Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving this year was very different, mostly because there were only 5 people present. Coming from a large family, it seemed a little strange to have a quiet day but it was nice, at least we were able to have some family there so we were thankful for that! We had Brendan's dad, stepmom, and sister over and they brought about half the food so that made it pretty easy on me cooking-wise. Tracy is always super helpful with whatever I need - I was expecting it to be a busy morning of cooking and making sure everything was ready but surprisingly everything went really smoothly and there was no rush at all...I'm very thankful to have her and my dad in law in our lives. They really show us that they care about us and what's going on in our lives and treat me as a true part of the family - too bad they live about an hour away or we would be able to spend much more time with them and Brendan's younger sister!
The night before Thanksgiving I made some desserts - cherry/rasberry pie and mocha chocolate cake...they turned out pretty excellent...moist and delicious.





Morning of sweet husband made me pancakes and bacon, which I only nibbled because I didn't want to spoil my appetite! Then we got the turkey out and Brendan cleaned it out (gingerly):

He did a great job!! Finding all the obscure bags of entrails and even a nice packet of gravy mix..haha.

Then Brendan commenced the football-watching with his dad and the womenfolk started getting the other foods ready, but like I said before it was all very relaxing and easy. Here we have the makings of broccoli rice casserole which is passed down from my mom, but I can never get it to taste like hers! Also Tracy's homemade cranberry sauce...

Brendan peeled the potatoes! Handsome devil







Faja, Mikaela, and me:

We bought this ham with a brown sugar glaze, yum, here's me basting it:(my first time using a baster hee - that basted ham!!)



I had bought some pumpkins that I was going to make a fall centerpiece out of but never actually did, so for the meal I set them around our one nice vase and put the wheat I also had in the vase with some leftover wooden twirly things to complete what I call my "autumn sheek" look with asian undertones...I'm proud of what I did with it okay!!

Here's a pic of the spread! Holla

Someday I will get my exotic meat and unusual side dishes......

We had gotten this hunting game for the Xbox so we played that a little...(the next day Brendan traded it all in for a Playstation 3 so we'll see how long we keep this, it cuts down on space though!! :)

Gotta post a pic of my delicious parker house rolls that I whipped up...didn't know they would rise as much as they did so they ended up being "loaves" instead of "rolls" ha but they were so good!!

TASTY!!

Last but not least, on my kitchen chalkboard (made out of a vintage window, yes I am creative like that, jealous) I wrote this and everyone wrote something that they were thankful for: (I'm sure you can guess which ones are Brendan's ;)

It was a good day and we have a lot to be thankful for!! God has blessed us way more than we deserve. I hope in the next few months we follow his leading and seek to do more for him!!

Next post will be about Brendan's birthday - he's getting a big suprise tomorrow if it doesn't rain!

Deuces playa