Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and enjoy some time off, to reflect on for what we are grateful, and to of course eat.

We were lucky to have family over for the big day which was so much fun! The food was awesome, the company great, and the movie-while-the-turkey-is-in-the-oven was fantastic!

Baby Taylor is getting so big!

Nothing says Thanksgiving like a full and complete FEAST!!!

And nothing says Thanksgiving like a FULL TUMMY!!!

Madison and Brooke cracked me up as they took advantage of their seating arragnement to the fullest (pun intended): they just lay back from the piano bench on which they were seated and plopped on the couch, too full to move.

And at our home, Thanksgiving also means making a mess and having fun with a gingerbread house! It's become our tradition, especially to have cousin Angie lead the fun.

One cannot have Thanksgiving without scrumptious pies.

Pies that are traditional, pies that are unique.

Pies that are new to the menu.

Pies. that. hit. the. spot.

All homemade goodness: pumpkin, chocolate (complete with some little finger marks in it. Whose could they be??), pecan cheesecake, and Nantucket cranberry pie.

Yum!!

Instead of being crazy and spending an entire day (or all night long) waiting in lines, fighting through crowds, or trying to grab some sort of deal on Black Friday, we instead went ice skating as a family. John had to sit this one out since he is still recovering from his surgery, so he took pictures and entertained Christian, who didn't last long on the ice.

We had a great time testing out our moves and learning new ones on the ice for two hours.

I couldn't resist putting up this picture; I can't believe how perfect the timing was with John and the camera. So funny!

Here we all are, dying laughing . . . including Ashlyn.

We left with sore feet and many had very wet pants along with numb hands. But it was worth it and made for some good memories.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Post Thanksgiving leftovers:

Homemade turkey stock

Turkey soup

Homemade split pea & ham soup

Shepherd's Pie

Turkey Pot Pie

We've never eaten so well in a week before.