Let's Talk Turkey

I made twenty-five turkeys in the last week.  It took me just as many hours to bake the one (which actually cooked fast and was done too early!)

as it did to make the rest of these.

Twenty-two turkeys sat at my Thanksgiving tables.

Six of them were Young Toms, and eight of them were Young Hens. 

The rest of us were old and tough!

But the one turkey turned out to be just right!

My Thankful Heart

I love the Thanksgiving holiday.  I have so many fond memories of this day.

I remember that Thanksgiving when my brother got his lips stuck in the empty sparling cider bottle, and I'm thankful for laughter.

I remember the Thanksgiving weekend when I had my first date with Doug, during a blizzard, and ended up having to stay the entire night at his parents' house.  I'm so grateful for my loving husband.

I remember the Thanksgiving I spent uncomfortable with the signs of early labor, and I think about how tremendously grateful I am to be a mother.

I remember the first Thanksgiving feast I prepared on my own, inviting two of Doug's college-age brothers to our house for the holiday.  I slaved away in the kitchen for two full days, giving my china dishes their first chance ever to be used.  And then Doug and his brothers came home from playing football, and sat down to my fancy spread in their sweaty, muddy attire.   And still, I think I'm grateful for my great big extended family.  (Plus, it makes me grateful to have a few daughters who can appreciate life's dressy moments.)

I will never forget the Thanksgiving we spent with my generous uncle and aunt, and how just as we were leaving their home that night, two-year-old Katelyn knocked over a display table, breaking some precious collectibles.   I'm so grateful for the divine gift of forgiveness, and for those who offer it!

I remember having most of my family come to spend Thanksgiving with us in Washington.  We staged our own Turkey Trot, and the little ones made pipe cleaner hats and accessories for us to wear.  I had no idea then that we would be leaving Washington the next year.  I'm grateful for the period of our life we spent in that place, and I'm also grateful to live closer to family again.

I remember several years of browsing ads and waking up in the middle of the night to hunt down a door buster deal, sometimes with family and good friends.  I love shopping, and I love a bargain, but deeper down, I'm so thankful for the huge blessing I have known all my life of financial stability.   I'm so grateful for Doug's job, as demanding as it may be sometimes, and I'm humbled to have been supported by hard working men all my life.

In this dark and cold season, when I'm prone to whine and wish away the present, I'm so glad there's this holiday season that encourages me to remember and count my blessings, and to just plain be happy!

T.B.

The girls have no school and Doug has no work for the rest of the week.  Our Thanksgiving Break began last night, and so far it has been wonderful!

Doug and I kicked things off with a little dinner date.  The weathermen were forecasting a huge blizzard to arrive at any time, so we stuck close to home and just grabbed a quick bite of dinner, and talked.  Wow, why has it been so long since we've done that?!

Then we came home just ahead of the blizzard (Turns out it blew a lot, but didn't drop a lot of snow.  Now it's just freezing cold!), and Doug watched  movies with the girls while I browsed sale ads online and wondered if I want to do any shopping this Friday.  I'm still undecided.

This morning, Doug and I went to the temple and snuck in another meal for two, before heading home to pick up the girls and rush off to the first showtime of "Tangled."  My review: I loved it!  It made me laugh out loud, and it almost made me cry.  Almost.  (Hey, put yourself in my shoes: I have five daughters, and I was watching a show about a baby girl who is kidnapped and hidden from her parents for her entire childhood.  It gets to me.)  Anyway, I think it was well worth the matinee theater price, and I will definitely buy the DVD when it's released.  Meanwhile, I'm going to download the soundtrack.  I loved it!

After soup and sandwiches for lunch, everyone is relaxing (napping, playing, watching dumb t.v. shows).  I'm spending a little time relaxing, too, before I start my marathon in the kitchen.  We'll be hosting a feast for 22 Larsons tomorrow.  It's going to be exciting, for sure!

November

September was splendidly sunny.

October was autumn's epitome.

SCREEECH!

November is nippy.

Not nice.