We had - once again - an amazing & fabulous Thanksgiving celebration! It's become tradition to have a big breakfast together (with many of us still in our pj's). We had a houseful of people - all the kids, my dad and Doug's Aunt Carol and Uncle Dave from Phoenix. Our little house was overflowing - with people, with pets & with love!
Being the east coast girl that I am, the Macy's Day parade is a staple of Thanksgiving - right up there with the turkey, stuffing & gravy! I can still remember going to the parade in person with my dad & my pop-pop (my moms' dad) when I was little. It's one of my only memories of my pop-pop so watching the parade connects me a little bit to him. I am trying to instill this tradition into my girls - and hte Sesame Street float got them hooked (at least for a few minutes!)
Because all four of our children were around and awake at the same time, I was a bit insistent that we try to get some families pictures. One day - I WILL get one picture of all six of us looking at the camera, smiling with normal poses - until then..here are some takes & out-takes!
Aunt Carol is Doug's moms sister. Doug's mom (Margey) went to be with Jesus in 2000 so I never met here. However, everyone in his family tells me if I've met Aunt Carol, I've come pretty close to meeting Margey! We had the absolute best time with them - they loved on the girls, helped around the kitchen & the house and really made our Thanksgiving complete this year. We're holding a room reservation for them for next Thanksgiving!
The "Tucker" side of this Yingling family - it was almost like having Margey here with us. What a very special day
My theory on the Turkey is "more is better" - so even though we only had 15 people, we had a 22.5 pound bird. My cooking process starts Tuesday night with an overnight brine, all day drying from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, then a quick 3 hour high heat start roast. I develop quite a relationship with my bird by then - and yes, it tasted as good as it looks (and after the soup for Saturday night's party and two meals of leftovers, it's gone already!).
Our friend Kris brought the bread - there just aren't words for this....
Katie's first official Thanksgiving meal - she loved it!
Our neighbors Art & Linda joined as as well...Art's missing from this picture as he was busy in the kitchen cleaning up. We really do have the best neighbors around!
The Sanchez side of our family stopped by for snacks in the early afternoon. We actually had all of their kids and all of our kids in the same place, dressed nice and cooperative (sort of!) - a little bit more to be thankful for!
It was such a special Thanksgiving. Having Katie here with us filled my heart so much. Of all the things we have been blessed with this year, of all the gifts the Lord has given us, of all the good things that happened - I am the most thankful that the Lord has brought our family together. That He chose us to be her family and that He brought her to us. That He delivered her from that place in China into our arms. Thankful that His redeeming love is transforming her every day into this precious beautiful little girl!
