Thanksgiving/quote of the day

Thanksgiving was wonderful as always.  This year a little more laid back and quiet, but time well spent.

We try to alternate years, spending Thanksgiving with my parents and his parents.  This year, his parents were gone doing humanitarian work and my siblings were scattered, either with their "other" families or having to work.  So we invited my parents to spend the holiday with us at our new home.  So we hosted our first Thanksgiving, my little family, plus my parents, plus a few nieces who's parents were working.  It's all kind of a happy blur, with toddlers outnumbering the adults, crafts, little projects, time to relax, plentiful food and shopping.  But here's the highlights (otherwise known as a random list of things I remember):

I tried a new recipe, making a pumpkin french toast bake with buttermilk vanilla syrup for breakfast.  It was divine and likely, a new tradition.

The kids made a handful of crafts including a cereal turkey, waffle cone cornucopias, thankful turkeys and coloring pages.  And we played a letters game.

I also made this for my mantle.  It's beautiful and elegant and I love it.  and I want to make this next year, if anyone is feeling crafty and wants to join.

Our Thanksgiving feast was fabulous with so much food, including the cutest veggie tray ever, sweet potato casserole , tender turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, jello, stuffing and infamous family roll recipe, which my daughters elected to stuff with jello, instead of jam.

quote of the day:  When L asked if we got the turkey yet.  I replied yes.  She said, "Wait! you bought one?! Daddy has to take me to go kill it!"  ...my dear sensitive (and hilarious) child.  I admire your enthusiasm.  and bravery.  but I know you.  and you could no more kill a turkey than I could.  Thank heaven for the grocery store.

We watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving story and played with cousins and perused sale ads.

We had some fabulous Black Friday finds.  Husband and I did an early morning dash down the canyon for places like Home Depot and Big 5 and Michaels.  Locally, we shopped Kings, WalMart and Walgreens.  We were joined by more cousins for brunch and a long afternoon at the park.  We tried to go see Frozen but it was sold out so we took the girls girls shopping instead.  They each drew a name of one of their cousins and had so much fun shopping and choosing the perfect toy for each of them.

In the evening, we left the girls with a sitter and had an amazing evening.  Nate, myself and my parents had a quick dinner at Zupa's (my current favorite place to eat) and then attended a Christmas Concert featuring one of the most talents musician and storytellers ever.  I know her music and have every cd, but listening to her concerts is a whole different experience, when the story she weaves becomes strong, all encompassing, with memories and melodies so rich and vivid that you could touch them.  This year, among the story telling between each song, she shared the "sweet spot", the line with the most meaning or poignancy for each song.  With this added purposefulness, the emotions became even more real.  I'm so grateful she shares her gifts with us.  And as an added bonus, we got to see more cousins and family.

On Saturday, it was just our little family again.  Husband had to work a few hours in the morning while we played and began packing away the Thanksgiving decorations.  Husband came home in time for lunch and a family date to see Frozen.  We got there early to make sure we could get seats and I was glad because I loved the Mickey short at the beginning and was so excited by some of the previews.  The movie itself was incredible!  I loved the music and vocal talents.  I loved the message and the characters and spent the next hour texting my even-more-than-me-Disney-crazy kid sister to rave about it over and over.

We drove up the canyon for our annual tree hunt.  Instead of hiking, we did most of our tree viewing from the truck (it was cold and the baby was asleep).  We found a great spot to pile out of the truck and the girls played in the snow as we made our final selection and Daddy set to work putting it into the truck.

Worn out from our holiday festivities, we didn't accomplish much after that.  The girls went to bed early and we got the tree set up and strung with lights.

So Sunday morning was wonderful.  We got ready quickly, had a visit from our home teachers and went to tithing settlement.  Then we got to spend the rest of the morning decorating the tree and the mantle.  The whole room is beautiful, boasting with Christmas tree and charm and elegance.  I love this season!

After church we drove north to my parents house and spent the evening decorating their tree as well.  Lucky girls, they had such a blast.  We feasted again on turkey, cooked in my dad's smoker and watched a movie before sending kids to bed.  Husband left for the airport, headed for a work conference, while the girls and I lounged at my parents house for a few nights.  We wrapped presents, decorated and played with Grammy Papa.

Until finally, we are home again.  Worn out but happy.