THANKSGIVING PHOTOS FROM THE DAY

There are not "dinner" photos to share on the blog because Jamin was wearing last year's football jersey and it has our last name on it. ::snort::

HERE I am deboning and preparing to make a big pot of Turkey Stock....(8 cups in the freezer). Zander ran in and said, "Hey MOM - you made a CLAW". He is really loving "Peter Pan".

Later in the day we had a couple of families over. The older boys played 3 games of Risk...you'd look bleary eyed too....

The younger children played Monopoly.
The boys tired of Risk and moved to Slap....and then other card games.
Marty and Mandy brought a big box of Fisher Price blocks. Wow. I've never seen anything like these. She'd read on the blog that Stacia has discovered blocks. THESE have different textures, animals etc...and there is a train and a truck that make noise, and move...very cool. I'll have to get some pictures in the next few days. We had a good time visiting.

Marty fixed my towel rack, and the flickering fluorescent light in our bathroom. I hadn't realized that things were breaking and I wasn't keeping up with fixing. LOL Debbie laughed with me about how we spouses tend to fix all those things the week before husbands are due home. LOL It's NICE to have the bulb working. I'd planned to figure it out tomorrow - because Charly had told me that those flickering bulbs are a big deal to those with Sensory Integration "issues". It's been out for 3 weeks...that may be one factor in what we've been experiencing around here. We shall see. I'm sure it isn't the only factor.

Debbie and the boys (from summer swim days....) came over too. The boys all had a great time together. It was so fun to listen to the young men cutting up, laughing and having a blast. Debbie and I discovered we enjoy the same mystery authors and she suggested a new one that is funny for me to try. She discovered the author while her dh was deployed. {G}

Stacia gives Mikey a "bear hug" - she loves his fro

Yes, I have much to be thankful for. Yes, it was a great day. Really good day. I'm NOT depressed. I'm choosing joy. I DO miss Mike and the girls, and that is to be expected, I think. When you've got a wonderful father and husband - you are sure to miss him. I must say that most of all I'm very happy to have the first Holiday apart gone.....now to do Christmas, Birthdays and Anniversaries and then he'll be home!

Meal is over.....it's fun to pull something like that together. I laughed as we had prayed, dished up and Jamin's alarm went off. He LIVES by the alarm...I asked what would have happened if I didn't have a plate in front of him by noon. LOL

Stock is going.....making a cake and resting for a bit before friends show up for games and dessert.

Turkey's stuffed and baking, extra pan of stuffing is good to go, potatoes are sliced and ready to boil, green salad and fruit salad are made. Rolls and Gooey Cake to go. More pies than we'll ever eat. Cookies made. Conspicuously absent....colored jello and pudding (non- FG). LOL

Since it's "only family" by children decree this year, they chose the menu....also missing are Sweet Potatoes of any sort, cranberries, geen bean salad, veggie plates, appetizers, CELERY STICKS, or garlic potatoes (Krista LOVES those). ::snort:: It was funny to see just how simple a Thanksgiving meal can be.

Oh yes....still need to pull out the fancy dishes and such....fancy as in "matched". LOL