Here's my Thanksgiving Day post
(A week after the big event)

The Elves are back!
Megan put crackers and milk out on Thanksgiving Eve so Jasper and Oliver could have a snack when they returned. The elves are so thoughtful they brought the girls some Rudolph and Clarice chapstick.

When Paige returned home from spending the night at Sydney's Megan could hardly wait for her to go check out her elf. Paige was a bit tired from the sleepover. She said they went to bed at 11 but then stayed up talking, oh well that's what sleepovers are for. Paige got home just in time to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade and then the dog show too.

The turkey was the best ever, I got up at 7 and had him in the oven by 8. I put a citrus rub on the bird this year. I found the recipe in the Raley's "Extra" magazine that Carole sends to me from California. It was so simple. I just put butter (of course), a peeled lemon, a peeled orange, some garlic cloves, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme and salt and pepper in the blender and pureed it. Then the fun part was rubbing it under the skin. I did add some Mural of Flavor to the outside of the bird, you can find that at http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html

The flowers were from Trader Joes, orange-peach roses and some lovely fuschia peonies that I could not resist. I put them in my favorite green pot with the matching "flower frog" lid. Then I sat it on a green woven glass tray and put some lemons, red pears and pomegranates around them. I think it turned out pretty nice.

Brandon was chatting with Grandpa and I took this nice photo of them.


David and Jei were color cordinated with their blues.


Aunt Terry, Aaron, Paige, Megan (peeking over the sofa) and Brittney enjoying the dog show. They were acting like turkeys below.

Speaking of turkey's Terry was poking her head between the picture of the cooks (that would be Barb and myself). Barb was such a big help making the pumpkin pie, the pumpkin bundt cake, and the mashed potatoes.

Here's the spread...turkey, corn bread stuffing with dried cranberries and pork-apple sausage, the best gravy I have ever made (Thank God for "Wondra Flour") mashed garlic potatoes, Mrs. T's bourban sweet potatoes, and Jei's fried rice with shrimp. We also had broccli sauted in garlic herb butter, carrot salad with green onions and dried cranberries with a ginger dressing, cranberry relish with fresh orange, and 4 different kinds of rolls from the Anderson's bakery.
For dessert we had pumpkin pie, Dutch Apple pie, pumpkin bundt cake, Jello pretzel stuff, and cookie bars with peanut butter m&m's .

There's alwasy a couple of turkeys in the crowd....gobble gobble Steve and Terry :>

Paige climbed up the stairs to get this shot of the dining room. Aaron, Paige and Megan were eating at the kids table in the kitchen....and watching the last of the dog show. Did you see the Scottie won best of show. He was pretty cute with his little tounge sticking out.

Here's a nice shot of Brandon and Grandma that Mike took after dinner.

After dinner, dishes and desserts we all vegged out on the sofa and watched everyone take a turn playing Guitar Hero on the Wii. I even did a turn at vocals, singing "On the Road Again". Don't worry Willie you have no competition from me!