HallmarcDotNet

Sun, 27 Nov 2011

Thanksgiving was different this year. I got this horrible cold and felt pretty icky until Wednesday. The friend who was going to come over made other plans. I totally understood, but it was disappointing to have our smallest Thanksgiving ever. Only four of us.  Of course we missed Bryan, but were glad that he got to spend the day with extended family in Utah.He will be home at Christmas and we are looking forward to that.

Anyway, since everyone has helped with dinner the last two years, it has been easier on me and more fun. Melody made pies with me the day before. She made a delicious apple crumb pie all by herself.It was very good. I made two pumpkin pies while she did the apple.

Melody also did the rolls. I should have let her make them on Thursday morning, but didn't think we'd have the oven space. They were good, but not as good as the ones she made last year. 

Marc ate the rolls. Must have quality control.

Thomas was in charge of the mashed potatoes.

I guess those are the yams he is peeling, but he also peeled the potatoes. And cooked and mashed them.

Melody also made the Watergate salad.

Marc did the yams.

Melody set the table.

I did the rest.Turkey, stuffing, and gravy.

 Dinner was good.

The weather was sunny and nice for Thursday and Friday. We used the opportunity to get out and rake some leaves. OK, a lot of leaves. Thursday we did the front yard and the side yards, and Friday we did the back yard, which hadn't been raked at all yet this year. Unfortunately, there are still leaves on the tree in the back, so we will have to rake it again before Christmas.

  I do like getting out and raking leaves when it is warm, but we really have a lot because of all the trees in the greenbelt that blow their leaves our way. A retirement condo is looking good…Melody helped with the leaves on Thursday, but was doing homework most of Friday. She was assigned a big family history project in school and it has taken a lot of her time.

On Friday evening, we also went over to some friends' house to eat pie and play games. Then Melody had a friend sleep over. They did homework together on Saturday morning. Oh the joys of being in high school. Thomas and I braved the crowds at the mall to get his Christmas shopping done. And then Melody and I went out later to do some more. 

I was really thankful this Thanksgiving to be healthy and able to cook and eat dinner with my family. I am grateful for all their help. We had fun together. I'm grateful for the Hall family who took Bryan in and treated him as one of their own. I'm glad that he can have the opportunity to be away at college, even though we miss him.