Thanksgiving Dinner At Our House

I have bad news that I haven't written about yet but I don't want my first "real" blog to be about sad things. So I'm still not going to write it because I'd rather write about Thanksgiving! :)

Yesterday I got up early so I could bake rolls, make deviled eggs (Branden's special request), make a no-bake cheesecake (Richard's special request) and roast our twenty-pound turkey. I'd made all my pumpkin pies well in advance so at least I didn't have to make those as well. Branden and I also had to finish cleaning the house and move furniture so we would have room to set up tables in the living room. Thankfully, this was all successfully accomplished.

Around 3:15 PM Rick, Abby and her two brothers, Eli and Ben, arrived at my house. Abby, Rick, Eli, Ben and Branden rearranged the two tables we had (one four foot and one six foot) over and over until everything was JUST RIGHT. It was great to watch, but there were already so many opinions that I just decided it'd be a best to just stay out of the way.

I pulled the turkey out of the oven and made gravy while Abby made mashed potatoes. Shay and Mikey showed up a bit late, but that was really ok because they still got here before all the food was ready. :) Eli was kind enough to carve the turkey. He loved my chef knife that I got from school and declared that he might just have to go to chef school so he could have one, too. Branden cooked his own corn and was a great help in carrying all the food out to the serving table.

After everything was finally done, we sat down to a great feast. I was really happy with the way the turkey out, Abby's mashed potatoes were very good and I was very impressed with her cranberry mousse. Everyone ate their fill and there was still tons leftover... Though I suppose that's to be expected with a twenty-pound bird and the three quarts of gravy that everyone insisted I make. :P

The best part was the conversation. We talked about dead deer and various other road kill and pranks pulled with road kill and people getting eviscerated and people cutting off their own arms and legs and people falling out of planes and... Lots of other things that Mom deems "inappropriate dinner conversation." There was lots of laughter and it was definitely the most morbid Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had the pleasure to attend.

We took a small break between dinner and dessert to share various YouTube videos we found amusing/interesting. Then we sat down to cheesecake and lots of pie with homemade whipped cream. Afterward, we took down the table and lounged on the couch and the floor watching Death Race.

I feel it was a successful Thanksgiving with lots of fun and happiness and no drama or fights. I'm so glad that everyone came and contributed to the happy evening.