Thanksgiving Recap via Pictures

We had our first round of Thanksgiving at my parents house on 11/22. We always celebrate with them early because they go out of town every year on the actual turkey day :(. So we had dinner, played games, celebrated my mom's bday (it's really 11/27), and drew names for Christmas. Here are just a few pics from that night.

The on Thursday we cooked dinner for 2 of my siblings, 1 of my aunts, and my Nana. I set up coloring pages at a kiddie table, the food was SOOOOO yummy, we watched one of my cousin march in the Macy's parade, and it was just a really nice relaxing day! My baby cousin was such a hoot and we could totally claim her as ours don't ya think? :)

I picked up these cookies for my non-pie eatin' weirdos ;)

My baby makes the YUMMIEST turkey!!!

Cousins Coloring!!! :) Love it!

Hope you all had a great turkey day too!!!

Respect the Turkey

I'd been thinking about doing this post tonight and then I saw this over on Baby Rabies. It is basically EXACTLY what I was thinking!

What happened to Thanksgiving!?!?!

Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOOVE me some Christmas. The music, the glitter, the colors, and those fabu red cups from Starbucks.

But I also REALLY love pumpkins, Orange, November, Fall, & Thanksgiving! I mean seriously, now that I have kids, time goes by SOOOOO fast. This is a very special time of year and I want to savor EVERY moment, EVERY holiday.

So while I have been busy making and buying Christmas gifts since September, I refuse to BUY anything Christmasy or decorate my home Christmasy until AFTER Thanksgiving!

Now who's with me?
PS there is ONE good thing about stores basically skipping over Thanksgiving - the FALL CLEARANCES! There is SO much fall/Thanksgiving stuff out there at 70-80% off! Love it! :)

We Gave Many Thanks...

Thanksgiving, as with every other holiday around here, was met with many different celebrations. First was last Saturday, a Pre Thanksgiving dinner at Poppie & Mammie's house. Then, Tuesday was the kids' Thanksgiving Feast & Performance at their school. Adorable as ever even though I'm pretty sure they sing the same songs every year. And then finally Thursday. The Coach and I invited his family into our home for our first Thanksgiving (as hosts). We had LOTS of bird drama but everything turned out beautifully and we are more than ready to host again next year! As long as we aren't left with 4 pumpkin pies, a pumpkin log, cookies, & 2 pumpkin cheesecakes again!! Ready for pictures?

Woah Mammie that's a big turkey!

My baby girl and I

Auntie & her boy


My wonderful family

She requested the turkey leg weeks in advance!



Grandkids with Poppie & Mammie

One of the cutie patootie cupcakes the kids & I made to share with friends & family

Lacie on stage

Colby on stage

Colby & Isabelle's class were turkeys

Lacie's were indians

They are just too stinkin cute!

Papa & Nonna - my inlaws

COUSINS!!!

My loves

This year Colby was thankful for Pump it Up

Lacie was thankful for her Mommy - too sweet!

Here we go - putting the bird in
Decorating their table"cloth" that I made them
Looks good!
MMMM dessert!
It's not Thanksgiving without a nap right?

Thirteen Thursday

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

13 things I am thankful for today -

1. My husband
2. My children
3. My family
4. My beautiful home
5. My van
6. A full fridge and pantry
7. My friends
8. Money (albeit not much hahahaha) in our bank account
9. My OWN washer & dryer
10. Our backyard
11. Pictures that have captured wonderful memories
12. Starbucks
13. Clothes on my back

Thanksgiving

So this year I am hosting (along with my darling husband) my FIRST Thanksgiving ever! I've hosted Easter before, and other various occasions before. But NEVER this specific holiday where there is SO much cooking involved. I don't cook.....well. I have been known to burn just about everything form spaghetti noodles to chili beans from a can. I used to tell my mom that when it came time for me to have Thanksgiving at my house I would just be ordering pizzas for everyone! Well we our having several of The Coach's family members over for Turkey and all the fixings next Thursday. LOVELY! I am really excited about it but I have NO business attempting to cook THE most important part of this very important meal! Not to mention everything else that goes along with hosting a major holiday! The Coach wrote out our game plan tonight, he tells me not to stress, that if everything isn't perfect things will still be great.

WHAT!!!!! Things not be PERFECT? When there are guests coming over? This will just not do!

So I'm working on getting things done around here and ready for our big day!

• finish hanging photos & decor in the livingroom, hallway, bathroom, & our room. I'd liek to get stuff up in the kids rooms too if we can (hahaha see next item)


• finish painting kids rooms that we started about 8 weeks ago (hahahahaha)


• CLEAN every nook & cranny that may or not be noticed by guests


• grocery shopping for 15 guests for a meal that I've never ever cooked before


• BRINE the turkey - I hear this is very important


• figure out how to work my roaster that I've had for 2 (or 3) years but have never used


• get decorations & table settings made and whatnot

That's what we have on the list so far. It could grow or it could shorten within the next few days. Because this list is floating there amidst our normal life or work, children, and family obligations.

Here are the invitations I mailed out to family that I am very proud of:

And here is an ideas I found for the kiddie table (which will only have MY kids at it LOL):

the centerpiece -

this would be THEIR kiddie table covered in brown paper wrapping for them to decorate -