Thanksgiving.

We had a pretty awesome Thanksgiving this year. Tyler's mom, Kim, and step-dad, Kenny, came down and visited us. It was the first time I had made a Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, I have helped my mom make one, but being the one in charge was something new. I had to do all of the shopping (as Tyler's parents did not get here until the night before), pick the recipes, create the menu, make the pies, etc. I got our turkey at Whole Foods. It was a decent price considering it was a free-range turkey grown on a family-owned farm without any added hormones, water, etc. I really wanted to make a tasty turkey and for me quality is more important than quantity (meaning a cheap turkey, with over large pumped up breasts, and a sad life in a cage). Call me a hippie, but I really just want to eat real food that does not harm me, anyone else and most especially Elanor. Sorry for that rant.  Our turkey was delicious. I soaked it in an apple cider brine (recipe from a  book from my aunt)  for 24 hours. They day before I also made three pies, pumpkin, blueberry-cranberry, and Chocolate -Peanut Butter. 

 "Give Thanks" banner that I found here.

 The table all set with food waiting for the turkey to be done!

The menu: Turkey with an Apple Cider Glaze

Bread, Apple, Bacon and Caramelized Onion stuffing

Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Sautéed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon

Braised Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Rolls

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Pumpkin, Blueberry-Cranberry, and Chocolate-Peanut Butter pies

Freshly whipped cream

Tyler's mom helped out so much! She made the brussels sprouts (it was her recipe), the sweet potatoes, gravy, and we did a combined effort on the stuffing. The meal was a success and so delicious!!!

On Friday, we took them down to Temple Square to see the lights. It was the first night they were turned on, so there were a ton of people down there.

Elanor started saying "Oh, wow" this past weekend. She loved the lights and kept saying it. It was so cute. When I turned on the camera she did not do it quite as much, but you get the idea.

 It was beautiful.

We also went to the park while Tyler's parents were here. The playground was under construction, so the baby swings were not available, but Elanor still had a lot of fun.

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend and we are so glad that Kim/Mom/Mema and Kenny/Papa were able to come visit. It was a lot of fun!