Thanksgiving Live: Lunch is Over

It was a whirlwind of browning marshmallows, finishing off rolls, roasting vegetables, setting the table, distributing napkins, finding serving spoons, and all the little things that go into finally getting a meal on the table (which was only about 45 minutes off schedule so not "off" at all). Sis and Bud made placecards for each person, carefully writing each name Then they drew what they were thankful for on cards to put in our "gratitude bowl," a cardboard bowl they painted earlier this week. Sis drew herself, Amy the bunny, and Mover Dave, while Bud tried to write and then had me finish his list of family members. I had hoped to go through the cards and share before dinner but it all got hectic and so we're doing it during dessert.

The food was scrumptious, though Bud focused on rolls and cranberry sauce and Sis ate the mashed potatoes in a roll (funny, she had first said she didn't want the mashed potatoes but then remembered that she had wanted them in her roll!) and then several sweet potatoes, except the casserole, including a Japanese sweet potato that is pale yellow on the inside and very sweet. I liked the Brussel sprouts (on which I sprinkled a little balsamic after roasting), the butternut squash puree with orange, the rolls I had been perfecting, and all the cranberry sauce. There were raves about the gravy, the turkey, and the cranberry sauces, even Mama's pepto pink horseradish sour cream cranberry sauce! The dressing wasn't as great as last year, too moist perhaps? Not sure, but it's okay. Bud ended his meal by eating all the strawberries off the jello mold (which didn't) and Sis ate crust off a piece of pumpkin pie; the rest of us are waiting a bit for dessert.

Now, I'm in the living room with Goo playing race car, listening to Bud's drum concert, talking to Sis about the food in her new set, while Mama, Ma, and Gong sort leftovers and load the dishwasher. That's a real perk of the day--they always do the clean up! And for that I am definitely grateful!