Thankful for so much that has happened this year. Thankful for our healthy babies, our health, our strong marriage. Thankful for Brad's successful business that allows us to have the kind of life we've dreamed. Thankful to have a big home and a slow pace of life. Thankful for our good friends near and far, and thankful to have such an amazing genuine relationship with my sister. Speaking of family, I guess big families are not as close as they presume to be. It was disappointing not to spend our first Thanksgiving with Brad's sister Jody or brother Rodney (sister-in-law Amber and all the cousins). It made us realize how much more my family is invested in our little boys and all the effort they make to be in their lives. We did however have a wonderful and intimate Thanksgiving with Grandpa and Grandma Grover, and grateful to have shared the day with them! Later that weekend, we were able to spend special quality time with Brad's brother Rodney, and super sweet kids Christian, Haven, Silvia, and Finley! Come to think of it, this is the first Thanksgiving that wasn't stressful! It turned out relaxing, not to mention we got a "white" treat!
It was also the tastiest! I made my first turkey, and it wasn't just an ordinary turkey. It was a bacon-blanket herb roasted 16 pound turkey! This turkey was pampered for 3 days: cleaned and exfoliated with salt, massaged with bacon herb butter, stuffed with apples and onion, and then bronzed with its very own bacon woven blanket! I was very proud at how good it turned out, and Grandma Nancy kept saying what an art piece it was! Here is the recipe.
the before photo
the after photo
Here we go!!!
The day before Thanksgiving, I made a green bean casserole with fresh mushrooms, fresh green beans, and cheddar cheese! Homemade cranberry-orange sauce, and the most delicious gravy (because of the turkey juices!). What made it stress-free was that I made most of the dishes and prepped the turkey the night before, then all I had to do was put the turkey into the oven the day of and whipped up the stuffing and sweet potatoes in a snap. Nancy helped with the gravy, and it turned out fabulous! Here is the recipe for the gravy. The house smelled beyond delicious with the aroma of bacon, rosemary, thyme, and apples & cinnamon from the homemade crock pot hot apple cider!
Everyone gobbled away at the bird and side dishes, and baby Jax feasted on mashed potatoes that Grandma made. He had a bite of everything but pigged out on the taters!!! It was his FIRST Thanksgiving and he appeared to be very thankful to eat :)
The beauty about leftovers with this turkey, is that the root vegetables, apples, and potatoes that roasted under the turkey made for another meal to go with turkey leftovers on a different day. I also made an excellent creamy turkey & wild rice soup thats a must have!
After our Thanksgiving linner, we took family photos, had pumpkin roll and pumpkin pie dessert, and Brad and his dad got a few rounds of Chess in.
Then in the evening, our "friend family," came over for some vino :)
The next day, I had a mommy-son day (separate post coming soon!), then it started SNOWING, and on Saturday the other Grover kids came over for Thanksgiving Part 2 and playtime in the snow!
little Finley :)
Playtime in the game room!
we got our first SNOW!!!!......
Brad pulling Christian & Taj on the green sled, down the icy driveway!
Daddy Brad belly-sledding down the hill! What a crazy kid! LOL
Jax loved the snow too!
The boys' turn to sled...
The girls sliding down the driveway!!
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