Thanksgiving Re-Cap

Thanksgiving was at my brother Matt's this year.  When it's at his house you can always count on an intense kickball game that includes every single member of our family, some crying from the little ones, sibling rivalry, and lot's of smiles and laughter.  Good times I tell ya!

I think this needs to be a yearly tradition where ever we meet. 

It is so fun to watch the kids but it's even MORE fun to see the adults get into playing kickball. 

I love that my SIL Cami is wearing her apron while playing.  

That's dedication on both kickball and cooking our turkey dinner!

Here's our three eight year olds.  Abby, Garrett and Caleb

Here's a picture of Matt's kids.  I was sneaky and took their picture for a frame I made Matt for Christmas.

We also had our 2nd annual Dukes of Hazard card game.  It's a hit I tell ya!  

Well...it's a hit with my brothers and I.  We played this game for thousands of hours growing up.  

I don't think our spouses or kids have as much of a love for it as we do but we are trying to convert them.  We put The Dukes of Hazard song on repeat and do a single elimination and I tell you what - 

whether they know it or not memories are in the making.

These two cuties are the oldest at 13 and almost 12.  So glad they have eachother.

McKenna & Cassidy

On a different note.  Tom's family had their Thanksgiving at the church building this year.  We were not thrilled about this for a few reasons I will not mention because it was selfish of me.  We went to the church building later than we were supposed to because...truthfully we didn't want to go.  But...we were wrong.  It was FUN!  Everyone played games and had a blast and it wasn't bad at all.  We finally left about 8pm after a long but fun filled day spent with our family.  I guess it doesn't matter where or when Thanksgiving dinner is held as long as you spend it with the family that you love.

Thanksgiving 2010

We met at Tom's parents house for Thanksgiving this year on Thanksgiving Day.  

There was a lot of people, a lot of food and a lot of fun all day!

Best year yet if you ask me.  

I brought my good camera and boy what a difference it makes!

Here's a few pictures to document the day♥

a few cute kiddos I found playing out in the back yard.

Sam, Royce, London, and Ammon

The BIG boys out playing a game of catch in the street.

Michael, Ben, and Jordan

The girls went down to the pool thinking the hot tub would be turned on and they could swim.  Nope, the hot tub was cold but they got in anyway............for .05 seconds.  You would have thought only one would brave the freezing water....everyone but Sela got wet.  Who's the smart one???

the adults lounging around with full tummies

Mike, Sue (what is she laughing about?) Dad, Tom

More to come tomorrow.
Blogger won't let me post anymore pictures for some reason and I don't have time to fix it right now.

It's 12:09 and I haven't gotten a thing done today!
I'm off to start checking off my list!

Thanksgiving Memories

Girls - Amberly, Macey, Cassidy, McKenna

Boys -  Will, Berkeley, Harley, Grant, Caleb, Garrett, Zac

We had Thanksgiving with my family Wednesday night.  We alternate years and it works out so nice and makes it so we don't have to eat twice on Thanksgiving day.  That is always a bonus.

As I was taking these pictures of my parents 11 sweet grandchildren my heart had a tender moment.  My Mom would have loved all these kids running around.  Look at those handsome boys!  And then there are the 4 girls who are getting so big I can hardly stand it.  I know my parents are watching over us especially over the holidays it's just sad that they can't be here to enjoy it with us.  We miss them.

Here's a picture of us BIG kids and our spouses.  

There is one extra there (Mike came since he's staying with us this week)

In order from left to right:

Pam, Joey, Joni, Cami, Matt, Cara, Tom, Kurt holding Will and Mike

Our kids are getting old enough that they can go off an play and entertain themselves for awhile so we can talk and have a meaningful conversation.  It was nice.  We went and played with the kids after our meaningful conversation (don't worry) and had a wonderful evening.

Thanks Kurt and Pam for hosting in your new beautiful house!  It was fun.

Thankful Thanksgiving

 image via tumblr

25 Things I am Thankful For This Year

1.  two beautiful daughters
2.  my adorable sweet husband
3.  family that lives close
4.  great friends near and far
5.  cousins
6.  my camera
7.  the roses over my front door
8.  everything I need and a little of what I want
9.  a darling new jacket
10. my eternal perceptive
11. a mother who taught me so very much and is greatly missed
12. a daddy who never judged a soul and was a huge example to me
13. Thanksgiving traditions like Waldorf salad, cranberry sauce and homemade pumpkin pie.  It's just not thanksgiving without those things (along with the regular traditional food of course)
14. birth mothers
15. a clean house
16. yummy tea in my tummy
17. bunko
18. book club
19. the best neighbors in town
20. the best doctor on the planet - we are even on a first name basis
21. blogging so I can remember each day
22. technology
23. knowledge of good and evil
24. my sweet primary kids at church

25. my wonderful, perfect, happy, sweet life♥

Being Thankful

A few weeks ago I read THIS on one of my favorite bloggers blog.  I remember her doing the same thing last year but had forgotten all about it.  Good thing she did it this year so I could copy her and do it with my family!  Thanks Shawni (even though I'm just a lowly old blog stalker)

The Thankful Tree

We had some friends over for Family Home Evening last week and made these fun trees together as a family.  Each of the two families had a tree and then they/we cut out the leaves and wrote what we were thankful for.  We can add to it for the rest of the month.  I'm thinking this would be a great project to do at my MIL's this Thanksgiving.  Since she was a 1st grade teacher forever......I think she would love this!

This was such fun and positive experience that we will be making one of these every year.  Plus....I have a Halloween advent calendar and a Christmas advent calendar but nothing to hang on our pantry door for Thanksgiving.  This is the perfect this to decorate out boring door and remind us of what we are thankful for.

Thanksgiving

These boys are getting so handsome and....tall! I think Ben is almost as tall as me!

Here are our teenagers. They were a riot and kept me entertained all evening.

Cassidy and Sela both trumpet players - what are the odds?

Our girls doing a wonderful job playing the trumpet.

Craig -the Piano Man - showing off his musical talent

Jump - Jump - Jump around!
These kids had so much fun in Abby's room we didn't see much of them the whole night!

Laughter is infectious!

These are the cutest best friend cousins ever!
They were so happy they got to have a sleepover they could hardly stand it!

Don't mess with game time.
This is very serious business in Tom's family!
Always has been, always will be.

I know this is not the prettiest picture but I wanted to show how the turkey was devoured!

Thanksgiving was so much fun! We had all of Tom's family (including Tom) over here Wednesday night. The turkey was de-lish-ous! it fell right off the bones and was devoured along with all the other yummy food that was present. Have I mentioned that this meal - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce is my favorite meal of the year? Well it is and I ate my share let-me-tell-you! (and truthfully I have been eating it all week!)

Everyone had so much fun eating, playing games inside and outside, talking and we even had a musical performance from Cassidy and Sela on trumpet and Nori doing an amazing solo on his violin. (Tom has a Japanese brother if I haven't mentioned that before). We were sad that Mike and his family couldn't be here (they are in Missouri).

Family is the most important part of the holidays and I'm thankful for mine.

Herb Butter Turkey

I'm going to post my all time favorite turkey recipe I got from my SIL years ago. It's a family favorite and I wouldn't cook a turkey any other way. I'm mainly posting it because every year I print it out and then the next year it's gone and I have to search Bon Appetit for it. It's to save me time and hopefully help a fellow blogger in a bind if they can't fine their favorite turkey recipe. Enjoy!

Herb Butter Turkey Recipe

Recipe by Tom Colicchio

I also want to thank my roasting over for saving my day. I love this thing! It saves me every year at thanksgiving when I have to cook my turkey. I learned this trick from my Mother who used her roasting oven sitting on the dryer every year because our old fashioned stove couldn't fit a turkey in it. I'm lucky enough to have a big enough oven but this still is my favorite Thanksgiving helper! This way I can make Tom his favorite pies and have everyone happy!
(oh - he is going to be able to come to Thanksgiving after all - yippee!)

Boy is it smelling GOOD around here!!!
What's your favorite Thanksgiving helper?

What Are You Doing Today?

Are you doing what I am doing?

Dilemma

(thanks Martha for the picture)

Guess what I found out today?
Tom might not be here for our Thanksgiving feast!
His whole entire family is coming over Wednesday night for dinner and he has school.
SCHOOL!
I can't believe it!
Who has school the night before Thanksgiving?
The ASU MBA Program I guess.
Now don't worry - he's not in trouble.
It's not his fault.
It's my fault.
Bad Cara!
I planned Thanksgiving on Wednesday night so we (and the others) wouldn't have to do two Thanksgivings on Thursday. It actually is my favorite way to fit in two family dinners. And I love doing it at my house on Wed. night. I have all day to clean, cook and prepare. It's lovely.
Bad Cara!
I should have double checked with him about school.
I just didn't think it would be a problem.
Would you?
Jeez!
Now we either have no Husband, Daddy, Brother, Uncle, Son at our dinner or.....
he misses class, misses a quiz and gets a lower grade.
Remember - it's HIS whole family!
Drat!
Bad Cara!!!
I'll let you know what happens.

Thanksgiving Fun

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. I thought we wouldn't be doing anything at all since both families had other plans but it worked out.

(Abby & London)

First we started out by having brunch at my house with Tom's parents and sister Elena's family. We had waffles with strawberry's and whipped cream, sausage, bacon, muffins, orange juice, apple juice, fresh fruit and "omelet eggs". It's got everything an omelet would have - green onions, tomatoes, fresh basil, cheese - but it's scrambled. Much easier!
Then we spent the morning playing bowling on the Wii. Man that thing comes in handy when we have people over. It's instant entertainment! The kids took turns jumping on the tramp while I lounged around after my big meal.

Slade playing the Wii

At 2pm we headed out to take family pictures of ALL of Tom's family. Mike and Colette were in town so I scheduled a photog session with me as the photographer. It was a big undertaking but it turned out after everyone got there. Now we have a family picture with everyone but Dave and Patty. He was sick and unable to come. The kids had a fun time playing with their cousins while we were waiting for everyone to show up.

Yes - this is a BIG family!!
We are missing two people in the picture Patty and Dave.

We then headed over to Gary and Sues for dinner. This was a nice surprise since I thought we weren't going to eat a turkey dinner this year. It was nice spending it with family. Even if the family is HUGE and LOUD and CRAZY!!! It wouldn't be any fun otherwise!

For my family dinner we met on a different day. It's easier that way. Then you don't have to eat twice. We all went to Matt's house this year. The food was delicious! Thanksgiving is my favorite dinner of the year. I love every single bit of it. And I eat every single bit of it too! My family is a huge cranberry sauce fan. Just my brothers and I. no spouses likes it and I don't think any of the kids like it. Tom's family hates it so I usually end up bringing it just for me. It's nice to have brothers who like the same thing as I do so I don't think I'm crazy! Or should I say normal around the crazies!

This was such a fun night! I loved the tracking system

After dinner Matt brought out the Dukes of Hazzard card game I got him for his birthday. (this was a favorite childhood game that we played 1000's of times)He had made an elimination board for us and had us play till someone won. I forgot what that's called. Anyway it was soooo fun! I think my brothers and I were the only ones who liked the game but we all had lots of laughs non the less.

Jones, Pam and Tom playing Dukes of Hazzard!

The winners were me, Zac and Pam. We even got prizes! Great job Matt for putting that on. Good Times I tell you!

The Winners!

Thankful Heart

I'm so very Thankful today for all my blessings.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
(picture courtesy of Decor Unique)