Thanksgiving 2012

We were very blessed to have Thanksgiving with Arianne, Gary, Madsen, Eden, Aspen and Rhys.  They invited us to their house but I asked them to come to our home, because it is bigger.  We love this family and Arianne and Gary prepared lots of delicious food.  Todd and I can truthfully say that the turkey was the best that we have ever eaten!  Arianne did a terrific job on that 27 1/2 lb bird.  She put it in a salt brine,  put butter under the skin on the breast and had it seasoned with herbs from her garden to perfection!  Then her stuffing made from homemade whole wheat bread was so good that even Shay had seconds and he is not a stuffing guy.  Gary had a fruit salad and a delicious shrimp salsa hors'devor, they also brought spiced corn and apple and pumpkin pie all from the bounties of their garden.  Todd made his Hamblin fruit salad and we made the spinach salad, lemon meringue and pecan pie, ham, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes to go with Ariannes delicious gravy and it was a majoy FEAST!

 This is what the Hamblin's do on Thanksgiving morning when a good song comes on.  Devree is dancing and Shay is emptying out the dishwasher and Todd is frying bacon for our spinach salad.

 Devree is dancing to "I'm sexy and I know it!"

 Dane is laughing at Devree and her antics as she is dancing.

 Todd is making sure that bacon is just crispy enough.

 Shay barely waking up without his shirt of course.

 Here I am doing my "I workout" on the same song.  I am pretty proud of myself.  I have been consistently working out for the last 2 weeks at 6 times a week.

 Devree made our turkey cheese ball with raisin eyes, red pepper waddle and candy corn beak.

 Another view.

 We have our "Elder Hamblin Bear" sitting at our table already to eat.  This bear was given to us annonymously last year for Christmas.  It has Noble's voice telling us Merry Christmas and he is dressed as a missionary with white shirt, tie, nametag and he is holding a Book of Mormon in one hand.

 
 Devree and Aspen showing her missing teeth she is proud of.
 From left and right there is Dane, Shay, Rhys, Eden and Madsen having a pillow fight on the trampoline.

 Todd finally getting to relax after a lot of working getting everything ready.  The puzzle table is set up in the background too.

 Gary and Arianne brought lots of delicious food.  Arianne cooked the turkey.  A 27 1/2 lb turkey!

 This is getting the family ready for their picture.

 Now we got the whole family.   And what an adorable family!  Rhys brought his hat he made.

 Trial one.  Todd closes his eyes and Dane mades a face!

 Now this one may go on our Christmas card.

 

We did puzzles, played games and lots of jumping on the trampoline for the kids.  It was a peaceful, thankful kind of day.  We are truly blessed with everything anyone could want in life.  The gospel of Jesus Christ, food, clothing, and great friends.