Thanks Giving

It's late.  The festivities are over.  I'm filling the gap between Thanksgiving Day and the madness that follows on Black Friday.  I'm questioning my decision to join the rabble.  I will feel satisfied if I return with at least ONE great purchase.  Last year, for the first time in many years, I didn't go.  It felt so good to sleep in, wake up at my convenience, and leisurely put up the Christmas decorations.  This year, at the encouragement of my husband (who will be sleeping, since he has work tomorrow), my friend Steph (wanting a shopping buddy), and a child or two with an interest in observing the craziness, I am going.  

Which could possibly mean that I am up all night.

In the interim I thought I would share the activities of the day, and give some thanks in the process.

A big thank you to the men in the house for getting those Christmas lights up.

And a big thank you to the girls, for helping set a beautiful table and assisting with the food prep.

The turkey got done early.  That never happens to me.  But I've never roasted a brined natural turkey before.  Was it the best turkey ever?  I couldn't say.  It tasted pretty much the same as all the other turkeys I've roasted before, but I've had a head cold and some sinus junk going on, so maybe I'm not the best judge.  However, I think I'll just go for the frozen bird next year.

Mauri and her cousin Hannah made plans to wear their pilgrim dresses (referenced here) for the dinner.  So even though they wouldn't be together in person, they would be together in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

A big thank you to our friends who joined us.  The conversation was lively, and the jokes as good as ever.

The house-lighting ceremony wasn't so much of a ceremony, more like a come-see.  But the lights look awesome.

The rest of the Thanksgiving Day story:

My pumpkin roll didn't turn out.  We ate it for breakfast.

We've used the same joke cards for the past 7 or 8 years.  I can never remember the punch lines, so I still find them funny.  Maybe next year we'll make some new ones, although Taylor thinks the best tradition would be to use the same joke cards forever.

My apple pie... the one that looked pretty darn good in my last post?  Pretty much hollow.  Like a cave.  The apples had all cooked down, and that durable Pillsbury crust kept it's lovely mounded shape.  It gave us a good chuckle.  The cream pies were yummy, though.

We hand-washed a boatload of dishes.  A BIG thank you to all of my children, who were real troopers, and let our guests enjoy themselves.

I took an hour-long nap around 7 pm.  Hope that gets me through the night.

Today I am grateful for many things, but most of all, I'm grateful for my husband, my children, my extended family (miss you all), and my knowledge and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving!