Thanksgiving 2009

We trade holidays with our children's in-laws and so, this year, was Thanksgiving at our house! I just love having everyone here! And I think there are a million pictures in this post, so those of you who aren't madly in love with my family will just have to bear with me!

First of all, I need to get this out of the way. See this beautiful pie?


Upon completion of baking time and staring at it for awhile, I dumped it all in the garbage. Yep, the garbage. Well, almost all of it. After about four of us tasted tiny little bites of the crust. And then had to go eat some garlic chips to get the AWFUL plastic taste out of mouths! I am supposing the organic shortening had become rancid. But, it was the worst taste ever! Now, I think I'm going to have to bake an apple pie just because. Just because it doesn't seem fair to go through all this trouble and not have pie to eat!

Okay, I've got that confession out of the way, let's get on with the rest of the celebration!

Before everyone arrived, I covered the back french doors with construction paper.


Then, when all the kids got here, they colored pretty pictures for me. I loved the extra decorations. And I really liked the idea that no one could see out into the still unfinished patio room with the big ol' pool table in the middle. Just keeping it real, I guess. Second confession and I've hardly shown you anything!

Honestly, I think this was one of the BEST Thanksgivings ever! It was a wonderful day. Being in the kitchen with my family is always wonderful to me.

Daja, my mother, and our friend, Ariuntuya, from Mongolia

We had a Scarecrow theme this year. Three of 'em greeted you at the door.

Sarah-Kate did our tablescapes. We had one l-o-n-g table in the dining/family room and two little tables in the living room for eight of the smaller kids.

She started with brown postal paper.

Added our Thanksgiving leaves. (All of our homes had little leaves on which we had written lots of things we were grateful for all month. Then, we brought them and used them for the table.)

Added the cutest little scarecrow place cards.

Meanwhile, Papa was out back deep frying his turkey. I had one cooking in the roaster inside. (Yes, we had two large turkeys!) He has deep-fried turkeys before, but this year he bought an infrared fryer. I think I liked it much better. And it is so much cheaper because there is no peanut oil to buy!

Pretty, isn't it?

Daja was in charge of hors d'oeuvres. Yes, even though we were planning on eating by 1:30, we HAD to have food to tie us over!

Ariunna, Meg, Serena

(and my mother's back, once again)

Sarah-Kate was also in charge of entertaining the children with crafts. She had several projects for them to do. And she loves giggling with them, too.

Saraa and Daja

Mr. Cool, aka the Dov

Luc

Belgee

Sarah-Kate

I'm not sure what Levi is thinking! Or preparing to do!

Shallah and Ariunna

Ezekiel, Caesar, Diego, Abishai

Happy Saraa

I think we all ate too much turkey!

Jael, Meg (in matching dresses from Grandma), Israel

Levi

Titi and Jael sharing some lovin'.

Watching television in Grandma's room while playing with her vintage Noah's Ark.

Oh, I forgot about the food!

Carrot souffle, which was introduced to us by Daja, who made it in Mongolia when she couldn't find sweet potatoes. It is now an absolute must-have at our Thanksgiving table. We just don't seem to be able to make enough!

A new dish this year. Marinated salad.
In my new $5 Wal-mart leaf-shaped bowl.

I saw a similar one in a shop downtown. For over $100!

Another new one. Brussels sprout slaw.

The table starting to load up. We kept the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and sweet potatoes warm in crockpots.

After dinner, before dessert, and before the sun set, some of us went for a walk down our lane. Those of us who still could.

One big happy family. A love-filled holiday. *sigh* Life is good.