One Fresh Turkey

I know people have varying opinions about the Thanksgiving turkey. For some, it's an art form that takes days to create. For others, it's just some meat bought at a local store that you heat up 30 min prior to eating. I'm closer to the latter, but someday hope to be able to cook a wonderful turkey. This year, hosting the whole family at my house, it was just too much stress. I must say though, the Honey Baked Ham pre-cooked turkey we had was absolutely moist and delicious. It will be very hard to come close to that myself someday.

To me, it's as much about family time as it is the turkey. With our wonderful weather, we were able to get outside and enjoy some yard games before the meal commenced. And as much as I hate to admit it, I was somehow schooled by both my husband and mother in ladder golf. I'll go with 'luck' being on their side for those games.

I cooked/prepared the majority of the meal this year with my mom helping with a couple items and Summer making a corn dish as well. I honestly thought I would have been so much more stressed than I was, but it wasn't that bad! I tried to make what I could the day before and then just baked the rest while Drew was napping.

Once our tummies were full, the football games were turned on and Gramma chased Drew.

Dad had many visitors while trimming the last of the turkey; this includes two with four legs and one with two legs. Unfortunately, the two with four legs didn't get near as many bites as the cuter, two-legged one.

After enjoying pumpkin pie, Drew was given a bath and put to bed. Just like how the turkey is important for some, special drinks are a tradition during the holidays for me. We made my pumpkin martini's again for all to enjoy. And for the last tradition, a card game was brought out. You see, my brother and I are extremely competitive... about everything. Card games have been a major part of family traditions growing up and we love to continue them when we're all together.

New iPhone panorama picture app shot!

I won't tell you who won the card game (because I might or might not still be pouting), but I won with the pre-cooked turkey... that's for sure.