thanksgiving

Thanksgiving prep started early in the week at our house and Ellie helped with the cooking and shopping!!  Then, once the Gaubs got into town, she was busy playing with Hannah.

On Thanksgiving we spent the morning playing and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with our traditional Mcdonalds for breakfast. 

And spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the the conversation while the little girls played outside and took naps.

Ellie loaded up the olive tray with two kinds of olives and two kinds of pickles-- and Lexie stopped by to play with the olives.

The yummy turkey waiting to be carved and the sweet little turkeys at the kids' table.

Since everyone was in town for the holiday, we had family pictures done the day after Thanksgiving and then spent one last day together before Grandma and Grandpa and the Gaubs had to leave.  It's so nice having family come into town to celebrate holidays with us!!

thanksgiving

Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and eating our traditional McDonald's breakfast.

One of my favorite serving pieces is Aunt Karen's olive tray-- it instantly takes me back to Thanksgivings at her house while I was growing up-- and I make sure to use it EVERY year!  The girls love "helping" put the olives on the tray.

It was just us for Thanksgiving this year so we kept the whole day very relaxed.  Instead of having hot turkey and hot sides (which none of the kids really like), we made turkey sandwiches and had cold sides.  And pie, lots of pie!

thanksgiving fun

One of the best parts of having family in town is that you can dress the kids in matching clothes!  Ellie and Lexie LOVE having matching jammies and it's even more fun when Hannah can be included.

Hannah is such a sweetheart-- I wish we were able to see her more often!

We had a fire in the fire pit one night and roasted hot dogs for dinner-- and of course made s'mores for dessert!

On Thanksgiving morning we always have McDonald's Egg McMuffins for breakfast and watch the parade.

Snuggly sweethearts :)

The girls helped get Thanksgiving dinner ready this year.  Ellie supervised the turkey prep while Lexie helped with the pickles and olives.

The big kids had dinner in the kitchen and the adults and little kids ate in the dining room.  Sadly, we didn't get any pictures of the adults or the dining room other than the caramel apple sangria (delish!).

happy thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a quiet affair in our house this year.  Jacob had to work in the morning so the kids and I watched the parade and then made turkey hats.

Five little turkeys!

We had a delicious dinner full of our holiday favorites: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, and OLIVES!

After dinner we all headed outside and turned on the Christmas lights for the first time this season.  Even though it was just the seven of us and we had a quiet Thanksgiving at home, it was the perfect opportunity to reflect on what we are thankful for and kick-off the Christmas season.

thanksgiving fun

The week of Thanksgiving was a whirlwind of fun!!  Grandpa came back to town, Auntie Janne came back from her conference in Atlanta, and Uncle Adam came to play, too!!   While I thought that they were excited to see me, all they really wanted was to love on Miss Ellie.

Ellie is perfectly content to take naps on whoever is holding her.

Uncle Adam had to fight for a turn with Ellie-- and then didn't want to give her up!!

Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with our traditional McDonald's breakfast!

Silly kids playing with Grandpa.

Thanksgiving decor and the two tables- one for kids and one for adults!

I use Aunt Karen's olive plate for Thanksgiving every year (as well as make her stuffing) and it reminds me of her every time.  Most of my childhood memories of Thanksgiving are tied to her, her house, and her cooking so it's always fun to think back to Thanksgivings from years ago.

I'm so thankful that this Thanksgiving was full of the people I love.  It was the first time in several years that the whole family got to be together and we were able to celebrate the newest member as well!

thanksgiving fun

Thanksgiving was just the six of us this year and it was a nice change of pace.  Jacob went to McDonald's (actually two because the first one was closed for the holiday) to get our traditional breakfast of Sausage McMuffins.  Since we don't have cable we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on a laptop.  While the screen was smaller than we're used to, it was a really enjoyable morning!

Breakfast and parade watching!  :)

This is one of the first years (or maybe THE first) that we've still had our Thanksgiving decor up (not the Christmas decor) on Thanksgiving

In the afternoon Jacob put up lights on our tree out front while the boys rode bikes in the lots across the street.

Since none of our kids are Thanksgiving food fans, we decided to go more "Southern" with our menu: pulled pork sandwiches, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, broccoli, and cole slaw

Thanksgiving cuties enjoying dinner :)

Buttermilk.  Apple Buttermilk.  Pumpkin.

Yep, three pies (really four since there was an extra apple buttermilk) for six people.

Happy Thanksgiving!

thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving it was just the six of us; we had a nice, relaxing day and a wonderful dinner!

Sweet Ben and Little Miss Lexie (carrying on the family tradition of "olive fingers")

After dinner we decorated our Christmas tree.  The kids were excited to put up the ornaments they got at Disney World this year!

Lexie found a ballerina alligator ornament and HAD to have it.  Since she's obsessed with both alligators and ballet we figured it was a great representation of her 2011.

Jacob putting the star on the tree!

The kids always get Christmas pj's from Grandma and Grandpa and wear them while we decorate the tree and then throughout the holiday season.  I love getting pictures of them in matching pj's since it doesn't happen often!

Alexandra. Christopher. Nicholas. Benjamin.

After a fun-filled day we enjoyed some pie and then it was off to bed.

day 246 (2): happy thanksgiving

We were excited to have Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Janne, and Uncle Adam join us for Thanksgiving this year. It was definitely weird to not be celebrating with Jacob but having family here made the day more bearable.

We kept our usual tradition of getting McDonald's for breakfast.  We swung through the drive-thru for our sausage mcmuffins with egg and hashbrowns (and I was very disappointed to find out that sausage mcmuffins with egg are no longer on the dollar menu- shows how often I go!) and headed home to watch the parade!

Lexie and Ben waiting for the parade.

The grown-ups (minus the photographer)

After the parade it was time to start cooking.  I made all the sides (stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean and corn casserole, and cranberries) the day before so we just had to put the turkey and ham in and then reheat sides.  It's so much easier doing it that way and we were all able to enjoy the afternoon.

Stephanie and Luke came over (and brought the most delicious pigs in a blanket) just in time for appetizers.  In fact, I think we enjoyed the appetizers so much that no one was really hungry, though we did all eat dinner!

Grandpa made the turkey and did a great job!

Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures of dinner or afterwards.  However, we did all have a great time! 

26: happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! We all woke up nice and early this morning and Jacob took Christopher and Nicholas to McDonald's to pick up breakfast. It's our family tradition to have McDonald's for breakfast while we watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

the Albaeck kids ready for the parade

Lexie really likes McDonald's hashbrowns!

Smile for the camera, Ben!

Look! A balloon!!

After the parade it was time to get the turkey ready. This was our first time doing a whole turkey without my mother there to assist (i.e. clean and stuff the turkey). I actually cleaned and prepped the turkey and only cried a little! :) We made our turkey in the Charbroil Infrared Turkey Fryer this year and it was amazing!!

Ready to cook!

The turkey is half-way done!! And smells really good!!

Ready to eat! Nice and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!

While Grandma was in town she bought pilgrim masks for the kids to decorate. They colored them while we were finishing up dinner.

Pilgrim Nick

Ben didn't quite get it.

And Lexie used hers as a fan!

And FINALLY dinner was ready. Christopher insists on wearing a shirt and tie (and pants) whenever we have company over for dinner. And then he needed a picture (for Grandma) of himself dressed up.

Christopher

Continuing the "olive finger" tradition.

Lexie thought it was pretty funny.

Caramel toffee cheesecake for dessert.

Grandma and Grandpa sent us a Thanksgiving package with "Pin the Hat on the Turkey" which we play every Thanksgiving. We're a real Army family now- this year we used Jacob's gunner's googles (with the dust cover) as a blindfold.

I'm going to win!!

This is silly, Daddy!!

Where's the turkey?

RAWR!!!!

While those turkeys were playing the Thanksgiving game, Nick and Colin were busy playing Call of Duty! Christopher and Jacob got in on the video game fun and Ben and Lexie headed to bed. All in all, it was a great Thanksgiving! :)

Colin and Nick

Goodnight Pilgrims!