Gobble Gobble

KITCHEN CAPERS: Though we didn't host a Thanksgiving dinner, we still cooked up a storm. We made a cheesecake, some Chex Mix, deviled eggs, assembled a couple of relish trays, made rolls and corn muffins and a really awesome green bean casserole and last, but not least, made some ridiculous turkey cupcakes.

The process involved making a dozen regular sized and mini sized cupcakes from scratch. Those were frosted with homemade chocolate frosting, The turkey's face was a candy corn stuck in the middle of the mini cupcake for its beak. A small strip of red fruit leather was its wattle, and I cut mini marshmallows in half for its eyes.

The tail feathers were candy corn "glued" (with royal icing) on a thing ginger cookie. Then it all had to be gingerly stacked on the big, base cupcake.
DINNER TIME: We loaded the turkeys and other stuff into the car and headed over to Columbia City, to the home of the kids' yoga buddy.

There was lots of free play time for the kids, and there were several "formal" games played, too (Apples to Apples, a couple of varieties of 'go fish,' Jenga, Round Up, and Toss Your Cookies to name a few). They also read a number of books.
The hosts had posted a paper tree on their dining room wall and guests got to write things they were thankful for on leaves and fruit that were hung on the tree. CJ's one and only contribution was "water." :) Essential to life, that's a good thing to be thankful for, I'd say!
Annabelle probably filled out a dozen leaves. Two of her "thankful for" things were 'ponys' and 'fireys' (fairys). :)

ANOTHER TRADITION: When we got back home the kids (and Kirby) settled onto the couch with pillows and blankets and watched "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."

CJ just looooves the part where Lucy pulls the football out when Charlie Brown is trying to kick it. High comedy, indeed!

When the gang of Peanuts was gathered 'round the ping pong table 'feasting' on toast, popcorn, pretzels and jelly beans, CJ remarked, "That guy invited himself!"

Christian and I both laughed and explained to CJ "that guy" is a girl, Peppermint Patty.