We prepped, we chopped, we buttered, we sprayed, we washed, we sprinkled, we stuffed...the turkey.
The 18 pounder was ready to go in at 11. I worked backwards from when I wanted to serve dinner and figured out the turkey had to go in at 11am to be done by 4:30. Let's just say math is not my strong suit.
Enter two from the front door - Uncle J and Sarah arrive.
We are now nine. This is math I can keep up with.
The party is getting started. Appetizers on the the table, wine flowing, good conversation.
And what do you know? It was time to baste the turkey but when I opened the oven, the popper popped!
I learned there's a reason you listen to the popper. It was D.O.N.E. Yup. The turkey was done 3 hours ahead of schedule. We took it out and it was at the right temp. What to do? Tent it with foil and let it rest. Rest it did. The turkey took a 3 hour nap.
It was finally time to sit and eat. We found our seats thanks to the leaf place cards MG and CG made and passed around plate after plate. Everything turned out delicious. The turkey was a little dry but Uncle J's gravy and the cranberry helped.
It was nice because dinner lingered longer than usual. My cousin and her new beau arrived to have their second Thanksgiving then my aunt, cousin & wife arrived just in time for dessert.
What do you get with 11 adults and 3 kids?
One noisy Thanksgiving after party. Band Hero rocked!
And then the turkey, the stuffing, the potatoes, the apple pie, the beans (oh the beans!), the rolls, the brownies, the wine set in. There was sleeping for some, Black Friday shopping for the rest. Area stores opened at midnight in our neck of the woods.
So that was our Thanksgiving. A day full of family, food and fun. It went by as quickly as the food from our plates to our mouths.
We visited with more cousins on Friday and worked off the turkey and trimmings. I watched with trepidation as my youngest hurled himself down Gram's driveway on his scooter.
I learned boys act (sometimes without thinking) and want to be able to keep up with their older cousins. Can someone please tell this child that he's only 4? What happened to sticking close to mom?
I learned boys play hard, fall asleep hard. Look at sweet CG on the way home.
On Saturday, we hit the bowling alley to visit with G's friends from out of town. It was a nice break from the turkey and leftovers even if it was alley food.
We said goodbye to Lola & Pops as they headed home...missing them, all the Old Maid games and the donuts!
And now to the decking of our halls, the merriment of Elfis and being surrounded by loved ones.
Here's to the Christmas season and to watching "Rudolph the Big Nose Reindeer" as CG like to call it.
Check out what else I've learned and come share your lessons at Musings of a Housewife's What I learned this week.
