Thanksgiving

There is much going on here in our little Capitola Village by the Sea. Everyone is in a festive mood. Lots of our friends in the neighborhood are staying home this holiday season. It makes it more fun. I am smelling lots of wood fires, yummy foods cooking in kitchens, friends and neighbors chatting around the condo complex. I just love this time of year and I love our little community of friends.

This year hubs and I decided to change things up a bit for Thanksgiving. Instead of going about it in a traditional way. We have opted to stay home and create a Thanksgiving Day with just our little family, us and the boys. I made Sage Stuffing (some of it will be used for the Turkey Leftover Stuffing Meat Loaf that I make) roasted and pureed a pumpkin for Pumpkin Curry Soup that I made today as well as some other trimmings. I will post all recipes over at Capitola Recipes.

We played "Pin the Hat on the Turkey" The boys got a kick out of daddy and I being blindfolded.

Our results. Um...dad's hat did not quite make it on the turkey.

Unfortunately, I got sick this week. I have had a hard time staying healthy this year. I got really sick earlier in the year and I have not been the same since. I keep battling ear infections. In any event, don't really want to bore anyone...I was able to rest inbetween preparations. The boys are at an age when they understand about holidays and as long as I keep it festive they really do not care how it is presented. At school Jettson has been learning about the First Thanksgiving. He understands what it means to be thankful. I asked him what he was thankful for and he said, "I am thankful for you mom." I asked him why he was thankful for me. He said "oh, just because you do nice things for us." It was a sweet response.

We colored our own placemats. I think that daddy was having the boys make birthday cards for mommy. Owen had a blast with some squiggly eyes, that is what is on his forehead.

What a goofy child!

While the boys did arts and crafts...I was busy roasting our bird. I finally, got the right size bird and used the right rub and basting. I have roasted a turkey so many ways, fried it, brined it, stuffed it, smoked it. I am finding just being simple is really the best for me and hubs and boys gave it a huge thumbs up. I made a paste (a whole cube of butter, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning...that was it!) and rubbed the bird down with it. I let it cook for three hours at 325. I did not open the oven the whole time. At hour three I took a peek and basted the bird. At hour 4 1/2 I took another peek, basted again...then uncovered the bird for the remander of the time (6 hours for a 15 1/2 lb bird). I let the bird rest for about 1/2 hour.

After dinner we took a walk at Pogonip in Santa Cruz, CA. I did not take my camera. If you live in the area and you have never taken a walk in Pogonip I highly reccomend it! It is a great place to take kids. The trail is paved which means little feet are able to stay on the trail without getting into brush.

We finished off the evening with pumpkin pie, movies and games. It was a great holiday. One of our best. It was simple and quiet.

They love playing games.