Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

What a wonderful day. We started cooking at 6 this morning and the meal came together very well. Everything was YUMMY!! WAY more food than I had even anticipated. I still can't believe that we filled our table - that's over 10 feet of food! (That doesn't include snacks & desserts!) And that we all had at least a little bit of everything. The kiddos got to sit at their own table this year, and we sat 10 adults at the big table. My parents, my husband's parents, my brother, his wife & their 3 children & my sister-in-law's parents were all here. It was a great group and I think that everyone really enjoyed themselves. My youngest nephew said the Grace this year. We know that God doesn't need a translator but the rest of us could have used one! And his mother commented that you needed a baseball glove to 'catch' it as it flew by!! His grace defined "short & sweet", but he got the job done. WAY too CUTE!!

We had the turkey, of course, with Bell's Stuffing & gravy, Daisy's Rolls & Scalloped Potatoes; Mom helped with the boiled onions & Candied Sweet Potatoes; and my mother-in-law brought Broccoli Casserole, carrots, cranberry sauce, peas & squash. Dad brought his famous Clam Dip for chips and Monterrey Jack cheese with veggies in it & crackers to put it on. My sister-in-law & her mom brought bread to dip in dressing, a veggie tray and crackers with cream cheese & hot pepper jelly. We thoroughly enjoyed the boys' fudge & crunch bars that they made yesterday. Addictive! My mother outdid herself with pies! She made Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Mincemeat & Rhubarb Cream, all served with vanilla ice cream!! WOW!!!! (Did I forget anything?)

We were concerned about getting all the baking done when the turkey would be monopolizing the oven all morning. So, yesterday afternoon my husband bought a roaster. It worked PERFECTLY! The turkey was out of the way, in the pantry cooking away, while I was making rolls, scalloped potatoes and candied sweet potatoes in the oven. We used Martha Stewart's Herb Rubbed Turkey with White Wine Gravy recipe. It was extremely tasty - she has yet to steer me wrong. (Yes, I know not all of you are fans, but I don't care!)

I do have a bone to pick with my family, however: Why didn't someone tell me to go change my shirt? I clash with the tablecloth!! (and I could have loaned my sister-in-law a different colored shirt too!) ;-) Pretty poor planning, now that I look at the photos....Although you did look very nice, J. I love those chocolate colored pants!

Somehow, the boys had room for supper tonight. For a special treat, we let them roast hotdogs & marshmallows in the fireplace. What fun! Of course, Daisy wanted to help...

Is it done yet?