Bountiful Blessings

 For the past 6 or 7 years, Shawn and I have hosted Thanksgiving at our home. Shawn's parents, my brother and sister-in-law (Tim & Jill), and their children, my brother-in-law, Scott, and his two kids, my cousin, Marcus, his daughter, Storm, and my nieces and nephew also come if they can make it.

This year we had 20 plus our 7. We had loads of food, fun, and family time that we look forward to every year.

I get nostalgic each year when it's time to make the candied yams, which was one of my dad's favorites to make, and my mom's yummy stuffing. Shawn brines the turkey the night before and takes full charge over the bird from start to finish. He and Braaten typically make the cranberry bread, but this year Bray did it solo because the Hubs was doing all kinds of other stuff in preparation for our gathering. Melanie made her whole cranberry sauce and the cheesecake. My girls have mad cooking skills! I made the mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, onion, and garlic, cauliflower with a cheese sauce, pumpkin rolls, chocolate cream pie, and a layered jello dessert. My MIL brought her famous pumpkin pie made with butternut squash in place of the pumpkin (mind you, it tastes almost exactly the same), and deviled eggs. Jill brought the green bean casserole, corn which I burned upon reheating, and lots of rolls. Scott brought M & M's and soda. He gets off easy every year because it's just, well, easier. :) People were eating M & M's like they were going out of style. 

A bit of a sour puss, wouldn't ya say? Well, it's understandable. This was the first year Austin wasn't able to be home for Thanksgiving. The restaurant needed all of their bussers with no exception aside from quitting, I guess. He actually had a great attitude about it all, but posed grumpily for me. 

 

Ah, yes, that's more like it! Smile for your mama. 

As has been customary for the past few years, Jill asked us to take family photos. 

There's Natalie, Bradley, Nicole, Will, Trent, and Anthony. 

They're quite a handsome crew.

Shawn, his mom, Jill, Taylor, Andrew, Marcus, and I all took a leisurely stroll trying to walk off a small portion of the gazillion calories we consumed. On our journey we picked up some road apples as Leona calls them for me to decorate my basement with. I've been tempted to do that before, but never have. Apparently they keep spiders at bay.

My mother-in-law wants a copy of this picture which is the view outside our kitchen window in the back of the house. We took a shot of it before taking pictures of Jill's family. Ask, and you shall receive, Leona. :)

I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving like we did.