Oh Thanksgiving!

So I've been crazy busy getting ready for the in laws to arrive and once they did on Wednesday morning, I've been crazy busy entertaining, completing work tasks and getting ready for Thanksgiving. I am SO mad at myself that I've been too busy to even pull out the camera since J's parents have been here! I've missed taking shots of SO much since they've been here. Oh well...I will have to make sure to make time to do that starting tomorrow.

Now that it's Thanksgiving Eve (well, now that I check my watch it actually IS Thanksgiving), my sister and family have arrived, my oldest is finally here, my parents should arrive from Tulsa tomorrow and I've completed some odds and ends all day in preparation for tomorrow's feast.

And a feast it is. I don't know WHY I decided to make so much (or why the MIL is making so many appetizers), but who cares! :) It's time to get our grub on and NO ONE will go home hungry this weekend.

Let's talk food:

Appetizers:
Antipasta
Shrimp cocktail
Chipotle cream cheese dip
Veggie tray
Sugar Nuts

Main Courses:
Turkey + Stuffing
Spiral Honey Ham

Sides:
Mashed Potatoes with Homemade Giblet Gravy
Twice Baked Potatoes
Parmesan Garlic green beans
Buttered Corn
Homemade Cranberry Sauce (chunky and smooth)
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

Desserts:
Homemade Peach Cobbler
An abundance of Sweet Potato Pies
Cherry Pie
Ice Cream
Homemade Molasses Cookies
Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Homemade Pizzelles
Brownies
German Chocolate Cake
Yellow Butter Cake

Drinks:
Wine, beer (including one our family faves - Tripel Karmeliet!), soda, juice and cocktails

Too much food? I'm sending leftovers home with guests! hahah

My mother in law also wanted to have an Italian dinner this Friday. I'm not sure what all she had planned for us but baked clam shells, her special spaghetti and meatballs, some sort of salmon, & shrimp scampi were mentioned!!! :)

Saturday she plans to make us all BBQ ribs with some homemade BBQ sauce she's been making the last couple of days. SERIOUSLY. They've made more trips to the grocery store in their short time here than I have! My Mother in Law has fallen in love with Central Market which I guess is not near where she lives in NH. She's been in town for a week now and had been to Central Market 3x (and wants to go more). I feel awful that they are spending so much money on food, but this is something they love to do. They are self professed "Foodies" and food stuff makes them happy. So who am I to stand in the way of their happiness?

I will try to make sure to take more pictures since I'm losing precious moments and I want to capture this time with them.

Well, it's almost 1 a.m. now and I'm off to finish 1/2 of the prep for the 2x baked sweet potatoes and put the turkey in the oven. We like to cook it low and slow around here for a juicy turkey and when you wake up in the morning - it SMELLS like Thanksgiving all through the house. I can't think of a better way to wake up, can you? ;)

Have a WONDERFULLY HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 

Be safe in your travels, count your blessings and enjoy the time with your families! 

Love to each and everyone