How We Did Thanksgiving

Since we moved into this house right about 3 years ago, my mother in law happily passed the torch on Thanksgiving hosting duties to us. One of the reasons this house was right for our family is that it's set up for great entertaining. And I love entertaining. But the one thing I've realized about entertaining is that it's a lot about child birth. You promptly forget about all the hard labor and pain that goes into it and only remember the happy result. 

I entered into the this holiday thinking we had it easy. Our regular scheduled housecleaning was happening the day before. Score! No cleaning to be done. However, I didn't realize how much work was still to be done with set up and food prep. We had 20 people rsvp'd for the holiday and had to have places for all to eat. That involved getting leaves out for the dining room table, then the padded protectors over that then, of course, linens and place settings. But that only sat 12. So we also had to get a table and chairs up from the basement for the kids table. And that was just the basics. Oh and of course shopping for food, cooking and all those other minor little details.

Last week was a crazy and exhausting week, as I knew it would be, but with a few extra wrenches thrown in, we were running completely crazy and wore ourselves completely out each and every day. With closing from afar on our old condo in NH (yay, finally), a winter storm, my busy week at work (already compacted by the holiday) and down a resource as my coworker's mother unexpectedly passed away (and the wake to attend), let's just say the holiday plate was full in many ways.

But, as always happens, the holiday somehow came together perfectly. Food was a plenty, we had a great time with the family and it was a lovely day. Only downside being our friends were ill and unable to make it. We missed them, of course.

  

Turkey Cheese Platter

Teepee and Fire Cupcakes
(Have you seen those hilarious pinterest "nailed it" photos? This came mighty close to becoming one of those.) 

I'm loving being able to decorate my new mantel.

The boys and their cousins had an amazing time playing together. Cousin Derek had traveled all the way from Vermont that morning and got settled in to play before the rest of the cousins showed up. He evaded my camera most of the day. It became a game between us for me to try and catch him. Below you see him making a quick exit to the left.

How Stinkin' Handsome is My Baby Boy?!?

Maureen and Patrick - Photo Bomb 1 With Joe

And Photo Bomb 2 With Jim

Then Just the Two of Their Pretty Faces

There was some sort of major battle going on with the cousins. There was lots of running, screaming and craziness...it was great!

Dylan, Cade and Jacob

Corwin (at back), Emily, Cade and Dylan

Emily Got Cade
And I got a photo of Derek's Arm

Mid Battle

While the Cousins had their kind of fun, the adults had ours. We hung out in the kitchen, prepped food, had drinks and caught up.

Lovely Ladies - Kristina, Gretchen, and Maureen

Selfie
(With Monster Size Camera No Less - Go ME!)

Cousin Gretchen and Her Lovely Mom Auntie Kathy

Kristina and Jim Goofing Off

The Kids Table
Of course it was my kid not cooperating.

Had to include this pic too. I noticed that Cade was following
cousin Jacob's lead with the tongue out. Too funny.

And the Adults
(Like my lovely new chandelier?)

I was there too!

After lunch was devoured and cleaned up, we had a traveling snowball fight down the aqueduct to the pond for the kids to burn off some energy and the adults to make room in full bellies for dessert. It was a fun\crazy trip.

Cousins!
Corwin, Emily, Cade, Derek, Dylan and Corwin

Back at the house, dessert was had, games were played in the basement and the family merriment continued.

Cade and Dylan had fun attacking auntie Maureen.

Cutie Cade

Dylan and Cousin Patrick

It was a really, really great day! Great way to start the holiday season! And since it was a full turkey day, there wasn't a lot of time for outside play. So the next day, we took it easy, did some cleaning and some playing.

Not easy to make a snowman with day old, icey top layer snow, but we kind of managed a little one.

Holiding Hands

After nap time, we packed up the leftovers (which were plentiful), and continued the holiday with Friendsgiving! Our friends, the Meyer's invited us over. The kids had fun playing and the adults actually got to spend some time chatting with each other. This new phase of playdates where the kids self entertain is pretty freakin' amazing to me. The kids' favorite game of the night was sliding down the stairs.

After play, it was dinner and a movie. It was a fantastic night with friends. We promised to try and do this type of family gathering on a regular basis.

Dinnertime
Cade, Libby, Caroline and Dylan

Of course, we are now full swing into Christmas season. Our Elf on the Shelf made his first appearance the night before last and the advent calendar started last night (yeah, we're a little behind but the kids haven't noticed). The decorations are slowly going up and we will be getting our tree this weekend. Let the crazy\busy\stressful\fun Christmas season begin!