Thanksgiving Weekend

It's beginning to look a lot like...Thanksgiving! 

We were very late to decorating this year - no autumn or Halloween decor - but we got this done a week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

We hosted, and I combined a couple of recipes in producing this tasty bird. Forgot to get an "after" pic but it turned out great.

Another success - Stace's Yorkshire puds! Look at that rise! And Melanie's side dishes were delicious, too. 
 

Cora, skulking around...

Grandma had to work Thursday, so we celebrated the holiday on Friday with the family. It was a lovely afternoon/evening together.

On Sunday, we saw A Christmas Carol at the Canyon Theatre Guild with my parents, and got a drink together after. It was a great show.

Thanksgiving: Mrs. Claus and Dinner

 Grandma had to work Thanksgiving, so we all went to visit her at Magic Mountain as she portrayed Mrs. Claus.

Grandpa took this family shot, and then we tried to recreate a classic Christmas photo I enjoy each year. 

It didn't quite turn into an exact replica, as Violet refused, so Cora took on the disgruntled role.

Then, home to cook the turkey and enjoy a fabulous meal. I had brined the turkey over 24 hours, and used herb butter under the skin, and it was so yummy! I actually wished I'd bought a bigger bird, for additional leftovers.

Melanie made most of the sides, and all was delicious.

Redmond Thanksgiving

Celebrating Thanksgiving with family is such a blessing.

Only missing the photographer here, Uncle Bill. 

Stace contributed the Yorkshire puddings, which turned out great. I made English roast potatoes, and everyone wanted the recipe. Everything else was delicious, too!

Here's Cora's beautiful apple pie. She learned from the best!

After dinner, we played some games - Anna and I played the very old Navy game of cribbage, which I learned from my grandparents.

Tyler set out to best Cora (and Alison and William) in a game of Splendor - but Cora STILL won! This kid can't be beat in strategy games. 

I love this pic of Uncle Stace with the babies! Miles on the left, Lupin on the right.

Stace was impressed with the very festive (and huge) holly bush out back, so we had Anna take a few photos of us out there.

My mom sent these Russian dolls for Alison - they have sentimental value for her - and Lupin enjoyed them.

Spending time with everyone was so sweet! Until next time, Washington family.

Redmond Trip

Cora's show ended Saturday night, and on Sunday my family came over for an early Thanksgiving celebration. 

On Monday, we flew to Washington, to spend the week with Aunt Patty and Uncle Bill. 

We got to see my cousins and their new babies, as well. Always great meeting new family members!

We enjoyed several days of relaxation, cooking, baking, playing games, taking walks and very yummy food.

Here, we're playing an interesting game where you consider "worst case scenarios" and decide, with your teammate, which of several answer options is correct.

It brought some laughter and some interesting discussions.

We had a couple of beautiful wintry days... 

...and a couple of beautiful wet days. 

Aunt Patty taught us how to make biscotti. This is Uncle Bill's face when he's told that Violet was supposed to be learning how to slice them, as he'd finished slicing the first loaf.

Cora learned how to make apple pie, and here she's making crepes for breakfast while Patty makes dinner rolls.

Oh, did we eat well! It would have been worth it to photograph the meals - homemade pizza, huge salmon filets, roast lamb and of course Thanksgiving dinner. 

Thanksgiving Break

The girls were off for Thanksgiving week, and we started the first weekend by going to the Christmas Tree Lighting festivities in Newhall. To be perfectly honest, neither girl wanted to go, and it wasn't exactly a "fun time had by all." 

We had more fun the next night, when we went out to try a new ice cream place. All the ingredients are fresh and organic, and we enjoyed trying four flavors.

On Monday, we helped paint and decorate Cora's set for her upcoming Great Gatsby play. Stace installed molding and chair rail.

Cora finally trimmed her hair!

On Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving with this lovely turkey. I forgot to take more photos!

We did a little shopping on Black Friday.

We also visited with Colleen and Rigo and the kids. Not a great photo but I was sneaking a shot of them all cracking up at the video game they were playing.

The girls helped get the Christmas lights up.

I was sitting on the couch on Sunday evening, and Spencer raced into the house from the side yard, through the hole in the screen door he uses as a cat flap. (Why fix it, when it's so useful?)

Anyway, he raced in with this huge RAT in his mouth! He put it down, and thankfully it was dead, so it didn't race under the TV stand or couch. Seb jumped off the couch to have a closer look.

 

Thankfully Sebby normally has more fun with his catnip felt pizza, and doeesn't catch many rats.

Thanksgiving Week

The girls had the week off for Thanksgiving break, and on Monday I made Violet take a walk with me. She was initially reluctant, but as we got into the canyon, she noticed with delight that someone had been hanging Christmas ornaments on the trees.

We then happened upon a large bag of ornaments under an oak, with a note asking for help hanging the decorations. Vi was more than happy to help!

It was definitely worth the walk. I love this girl!

Vi and Stace made a Victoria sponge cake in the evening. Yum!

On Wednesday, we gathered again at the park with some of Cora's friends. They again brought Nerf guns, and great fun was had by all.

On Thanksgiving, Melanie made a lot of the food, and my mom contributed two veggie dishes. So, we didn't have a lot to be responsible for. Stace was thrilled with the rise on his lovely Yorkshire puddings!

Cheers! Thanksgiving 2020 - we added an Ellie and subtracted a Paula - she was working at Magic Mountain's drive-through event.
 

Redmond, Part III: Thanksgiving

Thankfully, Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty have a big house, and the cousins spent the night, too.

We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition for millions.

Uncle Bill made a delicious pancake and bacon breakfast - the feast before the Feast.

We then took a walk to a great park that is basically on the outskirts of their neighborhood.

The park has natural areas, and a farm yard with animals.

Cora was in her element, and took off toward the creek bed to explore on her own. She found this brightly colored mushroom.

More animals - this rabbit was a giant!

The big race: Cora thought she had Uncle Bill, but he was merely playing her. She then went rogue and tried to bring him down.

Stace and I put together a charcuterie board for lunch... yum!

I didn't get a pic of our Thanksgiving feast, but it was delicious. Oh, the stuffing! And the moist turkey!

Here are the pies, though! Blueberry with home-grown blueberries.

Tyler's parents joined us, too. It was great catching up with them, for the first time since he and Alison got married nearly nine years ago.

After a thoroughly enjoyable day, we did some online Black Friday shopping Friday morning, while Cora made us biscuits for breakfast. Also, Aunt Patty fixed the dress Cora will wear to her first junior high dance in a few weeks. It fits, but just needed the shoulder seams adjusted.

Then, all too soon, it was time to heard back to the airport. We had an outstanding pilot who invited the girls into the cockpit!

So cute!