Thanksgiving Recap

I can't believe it, but we didn't take any pictures at all on Thanksgiving. However, we had a wonderful day. It was so relaxing, wonderful food, and great family time.

For once, it was just us for Thanksgiving. No missionaries, no last minute (as in the morning of) invites of large families from Steve, and as usual no extended family. We loved it.

I often use our blog as our family journal, seeing as I'm rather pitiful at actual journal writing, and this blog provides an opportunity for me to record what the DeMille's get up to.

I was determined to have the day be as less stressful as possible, however I like to do Thanksgiving BIG-TIME, so I just prepped alot beforehand. All vegetables were chopped and bagged in the fridge, and anything that could be premade, was. I also downsized on how many types of pies I offered this year (eight different kinds isn't unusual for me on a Thanksgiving Day menu - Yep, i know a little carried away - I celebrate Thanksgiving like a true immigrant attempting to make up for missing out on the feast for the first twenty years of her life.)

Steve dropped Caleb off early at church to play a game of Turkey Bowl with the Young Men and missionaries (translation to non-yanks = football, the American kind). It was very warm for this time of year, annoyingly so in my books, with temps around 32F and a touch of snow. I think I need to move further north.

Steve and I cooked the turkey together as usual, and the rest just flowed. EB was ready to eat that "big ol' turkey" at 10am after he logged off Webkinz.

MENU

Appetizers: Spinach and Artichoke Mini Pizzas/Bread Bowls, Pigs in Blankets, Roasted Red Pepper and Wasabi Dip, and French Onion and Bacon Dip. (EB ate about 10 sausage rolls while trying to wait for the turkey).

We ditched the salad this year, although i had one made in the refrigerator.

Herb Roasted Turkey (20lbs - smaller than some years, but enough for our beloved leftovers)
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Kim's Special Recipe of Stuffing - involves, Sausage, Granny Smith Apples, celery, carrots, onions, Chicken Demi-Glace, Gravy and Stock. It's the Cute Guy's favorite.
Green Bean and Crispy Onion Casserole
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Hard Yeast Bread Rolls (all recipes were made in two versions, with and without Gluten - we have to accommodate for Declan, so it's double the work, but he's more than worth it and loves every bite)
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Turkey Gravy (for Declan Herbed Gluten Free Chicken Gravy)

Dessert
Pecan Pie (Kim's absolute favorite - i love this more than Sushi and Tiramisu, slightly)
Lemon Meringue Pie (Steve's favorite - but he annoyingly claims his Mom makes it the best, which has resulted in my deciding to buy the cheapest nastiest store made pie and not waste my time trying to best the incomparable.)
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake (Caleb's and Ethan's favorite)
Pumpkin Pie (it's not thanksgiving without pumpkin pie)
Gluten free Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

plus unhealthy doses of Whipped Cream, Cool whip (yuck, a disgusting American favorite - almost as nasty as Miracle Whip - which I think is truly the nastiest thing on the shelf at the grocery store, and I live in Wisconsin where Pigs feet are common on the shelf)

Pomegranate 7up
Cranberry Mist
Fizzy Red grape juice
Fizzy White grape juice
and the best...
Steven's Point Brewery Root Beer - seriously the best root beer around.

We inhaled our food in fifteen minutes, so that we could dash to the airport to see Holly Beck return from her mission in Utah. The Beck's are one of our favorite families and have been through a lot this year, it was wonderful to see Holly get to see her Dad who was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma and multiple tumors in his brain, leg and lungs this year. Whiz is an inspiration to us, and has been the recipient of many miracles this year. It was touching and reminder to our kids of the importance of serving a mission, and how even though tough times may come, that our Heavenly Father will not give us more than we can bear. We are particularly greatful this Thanksgiving for the many lessons we have learned from this special family and the wonderful example they are to us and our children of the blessings the gospel brings to those who are faithful.

Dashed home, and all sat down for another go at dinner. With aching bellies we rolled ourselves into the kitchen to clean up and then play a game of Piranha Perfection, before watching a movie. We attempted to watch Hancock, before deciding 2 minutes into it, that it most definitely was not a movie for kids and switched to Kung Fu Panda. Once kids were in bed, the Cute guy and I stayed up to watch Hancock (seriously hilarious movie, but lots of potty humor), while I got my plan of attack together for Black Friday Shopping. The stores opened at 4am, so after going to bed at 1:30a, I got up at 4a. Sleep is for the weak.

This Thanksgiving we are so thankful for friends and family both near and far. We love you all and hope that you take a moment to think of all the ways that the Lord blesses you and express thanks to He who gives all things.

We couldn't resist!

Okay, we had so much fun putting together the other movie, that we decided to post our Christmas Movie now, and maybe you'll get a card (you know how poor we are with sending those out). The Cute Guy, Steve, prefers incognito as Santa Claus. Enjoy and Happy Holidays (early)!!!!

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Thanksgiving is Almost Here!!!!

Found this great site from my SueBoo and made this this Holiday Movie for you all to enjoy this Thanksgiving and Holiday Season!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from the DeMille's.

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Tag Dang It!

Sue tagged me! Well, to be honest, she kind of did, as did Charity. Kind of!

The instructions are to post the fourth picture in the fourth folder of your pictures file.
Tell us about the picture.
Tag a friend or two.



So, I thought it was rather funny, when I discovered the picture was an impromptu shot of Charity and Ollie at our little Tuesday Playgroup that we held last year. I'm sure that Charity isn't going to be too pleased with me posting this picture, but I think she's one of the cutest gals I've ever met. Everybody wants to be Charity's friend. Seriously! We all fight over her. For those of you who don't know her, let me fill you in a little bit about her. (while I'm embarrassing her, I might as well go all out)

Charity is the embodiment of her name. She gives constantly to others, selflessly, without any thought for herself. She is a wondeful example of a friend, mother, wife and sister. She has some wonderful sayings that I've seem to have acquired, such as "I tell ya", "Holy Buckets", "What ya going to do", and "Gosh Darn It", all said with the best Northwoods accent (which unfortunately I can't imitate). She has gone through an awful lot lately, and still manages to brighten every ones day that she comes across. I feel blessed to consider her one of my friends.

One day, when I grow up, I'm going to be just like her.

Emma, Alisha, and Carrie, consider yourself tagged. (if you want to be, that is)

Twilight Quiz

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great
importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be
sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and
appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

I'll admit, I thought I was going to be a Rosalie! Whew! Apparenty, I'm a lot nicer than I thought.

Oxymoron!

Sorry that the picture is a bit blurry, but I just love this picture of EB as we began our trip. He was crying because upon leaving for our trip, we realized that we'd forgotten the asthma medication and had to turn around (we were only down the street) to retrieve it. EB was upset because he thought we weren't going to go "play off-roading". Note the Hummer Tuff on the hat, with a big tear on the cheek.

Playing in the Sand

On our second day on our October Hummer Event, over 35 hummers convoyed from South Bend, Indiana to Mears, Michigan, a 2 1/2 hour trip. We were quite the site to see as we wove our way through the highways of Michigan to go and play at the Silver Lake Dunes.


Upon entering the Dunes we lined up for a photo op along the Lake Michigan coastline.


The toughest obstacle at the Dunes, is the Test Hill, which took a great deal of consistent speed and driving ability to be able to reach the summit. It took more than a few tries, as you would speed your way almost to the top only to sink into the almost two feet deep sand. We had so much fun trying and were able to reach the peak and continue. Others reached the top only to high center at the top. Here is a picture of our friends getting towed back down.


It wasn't just the H2's that were struggling that day. Here is a H1 that really showed up just how stuck you could get high centered. Part of the fun of "hummering" is being towed, and towing others. You know you've not been holding back when you get stuck.


Due to the Cute Guy's amazing driving skills, we only got really stuck once, on the last dune of the day. We were completely high centered. Steve and I managed to force the doors open, despite the 50mph gusting winds (followed by the mouthfuls of sand) to assess our situation. The kids enjoyed getting stuck almost as much as towing out another vehicle.


Almost!


It wasn't all about the driving. We had to get out and appreciate the amazing landscape for ourselves.

Three Little Monsters

Well, we have four in this house, but Caleb decided to stay home and hand out the candy, and for a rare treat (seriously, I think this is the first time ever) the Cute Guy came trick or treating with us. He claims that usually it's his job to stay home and hand out the candy, but the truth is that he usually stays home and eats all the Dum Dum's. This is one dentist who has an addiction for Lollipops. Lucky thing has only ever had one cavity in his life.



Madison decided to use those lovely blonde locks to her advantage and be Hannah Montana.



Ethan was certain for over a month that he wanted to be Batman.



If you go into the woods today ....
Declan decided that crazy hunting guy (which is his alter ego) was a perfect costume for him.



Do you like their approach for getting candy? Dec has his gun on the ready.

The kids were excited to come home and eat up some of their candy. They are looking forward to Monday when they can take their uneaten/excess candy into their daddy's office and get some cash for turning it in.

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20081031/WDH0101/810310678/1981
Steve's office is having a Candy Buy Back and are sending the candy to the troops. For every lb of candy that a child brings in, they will receive $1. It's a great way for the kids to earn a little cash, the parents to save some by not having dental bills from their kids getting cavities from all that sugar (or sugar bugs as we call them in our house).

If you're in the area, the Buy Back will take place on Monday Nov 3rd from 3:30pm to 6:00pm (at the Wausau office), kids will also receive a gift bag with a glow in the dark toothbrush.