Thanksgiving and a week of decorating

Although our group was a little smaller this year, we enjoyed having Thanksgiving at our home once again. We don't play around. We feast. We had so much good food...appetizers, smoked turkey, thick ribeyes, tons of sides, and pumpkin cheesecake with pecan praline topping and homemade whipped cream. Wow!! It makes me want to go back in time and eat it all over again.

We like to gather in the kitchen to eat appetizers while the other food is in the oven. We had both of Mike's pros Chad and Luke plus their wives Sara and Clark, our next door neighbors Debbie and Jeff and our other neighbor Tiffanie whose husband is in Iraq (thank you Gabe for working to keep us safe). We missed Daniel and SuSu since they were on their honeymoon. We also missed Michelle and Melanie as they went other places this year.

Chad and Jeff got the turkey carving honor. Messy. As long as I don't have to do it, I'm happy!!
Mike loves sharing our feast with the "house of dogs". Everyone is allowed to bring their dogs, so we had 5 pooches who were looking for any kind of scraps that they could get. Sara and Chad also brought them a container of "pupcorn" which they snacked on as an appetizer before they got the steak and turkey scraps. Spoiled much??

After our tradition of going around the table to tell what we are thankful for and saying the blessing, we enjoyed our amazing feast!! Thank you God for this good food and time with friends!!

We started decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'm still decorating. I know...give me a break. I haven't decorated since 2004, so I am a little excited to decorate again. We have a 9 foot tall fake tree in our family room and a 7 and a half foot tree in the guest bedroom that is on the front of the house. Many of you don't believe in fake trees, but I have bad allergies, we have saved a lot over the years since a 9 foot tree every year would really add up and I have the best smelling Balsam Cedar diffuser ever made hidden behind my tree. Since the tree had not been out of the box since 2004, we had some issues. After a trip to Home Depot, then WallyWorld, then Lowes, then Lowes a day later, we finally have two completely lit trees, 2 large wreaths (one on the front of the house and the other on the back covered porch), 2 topiaries for the front porch and garland for the top of the dining room hutch. Like I said, I have been a bit excited.

Ali decided that she would help us with the tree. I think all her work wore her plum out.

Mike was so excited to help me fluff the 5 strands of garland that would go into making the big garland on top of the hutch. He was so excited that I think he fell asleep while he was fluffing.

Mike stood on a step stool or maybe it was some piece of furniture and the topper was put in place...

...stay tuned for pics of all the decorations in their proper places.