Well, we did it. I’m exhausted but happy.
One oven, dinner for 30 at noon on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey, ham, dressing and rolls baked in the oven and served warm. Thank goodness for crockpots to keep the potatoes warm.
Tess worked out a timeline for me on Wednesday that included me getting up to put the turkey in the oven at 4:00 am and set the frozen rolls out to rise at 5:30, so I did. I never did go back to bed. Coffee.
Although I bought a turkey and had a meat shop smoke it to simplify things, it still needed to be warmed in the oven for three hours, then carved, then kept warm. Then the ham needed over an hour in the oven to warm, glaze, slice, keep warm.
I’ve always admired my mother in law and how she can fill up her home with all of us for Thanksgiving or Easter, have everything ready before we arrive, remain calm and still have the energy to play with the little ones after dinner. I don’t know how she does it, but she does and I am in awe of her.
This was our second year hosting (first was 2019, then dinner for 2 in 2020) 30 or more and although everything tasted fine in 2019, I wasn’t sure how to have it all come together and stay warm with one oven and well, I didn’t figure it out. I just figured everyone could top it all with warm gravy and it’d be fine, so that’s what we did. Nobody complained, that I know of.
Again this year, I forgot to put the cranberry sauce out. And my dad was able to make it to dinner and that’s one of his favorite things! I broke the news to him when I took him his pie. He said while he was eating his dinner, he kept thinking how good it would all taste if he could top it all with a little cranberry sauce. Dang it!!
Okay, back to warm food. Manuel, being the BBQ genius that he is, suggested keeping the meat warm on the grill this year! So I immediately put him in charge of that and it was a success! Not dry, not overcooked. Perfect!
At some point during the weekend, Tess sent me a link to a food buffet warming tray for the dressing next year. Smart kid. I’m learning.
We had the tables set Wednesday night and ready to go for 30!
I don’t remember what year it started but my mother in law, Rita, has a bell for each of her great grandchildren to all ring together before she says the family prayer. I called earlier in the week to see if she would keep that tradition going at our house and of course, she was happy to.
Bell ringing…..
Prayer before dinner. Feeling grateful for this houseful.
Let the feast begin!
Just warm enough to enjoy the deck during the day.
After dinner I had fun playing in Effie with the littles.
Lots of family photos taken in front of Effie. So fun!
It was a long day but a great day.
Friday morning our daughter in law Jordan came over with her daughter Wrenley. They came to get in some extra visiting time but also to put up the Christmas tree.
Papa Mike went over to help Jake at their new house.
Jake and Jordan bought a house and took possession in September. There were several things they wanted to do before moving in. Mike has been trying to help as much as possible, but as Jordan gets closer to her due date (baby due Jan 6th!) he is trying to get over there more and more so hopefully they can get moved in this month.
While Wrenley went to work on the bottom of the tree, Uncle Manuel went to buy more lights.
The last few years I’ve said to myself, I’ll just do the tree and the stockings this year. Keep it simple this year. Then I go all day long until I fall over. It’s hard to stop once I get started.
I decided to decorate the little tree I have on the deck.
As it got darker, it was too dang cute out here not to have a fire going.
The only selfie we took all week long.
Finally, I stopped decorating and Tess and Manuel and I watched The Family Stone. We have to watch it every year. I have so many lines memorized in that movie.
I’ve put finishing the living room on hold until after Christmas. The fireplace wall is a little empty without the bookcases, but it’ll work until after the new year.
Tess and Manuel were on the road by 7:30 Saturday morning to head back to Dallas. The week really flew by!
Now on the agenda is to help Jake and Jordan as much as possible and see if we can get them moved in their house before the baby comes!
Painting yesterday and more painting today, and I would imagine Monday as well.
Activity
I did a workout on Wednesday and then Thursday, Friday and Saturday I did not find the time to get it in, and honestly, got in enough steps and lifting with multiple trips to the basement and cleaning up, decorating, getting Effie back to my pops, I didn’t “exercise” but I never stopped moving, so it’s all good. Back to scheduled workouts today before painting.
The picture of us trying to get it all together is always better than the end photo.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am grateful for each and every one of you and I so appreciate you stopping by.
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
Thanks for reading the blog Patricia and taking the time to write such a sweet comment! God Bless you! ❤️
Awe, thanks so much! It was a great day and I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving as well! 😘
Thanks Diane. 🥰I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Let’s chat soon!
Thanks for sharing pictures of you and your lovely family. You are all blessed to have each other . Memories last a lifetime! You did a outstanding job of decorating everything! God Bless!
Julie,
Thanks for sharing your beautiful family with us. It looked like a feast and a blessing. So fun.
Lu
Oh my goodness, my heart is so full reading about your holiday and seeing all these precious pictures! As soon as I opened the page, that first photo of you made me laugh out loud. Oh, don’t we ALL know that feeling! But you survived, your home looked so beautiful, and having the family all under one roof had to be so much fun. Yes, a LOT of work, but so worth it. The Christmas decorations are so lovely – I especially love the tree on the back deck! I know you’re probably still pooped, but thank you for taking the time to share your Thanksgiving with all of us! Now, to all things Christmas …. bring it on!!