Thanksgiving 2011 (and also: brother is in town days #2 and #3)

Wednesday November 23, Jon and I had a little day trip again over to Seattle. We ate sushi at Japonessa, explored pike place and walked around the streets of Seattle... in the freezing cold pouring rain. It was fitting for how people would typically think of Seattle (cold, rainy, gloomy). After spending the afternoon there, we went home so that I could start prepping for Thanksgiving with my brother. We made all of the mashed potatoes (mashed sweet and mashed garlic), cut up all of the green beans/mushrooms/beets, and made an apple crisp. On top of it all, we made more fish for dinner that night- Black cod. 

The next day, Justin and I got up and worked out before starting all of the Thanksgiving preparations. We were determined not to spend all day in the kitchen again. So, we worked out, came home, started the (much smaller than last year) turkey, showered, and then starting cooking more. Items we made? 2 types of stuffing, normal and gluten free, a healthy green bean casserole, roasted beets, and, of course, turkey. Everyone else who was coming was responsible for bringing the other Thanksgiving items. 

By about 2pm we were just sitting on the couch relaxing waiting for our guests to arrive. It was fabulous. 

A few shots of our stuff: 

The little bird.

Justin in the kitchen cooking.

Green beans and mushrooms to become (eventually) the guts of the green bean casserole.

Our funky beets (we got a bunch of them from our organic farm delivery on the day of Thanksgiving).

Gluten free stuffing.

At about 5pm we sat down to eat. I was having some much fun talking to everyone that I totally spaced on taking a picture of our table or anyone else that night. Bummer.  We had a good group this year- 8 people for dinner, with another 3 to join us after dinner for dessert. It was a late night full of shenanigans and, well, we can just leave it at that. Needless to say, everyone who was there that night probably has a very special memory of Thanksgiving 2011!

Following Thanksgiving our weekend looked like this:

We decorated for Christmas... (YES! For being on the ball)

...and we worked off some of the Thanksgiving goodies. Again, YES!

But, before that, we had another trip to Leavenworth to show my brother the cute little town before he headed back to Missouri...