Thanksgiving is the holiday that I get to host every year. Rick and I have been married for almost 10 years, and this was our 9th year of hosting Thanksgiving for my family. For the first 7 years, we held the dinner at our little home. But in the last few years, our ever-expanding family has needed a bigger environment to comfortably feast at. The past 2 years, my mom has graciously let me host our festivities in her home. :0)
Usually, our Thanksgiving is spent with just my immediate family. But this year, we had quite a few new guests at out dinner tables...
My brother invited his girlfriend...
Jenni & Desmon invited Desmon's sister and her beautiful toddler-ette to join us...however, unfortunately I did not get their photo. :0(
We invited our cousin Jay, who recently moved to L.A. from N.Y.C. this year (he is pictured here with my stepmom Michelle)...
And finally, we had invited our prior youth pastors/surrogate family/great friends, Myke (who is pictured here giving his "What I am Thankful For" speech in the form of a hilarious poem he wrote, and with the use of a slide show on his iPad...very 2011!)...
And his LOVELY wife Pam (who gave me a hostess gift...she knows how to get invited back, LOL!)...
A month before Thanksgiving, I had sat down and planned out the menu...but that was all I was motivated to organize at the time. However, in the week before Thanksgiving, I had been watching Food Network programs at the gym, and catching the occasional holiday decorating segment on the Today Show in the morning. I began to get excited about how to Eliza-fy our event...my mind was reeling. :0)
The first thing I worked on, was place card decorations. I started with some gourds, and then I brainstormed on what to do with them. I decided to draw 1 leaf with each person's name on it, and then I drew a 2nd leaf which stated why I was thankful for that person...
And since I had a little extra time on my hands this week, I also made some turkey sugar cookies that I personalized for the children, and our special guests...
Once it was all put together, I thought the tables came out beautifully!
One of the adult tables...
The kids table...
The day was perfect. :0) We did some cooking...
We had some appetizers...
We did some praying...
And, then we did some eating...
I was told that this was "The Cool Table"... ;0)
But I determined THIS was the even-cooler-table...
We hung out, and took a few pictures...
(my sister Anna & I...)
(My husband & I...)
(My niece Samantha & I...)
(A series of all of the kids...it's hard NOT to notice, but look at Samantha in every picture...HILARIOUS!!!)
And after a while, we had dessert. :0) Here are a few of the options...
We ended the night, by sharing what each of us were thankful for...playing games...and holding the ones we love...
With ambitions like mine...with a family like mine...with friends like mine...with a Savior like mine...I had a LOT to be thankful for this year! :0)
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