Can you eat 14 different side dishes?

Well, we did! In one sitting.
Yes, that is my mom's idea of a "simple" Thanksgiving dinner. She even wanted to add more! You can see why I was hoping to host this year...to give my mom a much needed break. I had my menu all planned and my parents were coming. It was all set. However, I had to change plans when my mom said food kept "falling in her lap". She said she HAD to host because she already had all of the food. It actually was a huge blessing because our little family sure did love the getaway. Russ has been applying for jobs all week and needed a break. Thank you Mom and Dad!!!!
It was a most lovely affair with love and laughter and relaxation. The food was awesome, but the conversation and love shared is always more delicious than the food.

I actually don't care one bit about Thanksgiving food (well, I do love the chit chat with the women while fixing it!). We just cook it for our men and they love us for it (until they've eaten their fourth meal of leftovers!). My handsome bro!

Last year, when I was stressed out preparing to leave on a trip without the kiddies on Thanksgiving Day, look at what I cooked...a Costco rotisserie chicken artistically place on a bed of lettuce! This meal is more my style...
See doesn't it look like a turkey? My kids were on cloud nine and happy hyper with all of our wine glasses out and candles lit! They didn't care it wasn't a turkey! ;)

Okay, back to this year. I told Mom to skip the jello because my kids don't like it. She insisted. And she was right...it was their favorite! What do I know?
The intoxicating smell of fresh pine and leaves and earth after rain blessed our senses on our nature walk. We breathed it all in as deeply as we could.

The food is tastier, the views more intoxicating, the beds softer, the love stronger, the laughter more abundant, the worries fewer, and the perspective clearer at Mom and Dad's. Thanksgiving 09 was fab.