Table for Eight

Suggestion: If you live in a snowy climate, you better REALLY like the people you live with--because heaven knows you're going to be spending A LOT of time INDOORS with them! (Translation = we've logged a lot of family time over this Thanksgiving holiday. Between blizzards, snow, and the flu, we are definitely stuck like glue.) The girls haven't run out of things to do yet -- but I fear they will soon! (They've painted nails, baked, written stories, made Christmas Lists, played the Wii, gone sledding, watched Christmas with the Kranks, and thrown the tennis ball to Harriet 2.7 million times!) Sunday evening. Thank goodness J bought a snowblower last year! It's saving our bacon. (He bought it at a garage sale and added a 60.00 part. Is that funny? What 14 year old does that?)

ZuZu learned about Hannukah last year in school--and since it coincided with her birthday, we started a new tradition: ZuZu's bday has a Hannukah theme! Since this year Hannukah is a little earlier than her bday (Hannukah = December 1; Bday = December 13), the bday celebration is starting early too. Woo hoo! Mac and Cheese, Hannukah 2009.

J was our photographer this year. I am biased, but I think he may have a hidden talent there. Who knew? Can I just say how much I love The Pioneer Woman! We have used so many of her recipes throughout the year. And yesterday we made her Roasted/Brined turkey, and for the second year in a row it was SOOOOOOOOOOO good! (Like perfect.) PS: We let it cook to 170. We had a mini-blizzard Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It made the holiday so fun. I love snow on Thanksgiving! (Talk to me in May . . . won't be sayin' I love snow.) I would wear this apron as a dress--I love it that much. (Thanks, Heather.) Turkey #1 = 20lbs. Turkey #2 = 135lbs. (Yes, I wrote that myself.) Oz-Dog, age 8 or 9. He won't tell us. My 2011 family theme. (PS: Whitt--see your ribbon?) Our next door neighbor, Toto, ate over. His family was in California. 7 out of 8 members of our family do not eat olives. How can that be? Our Thanksgivi...

 I love Thanksgiving! Time to stop and realize all of the good that's happening in my life, in my family, and around Planet E. (Oh, and to realize how incredible America is.) No presents to wrap. Time in the kitchen cooking and baking. Good memories. Yummy food to eat . . . and time away from school and work! Woo hoo! Here's to a Happy Thanksgiving for all of our family and friends. LOVE YOU to the moon and back! Dave and the kids made pancakes on Day 1 of the school break. (PS: I'm so thankful for Dave's new job. We see him so much more now--which we love!) ZuZu got Dave to make an Uncle Buck pancake. Jr. is fighting a cold, but you'd never know it--he just doesn't complain. (PS: I'm grateful for that.) Not humble, I know, but I think this may be my best idea ever: when it's too cold outside, we bring the snow inside--to the bathtub! Then, the girls can have their Pet Shop toys play in it. Surprisingly, the snow stays...

Who makes treats like this? (My friend Whittney, AKA, Daybreak's Barefoot Contessa.) Two things make me smile today: 1. We made it through the "blizzard" yesterday--and BYU even closed campus early in order to make sure everyone could drive home safely. Woo hoo! 2. Dave told me the funniest line he'd heard that day. On the radio . . . someone mentioned another person thinking that this holiday was "Thanks-GETTING" not "ThanksGIVING." Oh, that made me laugh so hard. That's funny! So, Whittney . . . Thanks for making my Thanksgiving a Thanksgetting last night. Those treats were seriously too pretty to eat. Thank goodness for cameras--because I wasn't going to NOT eat them just because they were pretty. Come on!

2006 Thanksgiving holiday. Dave and Jay (who turns 16 SOON!). I thought it would be fun to list some of my favorite Thanksgiving memories--at least the ones I can still remember! Thanksgiving Memories * Mincemeat and Pecan Pies made by grandma Dottie (what is mincemeat?). * Thanksgiving at Aunt Yvonne's--with my 10 year-old brother taking the last serving of stuffing, along with the first serving. (Meaning . . .  he took it all.) * Square Jello served on lettuce at Great Gma Maebelle's house. * Jamie's warm artichoke dip. * The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. * My mom doing someone's hair--at the person's home--on Thanksgiving, just to be nice. (And taking me along. I was a kid.) * My mom's stuffing with sage sausage. * Mary's deep fried turkey. That was my first Thanksgiving spent with Dave. (Still, the best turkey ever. And I don't mean DAVE--the turkey.) * Thanksgiving here in Utah with my family (and them driving up with Jordy...

We had so much fun with the Pie Party! I feel like I should write PieLoveYou (blogger who gave me the idea) and thank her for being so dang creative-- because I borrowed all of her ideas . (What did we do before the  internet?) But my point, the party! We had my two favorite things: FRIENDS AND PIE! It was the perfect night--and a great way to kick off the holiday season! ( I loved it.) PS: I'm telling you, Pie is the new cupcake. PSS: Thanks to the family for making decorations, shoveling walks, helping with cleanup . . .  all while fighting colds! LOVE YOU! Pie Slice Banner. Pie Hats. (Thanks, Rebecca--for humoring me and wearing yours.) It snowed Sunday! Yay! The shoe and jacket rack. Most homes have a coat closet or shoe bucket. Not us. This is how we roll. Seth's expression cracks me up. PS: We're the only people I know that invite people over and then sit them on the floor. Sorry guys! J's favorite little person...