Thats a wrap!

Whoa! What a day! I hope your Thanksgiving was extra special and as fab as mine was! The weather was AMAZING, sunny and 68 degrees!
Well, it all started with a early wake up call @ 5:30AM thanks to me forgetting my own alarm clock was still on... Thanks to my amazing fiancé for rescuing me from early morning baby and letting me sleep a tad longer. My day was filled with laughter, whining, barking and complaining. Which is pretty typical. Although the "I love yous" were extra special today!
After my favorite cup of joe, I was up and ready to prepare my Thanksgiving feast. Turkey was thawed, and ready to rub and get in the oven. I made our dessert first - Apple Pie with Apple Crumble Cinnamon topping and lets just say the aroma made me want a slice right then @ 9:30am!
Next came the turkey... In the oven and ready to roast! Yummy!
I made some apps for snacking midday. Left over buffalo chicken dip warmed up nicely!
I made homemade smashed creamy mashed potatoes, and I would lie if I didn't admit I complained the WHOLE
TIME I peeled potatoes. Garrett watched in amazement while I peeled, sliced and was the first to try them (per-spiced of course) and loved them!
Made the White Castle stuffing and it was AWESOME! I added garlic to mine and heated butter, about 1/2 a stick of salted butter, in my Dutch oven and let it get crispy and then simmer. Dylan loved it! Gravy was superb, rolls were sweet and all and all I did a great job I think!
I was the last to get out of my PJ's, and first to put them back on. It was fantastic.
Even Zed, our four legged family member, enjoyed his dinner with turkey and drippings. Pretty sure he licked his dish clean and was carrying it around hoping for seconds.
Now it's snuggle time and a movie! Only thing missing is a fire... Just isn't cold enough tonight.
Season's Greetings to all!

Garrett LOVES sweet potatoes!

Mommy, I want sweet potato purée for Thanksgiving with a side of rice cereal.

What I am thankful for...

Okay so many of us are wrapping up our menus and cooking plans, scheduling whose house we go to first, where were eating or what we are prepping the night before, or what pizza places are open - the next 24 hours is going to be a crazy one.

Each year I go to my parents to celebrate. Like I posted earlier this month, we follow traditions I REALLY look forward to each year! Yummy foods, great wine and lots of laughter.

Well this year is a first to mark on my family's calendar. My family and I are staying HOME this year. WHAT??? I know your mouth dropped reading this as you think of how crazy the day is going to be for you. Well my folks and a few others packed up the car and headed to visit my Grandparents this year.

What's my plans then?? Thought you never ask.
THANKSGIVING PJ FEST 2011.
I'm sleeping in, I'm not getting out of my pajamas but I promised Dylan I'd at least brush my teeth, you know so my breath don't stank!
What's on my menu?? The past week or so I dreamed of steak and crab legs and maybe shrimp cocktail to tie things together. Yum right?! Well then here comes good ole' holiday guilt trip from yours truly saying "Embrace this". So I plan to roast my turkey the good old' fashion way, smash up some delicious potatoes, make white castle stuffing, open up a can of that jelled-like can shape cranberry sauce that I still favor Over homemade and dip my fork in a baked apple pie. And last but not least, drink plenty of wine!
SO.... This year I am most thankful for a PJ THANKSGIVING - our VERY first Thanksgiving in our new home. One to remember.

Cherish Dinner Time

There's something about that hour after cooking and setting the table to sitting with my family around the kitchen table. The laughter and stories and even the "Dylan, Eat" which is a common phase you'll hear if you were set a place at our table. To my left I see bright, intelligent, oh-so-handsome 8 year old son Dylan, that does more talking and sometimes complaining about something on his plate then actual eating. He is usually the last to finish. He shares school activities he endeavors daily and which girl likeser him at school. Across from me at my square glass table, which by no fault of my own, YES we own a glass table. It's almost never clean and is our next item on our REPLACE list. Anyhow, you'll see Justin, my wonderful soon to be husband. He is a hard worker, strong, caring, amazing man. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is my backbone in life. He is probably telling me how delicious the meal is and cracking a joke at us or laughing. His personality is what attracted me to him first, but it doesn't hurt that he is very easy on the eyes in the looks department. I'm one lucky girl. To my right you'll either see our newest addition Garrett, 4 months whose presence at the table happens more and more now, or an empty chair bc he's sleeping. He is normally cooing or raspberry-ing and watching us as we eat so curiously. This is the moment each day I sit back and think, wow, I am so lucky. This family is all mine. It's so easy to crowd around a tv with dinner plates these days that you forget how important dinner time actually is. Around the dinner table, in that moment every day, im reminded how lucky I am.