thanksgiving

In answer to Crazymama's questions....

how do you do thanksgiving dinner?
My family (back in the day when they all lived in AZ) would eat at about 2:00 in the afternoon. After dinner, we would sit around and talk and then have dessert. After dessert comes the cleaning. Then later that night we watch Christmas Vacation… and eat more pie. These days, Thanksgiving seems to be a little different every year. Just depends on where I am.

where do you go for thanksgiving? stay home? in-laws? travel?
I typically travel. Most years I have lived away from 'home' (or family)… so I would typically go to Arizona for Thanksgiving. My dad is still in Arizona, but everyone else has up and left, so I don’t make that pilgrimage quite like I used to. Now I usually go see a brother or sister who lives in a different state. This year? Indiana is the destination. Because why wouldn’t my brother live there.

if you bring something, what do you bring?
You know, people just don’t expect that of me. My obsession with wanting to try and make recipes is VERY recent. But when asked, I will throw together (on site) a banana cream pie.

what “makes” thanksgiving dinner for you? (if it’s missing its just not the same.)
Homemade rolls. With strawberry freezer jam. If you don’t have that – forget it.

what grosses you out?
How much I can eat. And I agree with Julie… I’m not a huge fan of the giblets.

gravy preference? brown? turkey? homemade?
Never met a gravy I didn’t like. My favorites would be brown and chicken gravy. Homemade, from a pouch, whatever.

mashed potatoes? from scratch or instant?
I heart mashed potatoes. If they are of the brown skinned variety, then no skin please. If they are red? Bring on the skins. From scratch. For sure.

do you actually eat yams?
Ew.

what about cranberries?
You know, I don’t even get the whole cranberry Thanksgiving thing. They’ve never graced our table and really, who needs it? There’s so much more going on that who could be bothered with nasty cranberries…

pie? what is a “must have” at every thanksgiving dessert table?
Ohhh. Where do I begin? Pumpkin. Of course. And banana cream pie. I LOVE pecan pie, but sadly I am the only one in my family who will touch it.

store bought pies or from scratch?
Pumpkin can be store bought (they never turn out as good when we make them). I’m so ok with a store bought pumpkin pie. As for the banana cream, it HAS to be homemade. In fact, the pumpkin is the only pie that can be purchased.

whipped cream from scratch, cool whip, or from a can?
Cool whip baby. But homemade is really good… again, we couldn’t be bothered.

What about you?? How do you spend your Thanksgiving?

hogwarts halloween...

No one throws a party like Jed. No one. This year, Jed had his annual Halloween party at his mansion/church in Ogden. And it was fantastic. His place is the old Pingrey mansion and Methodist church and the setting alone is enough to convince you you’re on movie set. The church sanctuary is picturesque (and has been used in the filming of some television series) because of its stained glass and old organ (one of the oldest in the state). Can’t go wrong with a backdrop like that.

Two years ago, when the party was in Liberty, I had invited Nikki and Brendan. It was the best Halloween party I had ever been to because it is reminiscent of an old fashioned party… Mini haunted house, mummy wrapping, caramel apples, kids of all ages, adults of all ages, costume contests and everything. This year was the second year at the mansion and church and it was a Hogwarts theme. I took my mom and met Nikki and Brendan there. I also invited Tracee (one of the girls I work with) and her cute family to go. I love going because I get to see a bunch of great friends I don’t typically have a chance to see that often and the parties are always so fun. They had the Hogwarts Express to start out and then into the church chapel for the sorting hat. After the sorting hat, you moved into the great hall where you picked yourself up a bowl of soup and a cup of cider. (And if your me, then you go ahead and eat 2 more donuts than the 3 you’ve already eaten that day…) They also had set up Diagon Alley, Potions, Herbology, and other little activities for the kiddos. After we left, my mom mentioned how much detail went into the party. Nothing was overlooked. (Of course, Jed could put me out of a job any day of the week….) And everyone of every age group looked as though they were all having a good time. And that’s saying a little bit, seeing as more than 300 people showed up.

So, thank you thank you Jed for the spectacular party. We had the best time!!


I dressed up as Indiana Jones (I’m all about the costumes I don’t have to spend any money on.. yes, I do just own a leather hat and knee high lace up boots). The only thing I ended up having to buy was a whip, which turned out to be foam. Because why wouldn't it be foam. And it was only 4 bucks. Yay! Nikki and Brendan were Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange.


Tracee, Darren, and Ryder were Fred, Daphne, and Scooby. Ryder was so freakin cute.