Thanksgiving Name Tags

We had a fun get-together for Thanksgiving.  20 people.  Lots of food.  Lots of fun. 

My sister Kelly took these pictures of our name tag markers we made. 

They looked cute and were really yummy ... just ask Kendall.

To make the turkey: 

Items: 

Candy Corn (I used Mike and Ikes cut in half to make them skinny)

Double Stuff Oreo (2 per turkey)

Chocolate Frosting

Whoppers

Mini Reeses Cup

Microwave one Double Stuffed Oreo for 6 seconds to soften frosting.  Stick in candy corn/Mike and Ike

Frost top of  the other Oreo and stick first Oreo on it.

Unwrap Reeses and place on frosted Oreo.

Frost a Whopper and stick above Reeses

Cut the tip off of a candy corn/Mike and Ike and use frosting to stick on Whooper as a beak.

We stuck papers with names behind the "feathers".  Go here to see Kelly's nametag.

Traditional? NOT!

Thanksgiving -

Our guests bailed on us - sniff sniff.

So we decided to be un-traditional.

We had a BLAST!

Kendall loved being outside in the beautiful weather and started a game of Duck Duck Goose.

Julia stopped for a "pose" thinking she had enough head start with Kendall chasing her.

I think this is a "must do again" activity! Next year (with Mike and Kelly - and anyone else who joins us), we will bring a table cloth, candles and goblets.

Don't worry, we are eating turkey tonight and then hitting the 10:00 p.m. opening of the outlets! Man, I love unconventional traditions!

Thanksgiving Fun

Kelly resting after a long trip from UT to our home for Thanksgiving (getting ready to hit the shops at 11:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving!)

We played games....tons of games. We stayed up late....really late. Boy did we have fun!

We even hit the outlet mall that opened up at 11:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving. It was fun to shop with Mike and Kelly and the girls. We got home around 2:30 a.m. only to head out with John and Mike at 9:30 for some more goodies. I scored...I didn't buy much! I look forward to a simple Christmas. The last couple of years we have scaled back and it has been wonderful (although I haven't scaled back on setting up for Christmas!)

The Thanksgiving Feast

Jaley made 26 place cards. Brooke and Christina ended up having the flu so couldn't make it.

I used my Great Grandma S's china, John's Grandma S's plates and the plates that John's mom gave us.

We had TONS of food...
Green Salad (Pistachio Marshmellow)
Pumpkin bread
Green Bean casserole
23 lb turkey
10 lb turkey
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry Mousse
Strawberry Jello Salad
Homemade Stuffing (John's mom made this!)
Stuffing (nothing fancy…from a box with extras added)
Gravy
Pumpkin dessert
EGG NOG!!!
Bubbly (grape and apple cider)
Artichoke dip with pita chips
Lemon meringue pie
Key Lime pie
Chocolate something pie
Tabernacle Twister (drink with Cranberry Juice, Pinapple Juice and Ginger Ale...idea from my friend Tara A)
Rolls
Mashed potatoes
Green Stuff (Broccoli Casserole)
Candied Yams
Relish Tray (with celery stuffed with pineapple and strawberry cream cheese).

TONS of left overs. Enough food for tomorrow to feed the entire gang again...we are celebrating some birthdays.

Sorry...I forgot to pull out the camera. Shame on me.

Turkey Time!

Started the brining of the turkey on Wednesday... (I have to catch up...busy busy weekend! more details to follow.)