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.