Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because there's such a sober mellowness to it. Christmas is so crazy! Thanksgiving is just mellow and relaxing (unless you are the one making all the food, I guess).
This year, we started out the day at my mom's house for a very small quiet meal: Just me, Eric, Richard and my mom. The food, of course, was amazing. This year my mom brined the turkey and then cooked it with the breast side down to absorb the liquid for moisture. After flipping it over (which was no small task), she broiled it quickly to make the skin crispy. It was amazing!! Truly! I had to take this picture of my mom and brother asleep on the couch: After her dinner, we went to Eric's dad's house for another Thanksgiving. Laura's food is always amazing! My favorite is her Bourbon puppies...yum! I need that recipe to post it because it's delicious. As we were driving to their house, I took this picture of an amazing (and perfect) sunset: This year, I made Eric's family sit down for a picture. I don't think people do this often enough and there are huge gaps in people's lives because no one will allow pictures to be taken of them. I literally made them (and begged them) for a picture: The rest of the pictures are posted on Flickr.
Thanksgiving was last week and I'm finally almost caught up on all my pictures. Eric and I started our Thanksgiving at his dad's house. Laura makes some of the best food and it was hard to keep our portions down so that we could go to my mom's house. The turkey was moist, the rolls were divine and there were plenty of potatoes to go around. Later, we went to my mom's house for dessert and enjoyed the company of my brother's family. Of course, I have pictures.
Eric and I were so happy to fly to LA for our Thanksgiving holiday. We left SLC on Monday morning and spent the week in 70 degree weather. Yay!
On Wednesday Eric and I went to Elida's house and made pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. We also made some empanadas for dinner and took them back to Sandy and April's that evening. They were delicious, if I say so myself.
Thanksgiving Day was a beautiful sunny day...it was a wonderful contrast to what we are used to in SLC. Loved it! April made a perfect turkey - I mean PERFECT! We were happy to find that we had plenty of potatoes and gravy (LOL!).
Here are my favorite pictures through Thanksgiving: Making the pumpkin pie filling: Me and Sandy: April preps the turkey: The table is set: Damon carves the turkey: Elida and Mason await the food. Mason has mastered the Lisonbee blank stare: The table is almost ready for the eating to begin. Mmmm, rolls: Did I mention that the turkey was really tasty? Cuz it was: Of course, after all that food comes the turkey stupor: Sandy and Elida: We ended the evening with some Phase 10...and we were begging to be put out of our misery by about Phase 6..but we made it all the way through. (note to self: Sandy is picking up a yellow two. That's a 'yellow two') Thanksgiving rocked! We just might have to do it again next year.
Eric and I are in California for Thanksgiving this year. Eric's mom is our house/dog sitter and the dogs love her. Yay, Kathy! Thank you. After a panic moment of realizing we hadn't given Kathy the keys, and she rushed back to the airport so that we could get them to her, Eric and I rushed to catch our flight. We were literally the LAST people on the plane. Yikes!~
We've never been away for the holidays before (both of our families are in Utah). My sisters live in LA and we wanted to spend Thanksgiving with them. We are being gracious hosts.
We flew out of SLC on Monday morning. It snowed the night before, so it was cold and beautiful in the morning light. Here are a couple of pics I took from the airplane window: Elida and Mason picked us up from Long Beach Airport. We flew our favorite airline: Jet Blue. I think we beat the rush of Thanksgiving because there was an empty seat next to us. But it was a pretty full flight, just the same.
Elida and Mason took us to the Aquarium of the Pacific. It was really nice and it was a wonderful sunny, warm day. Such a contrast to what we left in Utah. Here are some of the pictures I captured: Mason watching the fish Eric and Mason watch the fish swim by: I don't know what made him laugh, but I'm glad I got it: Elida being...Elida. LOL! Mason mesmerized by the sea lions: Elida and Mason: In the evening we took the dogs for a walk to the beach - yup! my sisters live TWO blocks from the beach. We got there just in time for an incredible sunset.
Yay! Thanksgiving is upon us and I am excited to spend time with my sisters in California. It will be the first time Eric and I have been out there for a holiday since they moved there.
So I found some fun videos for tonight.
You may have seen this before, but I thought it was great!
With the passing of Michael Jackson, it seems everybody is trying to find ways to use Thriller in their every day lives. I, of course, remember when it came out originally and loved it. My brother can still dance most of the dance. LOL! It's fun to watch him. The waiter in the middle seems to forget some of the moves during parts of the dance, which is too bad.
A cute little old couple playing the piano together at their anniversary:
Funny, funny prank in the ladies room.
Swim! Swim for your life, little penguin! Okay, so if I'm that little tiny boat, I don't know that I'd be sitting on the edge. I'd be freaking out!
I hear this video is circulating around a lot. I like watching the elk play in the puddle. It reminds me of a dog who first discovers the snow.
So, I'll try to post again while I'm on vacation, but here's a Happy Thanksgiving wish to all my friends and family!
You may or may not know that a few years ago I fell on New Years Eve (12/31/05) and broke my left foot. It was a thrill a minute. My body hated me for weeks after that! And I HATED being on crutches.
To make matters worse, I've been weak in that ankle since and it loves to give out on me on a fairly regular basis (thus I cling to shopping carts for dear life whenever we go to any store).
On Wednesday, Eric and I decided to join the throng of non-cooking people on the day before Thanksgiving, and we went to enjoy a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants: Robintino's....mmmmmmmm.
As we were walking back to the car, my body decided that the time had come to remind me that I cannot (and should not) walk AND talk at the same time.
My left hip threw my left ankle into a crazy (and one would think: impossible) twist. As I landed, my ankle immediately rejected that position in fright and pain that jolted to my head. I thought I was going to pass out and was SHOCKED when I realized I was still on my feet - or rather, foot. Somehow, in a moment of true courage and independence, my right foot caught all my weight and stood it's ground: 'I will not let you go down without a fight!' I wish my tear ducts had decided to put up an equal battle, but alas, I wept like a little girl. Eric helped me to the car and I watched my ankle and foot fill up like a balloon. At home we pulled out the ice bag, the terrible crutches and the ankle brace, along with the memories attached to them.
My dogs were not too happy with the sight of those dreadful crutches...I'm sure to them it's already hard enough to maneuver around me and my unsure steps. But throw in the crutches that are loud and bulky and unsteady in my hands, and the dogs are positively terrified of me. They look at me with wide un-trusting eyes like I will topple over on top of them in an instant. It's really quite funny!
It makes me laugh, anyway.
I will be going to the doctor tomorrow to have the confirmation that I know how to really sprain my ankle.
But here's the one true claim to glory for me: I did not hit the pavement! That really is the whole accomplishment and I'm very proud!
Here at work, at 3:15 in the morning, I stumbled across a clip from one of my favorite movies: Fern Gully (which I haven't watched for a very long time). It still makes me laugh.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and it's odd to have so many changes in our family gatherings. They are far more obvious during the holidays.
Last year Eric and I spent the entire day with his dad and family - my mom was in California, so it was pretty mellow. And, last year, things were still pretty fresh, so I wanted a break from everybody here in Utah. This year, Mom is home and we are having a very small gathering. Later, Eric and I will join his family at his dad's house for the big thanksgiving feast. (I'm looking forward to Laura's bourbon puppies--yummilicious!)
So, here's a shortened Gratitude list for this year.
I am grateful: 1. for Eric (of course) 2. for my family (can you guess who is who?) (not everyone is represented, clearly)
3. that I'm relatively healthy
4. that I have a good job (and a good part time job)
5. for an election that put Barack Obama into office in January
6. a warm and wonderful home for me and Eric to live in
7. my great dogs
8. for my friends who are so supportive!
9. for my faith in God
10. for the holiday season to spend time with my family & friends
This year, I made Eric's family sit down for a picture. I don't think people do this often enough and there are huge gaps in people's lives because no one will allow pictures to be taken of them. I literally made them (and begged them) for a picture: 
