do you save your favorite part of a meal for last or do you gobble it up first? I always thought that saving the best for last was just the natural thing to do until I married Cameron. He starts with his favorite and works his way down. This makes no sense to me. I remember making the conscious decision in preschool when given a cup full of raisins, peanuts and m&ms. I felt it wise to start with the m&ms, proceed to the peanuts, then savor each and every raisin. Alright, I see a few flaws in this procedure. By the time you get to your favorite, you run the risk of being too full to fully enjoy it or it is cold when it's supposed to be hot and visa versa (sp?). It doesen't matter. The risk is worth taking. Give it a try, won't ya? And while you're at it, don't find out the sex of your next baby. My ways are the best ways.

Thanksgiving in April

Cameron, Cami, Josh, Dave, Rachel, Me

Today was our 2nd annual Thanksgiving in April. Every year for Christmas, SkyWest so generously gives us a bonus. The bonus is a coupon for a free turkey. I know, not quite as glamorous as a membership to a cheese-of-the-month club for a year, but we're not about to complain about anything free. Because the coupon expires in April and we leave everything to the last minute, Thanksgiving in April was born. It was good to have the Cooks (our move-away-to-Vernal-friends) back, in our last ditch attempt to make them sorry they left us. I'm not sure it worked. I think it was the dry turkey. Blast that turkey- if only my delicious juicy turkey attempt was successful.

Because real Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday and doesn't come around nearly enough, I thought I'd share a few things I'm grateful for.

Today, April 13, 2008 I am thankful for

1. Good company-friends that are easy to be with and who are always good for a few laughs
2. A mother who allows me to call her 6 (maybe 7?) times about how to cook the same dang turkey
3. My mismatched furniture
4. The sound of a lawn mower
5. Garlic (so far so good at repelling the mosquitoes....ask for more details)
6. Hugs from my kiddos
7. Having a non-complainer husband
8. And yes, good food. No thankful list of mine would be complete without some reference to food. Today, I'd have to say I'm particularly thankful for strawberry rhubarb pie, yummy potato rolls and sausage stuffing.