THANKSGIVING FESTIVITY

What a great day!  It all worked out so well - or at least I thought! In large part thanks to the invention of ... the crockpot.  In years past there has been a mad scramble at the last minute to make sure the potatoes were mashed and warm. To make sure the noodles were cooked and warm. To have room in the oven to keep everything up to temperature while everything... you get the picture. GETTING EVERYTHING READY TO EAT and warm.  With a kitchen full of hungry folks!


I decided to try mashing the potatoes before the crowd got there and keeping them warm in the crockpot (SUCCESS!!!) I have a smaller crockpot that I had the corn in (SUCCESS!!) The turkey came already cut and warm in a crockpot (SUCCESS!!) The green bean casserole came in a crockpot (SUCCESS!!)

And while still filled and layered and brimming to capacity -- the oven was able to keep other things warm. The microwave got called into action to beef up the heat on the gravy at the last minute and off we went with a nice warm meal.

I was in the bathroom working on my eternal youth treatment (aka Prep H application to my face!) and of course my Bare Mineral application and my foofing of hair ... you know -- the personal stuff when the Pharrs came.  Then Downey's arrived next ... and gradually the meal unfolded!

There was SO MUCH FOOD. I should have taken a picture of it all. I had two 2' x 4' tables end to end with desserts. Cookies, cakes, pumpkin bars, pies (apple, cherry, and pumpkin). We had another 2' x 4' table with salads, relish tray, etc. (pea salad, cucumber salad, 3 cheeseballs and crackers, olives and pickles and ... ??) Then we had the hot foods on the counter - probably a total of 15-18 foot of food there ... turkey, mashed potatoes, a potato casserole, brocolli casserole, 3 kinds of sweet potatos, vegetarian entree, two kinds of dressing, corn, corn/mac casserole, meatballs, ... I'm forgetting some I'm sure. Oh -- and the rolls and butter were already on the table!!

It was a land of plenty. We had - 32 or 34 people - I can't remember what I counted up Hmm? just now when I counted in my head I got 31. Oh well ... we had a houseful. We ate around 2-ish. That worked out nicely (I thought) and people hung around and talked, played games, and some watched the movie UP. Only downside there is that Mom got called into action by Uncle Hib to find him a hamburger on a day when no place was open to GET a hamburger, so we started without her and had a pretty good start on our meal eating before she got back.

After round one of the glutton-fest was completed, we settled back for some talking, laughing, game playing, etc.  Joy and Keith started it by bringing out a game called SETS.  Other games were Scrabble SMASH - no wait - it was called SLAM.  Scrabble Slam.  And Phase 10 and Skipbo.  Later in the evening some watched the movie UP. 

Some sweet folk did dishes and started the dishwasher, wiped counters - everyone was great about taking home their left overs (sometimes I get too much left here and then ??? what do I do with it all?)

It was a great day. The big surprise was that Joy and Keith, well Keith anyway, announced they had gotten married November 10th.  There was sort of a non-reaction at first.  I think people were taken off guard initially while the news sunk in.   I think we wouldn't have been surprised if they'd announced they were GETTING married. But GOTTEN married surprised us all. They hadn't even told Joy's kids. So welcome Keith (Barrett) to the family!  We watched the DVD of their marriage on the beach 5 minutes from his house.  They had the camera on the back of the car.  They were married by and Adventist pastor with just the two of them present (if you don't count the metal detector couple in the background at the water's edge).

Usually we have gone around the room and done "what are you thankful for" -- this year I didn't do that.  Keith was going to use the marriage as his "what are you thankful for".  So everyone -- NEXT YEAR ... it's back in.  We let him down!  (And ourselves - because we should ALWAYS state what we're thankful for.  It gives testimony to the blessings of God!)  Sorry Keith!

Anyway -- we DID have a super day. Hope yours was as well.

 PS  Wynter and Andy we missed you!  Tearney Chance ... was also not here and Holly and Joe.
 
To Randy's side of our family, we always miss you guys.  I'm sure Deb and Jill at least are out shopping til they drop today!  I believe the plan was the Smuda's were spending the night at the Bauleke's so they could get a good start on the shopping today.
 
Here is the photo-record of the day.  (Aunt Nita - I used YOU as the scapegoat when taking pictures.  You mentioned I didn't have many pictures of the family ... so I told them I HAD to take pics or Aunt Nita would get me!)