Thanksgiving '08

So I figured I should blog about Thanksgiving before Christmas happens. This time of year is completely NUTS! So we woke up on Thanksgiving morning with lots to do. We had nearly 30 people coming over. Unfortunately, in yet another masculine attempt to avoid domesticity, the men from church were meeting to knock their skulls together in the annual Turkey Bowl. (Does the "turkey" in Turkey Bowl refer to the tasty fowl consumed only hours after the game is over, or to the players themselves? I leave it to you to decide.) Therefore, I was left to finishing prepping the house for guests and keeping on eye on these two.

For some reason Jason keeps a collection of odds and ends from various unused electronic devices in this cabinet in our office. When I first found Josh and Jane, they had removed most of the contents of this cabinet and Josh was trying to close himself inside of it. Jane was only too glad to help by leaning on the door. I quietly reached for the camera at which point they assumed these slightly more innocent-looking positions. Don't be deceived though. These two are partners in crime.

Once again, to the joy and satisfaction of all concerned, Jason deep-fried a turkey this year. After soaking overnight in a brown sugar and salt brine, the blessed bird was plunged into a boiling vat of oil bubbling away on our driveway. After a time, our hot gobbler was carefully removed and placed on the dining room table to rest. The turkey comes out looking far less dignified than a traditional turkey. I always have to fight the urge to giggle because I can't help picturing a live turkey in this position.

While the turkey was resting we devoured these starters. It's kind of amazing that anyone had any room for Thanksgiving dinner after this spread. Jennie's famous crab dip was a big crowd-pleaser as well as the homemade cheese balls. Yum!

We had some nice tablecloths and decorations thanks to Jennie but not enough chairs thanks to me. People offered to bring chairs but I figured we would be okay since prior to Thanksgiving Jason brought home 8 ugly old padded chairs that our church no longer needed. One man's trash is...still trash. Okay, maybe trash is too strong a word. The chairs are still functional so I guess they are technically not trash. They are just so ugly! And they aren't folding chairs so they are just going to take up space in my basement until I find a way for them to disappear (Sorry, Jas.) I should have let people bring their own chairs. I guess I was too afraid of more chairs showing up at my house. What if they never left? Trash Amnesty Day is is long way off.

I would like to point out one thing about the above picture. Notice the stick of butter on the paper plate. Shortly before our guests began arriving, I noticed Josh walking around with something in his hand. Lately Josh is into everything and he seemed to be eating something so I took a closer look. It was the stick of butter. He was strolling around gnawing on it like it was a delicious candy bar. I took it away because that is kind of gross but seriously, who doesn't love a good stick of butta! Josh's butter moment was symbolic of how we all stuffed ourselves silly with a delicious dinner followed by yummy pies and the most amazing caramel apple cider I have ever tasted (Thanks Haupts!). The gluttony that occurs on Thanksgiving would be unacceptable on pretty much any other day of the year.

Unfortunately we did not take very many pictures. Poor Jane's first Thanksgiving was not documented on film very well because her parents were drunk on deep-friend turkey and had a house full of noise and fun.