Turkey Day at the Becks

This year, we were all on our own here in Raleigh. I think we've only had one other year like this when my parents were out West and we didn't travel anywhere. We made a few attempts at inviting someone over to eat with us, but they all had plans. I'm sure we could have found someone to eat with us with a little more persistence, but we were both OK eating with just our family this year. It made me think a lot about Thanksgivings past. Thanksgiving is a very family-oriented holiday, and I feel like we celebrated it just the way it was meant to be celebrated. We all discussed our many blessings, and had a relaxed time. There was no stress, no travel, no drama, just yummy food and good times. I had cooked a couple of things each day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so on Thursday all I really had to do was pull it all together, and it worked great. Matt smoked the turkey this year, and it was FABULOUS! I fear we'll never go back to oven-roasted again. The leftovers were just as good if not better.

So here's part of the buffet. We ate turkey, rolls, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green salad, jello salad, and green beens. Don't let the blackened turkey fool you, it was amazing!
Here's a yummy plate of food. And the beverage was cranberry juice mixed with sprite. Lizzy, our little southerner, calls everything "coke." When her drink was gone, she'd bat her eyelashes and say "more coke peeez, Mommy?"

Samuel has turned into my little gangsta, especially when posing for pictures.

Even Missy got to join in the feast. Have I even blogged about her? Jeez, I'm so far behind. But let me just say, she's one of our little blessings of the year. And I don't really like cats, but she is cool.

Mason getting started with a few rolls.

Lucy picking her teeth.

Lucy lovin' the Jello.

Lizzy really needs to learn to chew with her mouth closed.

I tried and tried to get Lucy to wear her cute turkey dress I made last year, but she wouldn't so I put it on Lizzy. Besides being kind of long, it was darling on her.

More pics of the buffet.

Boys loved the turkey legs.

Me posing by the pies. We made four pies for 6 people. Fresh apple, pumpkin, vanilla cream with blueberries and bananas, and chocolate pecan. All 100% from scratch. No cool whip, no instant pudding, no pre-made pie crusts, nothing. Well, I did use canned pumpkin for the pumpkin pie; not the pie filling but the plain pumpkin. That doesn't really count I don't think.
I just heard today that apparently there is an annual "pie night" for some families in the ward. They all bring a pie and it's a general night of pie sampling. We've never been invited. That's OK though, we can just continue having our own pie nights. It's Sunday, and as of right now, all that remains is one slice of the chocolate pecan and two slices of the cream pie. Here at the Becks, EVERY night is pie night.

Kids enjoying pie.

Well, that's about all. As always, we have so much for which to be grateful. Sometimes I can't believe I have these four healthy, amazing children, and an awesome husband, and for me personally I have music around me all the time and I have my voice. Life is good.