How to Cook a Turkey and Other Important Thanksgiving Stuff

One of the highlights of having preschoolers is seeing preschool performances. These programs offer a great mix of heart-warming and proud moments along with large doses of pure comedy.

Calahan's Thanksgiving Celebration at HUGS was just that:

Heartwarming -- several great musical performances of turkey and pilgrim songs...and

...seeing Calahan with his inseparable playmate, Ella. These two are always together!

Proud -- seeing our little guy treat mom and dad like royalty as he so nicely served us delicious homemade food and drink.

 

Comedy -- Prior to the big "celebration day," Ms. Kristin asked each of the kids to tell her how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey. Here is Cal's response:

Go to a toy store. Look for a blue turkey, no maybe a brown turkey. Walk it home. Get something and cook it on a kitchen tool with fire in it. Use a timer. Put it at zero. It is done at 1:30. Eat it!

Try that next time you want to make a turkey!

Crewe's Thanksgiving Feast made for some tears and an early departure (darn that milk allergy). But he recovered quickly after going out to lunch with Mom and Dad. To make up for leaving early, our little pilgrim left his hat on for most of the day.

Holiday Adventures Begin

There's something about Thanksgiving weekend that makes it one of the weekends I look forward to most throughout the year. I love to be with family, watch the holiday season unfold, and see the Christmas spirit come more alive. A few favorites this weekend:

• Decorating for Christmas
• Black Friday
• Holiday Lights & Pizza
• Movies
• BYU v. U of U Football Game
• Holiday Baking

Grammy's garland assistant.

While my mom and I were busy decorating inside, Chris was outside hanging lights and wreaths and.... creating a landing pad for Santa. This photo doesn't do it justice. It's so dang cute.

Shawna's black Friday purchase: her first ever laptop computer!

We went to see the lights at the Mesa Temple grounds only to find out that they don't go on until 8:00 pm the first night! So, no lights, just pizza at our favorite pizza place in Old Town Scottsdale, Nello's. Cal wouldn't leave Uncle Donald's side all night long.

Crewe telling BYU to "bite" the competiton. What a great over time ending - Go Cougs!

Brian starts some holiday "cooking," sharing his spinach, egg, cheese and magic toast combination. It was delicious. Reading with Grammy is always a favorite with the boys. She must have read "I Know an Old Woman who Swallowed a Pie" a thousand times.

Chris and I doubled with Brian and Shawna and saw this incredibly uplifting movie. It was definitely worth waiting for the 10:10 showing last night when the there were no more seats left together for the 8:45. A must see, for sure.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Thanksgiving Day was all about good company, good conversation and good food of course. 2009 was the Bailey year and we hosted everyone who could travel to Arizona: Mom, Donald, Brian and his girlfriend Shawna.

We wove some unconventional menu items into our traditional spread this year. We substituted prime rib for turkey and key lime cheesecake for pumpkin pie. The traditional Moody drink (a delicious fruit drink passed down from Chris's grandmother Moody) was a hit with the Baileys. The food was scrumptious and a new family tradition was born with the key lime cheesecake that my brother Brian "whipped up" (took him two days and careful attention to detail to make it).

When we weren't nibbling on yummy food, we enjoyed being outside (a beautiful 77), talking about things we are grateful for (so many things), and watching football (go Broncos!). Actually, we did a lot of those things while nibbling on yummy food. The passionate discussion we had about health care at the dinner table seemed to fuel some appetites! A day to remember for sure.

Our Thanksgiving "turkey."

"This pilgrim hat is really giving me a headache!"

Grammy and her assistant making rolls.

Chez Brian with his cheesecake masterpiece.
Chris making his signature potatoes, yum!
Grammy tending the many pots on the stove.

The love birds.

Menu:

Starters:

Shrimp Cocktail
Cheeseball & Crackers
Mixed Greens Salad - Nordstrom Recipe

Main Course:

Prime Rib
Twice baked potatoes
Green beans
Homemade Pecan Rolls

Dessert:

Key lime Cheesecake
Chocolate Cake

Thankful

Counting my blessings on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day in 2009. A few of the blessings I'm thankful for today:

Thankful for Chris. He is the loyalist of friends and a husband of uncommon patience, love, and wisdom.

Thankful that my two boys like to climb into bed with their mama in the early mornings and snuggle.

Thankful for slobbery Crewe kisses and his contagious smile.

Thankful for Calahan's singing and deep belly laugh.

Thankful for the pilgrims and founders of our country who had the moral courage to leave their comforts of life on the other side of the Atlantic in order to pursue religious and political liberty.

Thankful for good music and the ability to hear; for beautiful Arizona sunsets and the ability to see them.

Thankful for my mom who is always there and loves unconditionally.

Thankful for genuine friends who love me despite my weaknesses.

Thankful for my family - the whole extended thing, on both sides - for their never failing support and inspiration to do and be a little better than I am.

Thankful for the hand of God in my life and for answered prayers.

Thankful for chocolate, hot showers, fresh flowers, and so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

Abraham Lincoln established the annual celebration of Thanksgiving in 1863 during the Civil War. He said "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God... It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the gifts of God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."

As we reflect on the abundant blessings our Father has given us we are overwhelmed. We are thankful for our families, friends, food to eat, a comfortable home, a free country, and experiences that develop our characters and stretch our limits. We are truly blessed to share this thing called life with so many loved ones this holiday season.

This Thanksgiving we were lucky enough to host 20 of our favorite Calverts in our home for dinner: Mom & Dad Calvert; Bobby, Lisa & kids; David, Jenny & kids; and Taylor, Ashley & Callie. Calahan was in heaven with so many of his cousins to entertain him. We had a delicious dinner, including a yummy turkey that was transported all the way from Las Vegas, the famous Moody drink, and Uncle Ross's mashed potatoes. Here are a few shots from the big day:

The young adult/teenager table

Croix and Oliva hanging at the kids table

David and Jenny (aren't they cute?!)

Mom and Dad with Crewe (as usual, Dad's getting ready to do the dishes!)

Crewe and aunt Lisa

Are you serious? We can make a fire in this?!

Calyx and Kennedy checking out the desert

Group nap time -- Good meals are SO exhausting!

A Game of Scum -- the perfect end to the day