Thanksgiving 2010

I am super bummed that I didn't get any pictures from Thanksgiving this year. I don't know what I was thinking! No scratch that, I know, I was cooking all day long!!!! We stayed home this year because the boys had been really sick with strep throat and we just didn't feel like traveling would be good for them. Mike and I decided to do Thanksgiving at our house and have my Mom and brother over. Papa and Grandma were away on a much needed vacation to San Francisco. My Mom came over early to help us and we just cooked our little booties off all day long. The night before Mike and I brined the turkey in a big 5 gallon bucket. Mike bbq'd the turkey the next day, it was the best, most flavorful juicy turkey ever. We will never cook another turkey any other way, and that includes brining it. It is really the key to a moist flavorful turkey. We had all the standard fixins. Turkey, mashed potatoes and Gravy, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie...It all turned out so good. I was really impressed with us!

This time last year my Mom had just been diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. It was a really hard time of year for us all. What a difference a year makes, she finished up her treatment in April this year and so far has been doing great. So this year was extra special for us and I found myself feeling more thankful than ever for her and her life. It was truly so special to have her over for dinner and to see her so healthy and full of life.