Measuring Cups

On Thanksgiving, Serena had some of my measuring cups lined up ready to go for the next recipe.  They looked so pretty and cute, we just had to take a picture!

Aren't these little measuring tea cups adorable?  I bought them at Pier 1 one day as a gift to myself!  I didn't need measuring cups (I have lots and use lots of ulitarian ones.), but I did NEED these pretty ones!  (I looked online.  They don't seem to be available, but they do have some pretty red and white retro ones....that someone dear to me just bought!) 

The little tin one I have used since I was a child.  My mother had two of them, and now I have them!  They are old and bent up, but they make me smile when I use them!

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.

Gana's Big Day!

So, last Tuesday evening Sarah-Kate, Jael, and I made the trek down to Pasadena for a momentous occasion that was happening early Wednesday morning. What was this momentous occasion?



My son-in-law, Gana, was becoming an American citizen!

Gana taking his seat with the other 1,955 soon-to-be new citizens.


Waiting and waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The judge.

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity

to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty

of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;

that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws

of the United States of America

against all enemies, foreign and domestic;

that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States

when required by the law;

that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;

and that I take this obligation freely without

any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;

so help me God."

I was quite impressed that there were several new citizens

who were already a part of the Armed Forces.

They were introduced individually.

It was a very memorable and significant morning. We were all so proud of Gana. I think he was feeling the same.

I know Daja was!

WooHoo!

After the ceremony, Sarah-Kate and Jael had to leave for home. But, they passed Gabe coming down. He had just flown in from meetings in Indiana, but was trying his best to make it down for the celebration party that evening!

I forgot and left my camera in the sleeping baby's room, so I didn't take any pictures until after we had dinner.

Dinner was delicious and beautifully presented. Daja did a wonderful job! (Of course!) Here you can see some of what it looked like after we had attacked it!

Gorgeous Russian desserts.

One of Papa's funny "jokes":

How much do you love Papa?How much do you love Nana?

Lots of guests brought gifts, which embarrassed Gana a bit, but none of us seemed to care!

Sarah-Kate's red, white, and blue gift basket.

Gabe and I figured since Gana was now an American citizen, it was a good time to also be a property owner. So, we bought him one of these:

In his name, of course! He now has bragging rights that he owns property in every one of the 50 states!

Well, it's only one square inch in each of the fifty states, but he does own it, and he can pass it down to his children!

Congratulations, Gana! We love you!

(Daja also blogged about this here.)