Before Thursday I had three full days of work - usually this part of the year a lot of people take vacation, and many did last week, but there were still a lot of people at work, and a lot of meetings for me to attend. Combined with handbells on Monday, salsa band on Tuesday, and house preparation Wednesday I was glad to get to Thursday!
(see the complete Thanksgiving photo album here)
 |
| Thanksgiving 2008 |
Thursday morning friend Shelley came over around 10 (really it was about 10:25, but that's 10 for Shelley :) and became Erin's cooking assistant. I ran around the house and finished picking up (really Erin did the majority of the cleaning work the day before so there wasn't much to do) and waited for everyone else to arrive - mom, sister Erin & brother-in-law Chris and the two nieces, plus Shelley's Ryan. After some french press coffee (a first for Shelley), Shelley and I decided 11:46am was an acceptable time to start into the wine, and we had wine and goldfish while Erin finished with the cooking (the goldfish were a kid-friendly topping to the brocoli bake, but in all honesty, I think the adults enjoyed it more).
By 1:00 everything was either done, in the oven, or otherwise ready to go, and everyone started arriving then. Keagann was SO excited to see the cats, and knew them by name already - we had to hunt for Madame Sparkles and it took awhile before she'd come out and see everyone. Laynie was cautious but finally gave the kitties some "loves".
At 3:00 (the time we had actually originally picked!) we all sat down to eat. What a meal! Apricot-glazed turkey, cornbread stuffing, quartered boiled red potatoes, broccoli-cheese bake, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole (really almost a dessert, topped with candied pecans), and apple and pumpkin pies for dessert. We had to wait quite awhile to even eat dessert because everyone was so full. We finally did have a slice of pie around 7:30 before Shelley and Ryan had to go home. By then it was getting close to bedtime, so we watched some movies and the kids were off to bed (Keagann insisted on sleeping with grandma). Erin and I got in a game of Warcraft before going to bed.
Friday morning Erin got up early and made orange-glazed french toast for everyone, and bluerries for Laynie. Chris had to get home to get an estimate for his pickup as it had been in an accident recently, but everyone else stayed around for the day. After breakfast and a little "snack" lunch, we headed up to the park - Keagann was SO excited to get up there, and it actually was an ok day, a little windy but nice and sunny and not too cold. We coaxed Keagann back home with the promise of hot cocoa, and by then it was getting time for the big Nebraska vs. Colorado game - a Thanksgiving Friday tradition in the Bye household going back forever (I used to host everyone over at our house growing up). Nebraska won the game in an exciting finish with a 57-yard field goal by Alex Henery, making Bo Pelini's first season 8-4, after last year's horrible 5-7 record (they're actually technically co-champions of the Big 12 north although they lose the tiebreaker to Missouri). They will be off to the Gator Bowl on January 1st.
Erin was meeting friend Caryn for dinner that night, and everyone else was planning on leaving around 7, so after a Papa John's dinner for the girls, we packed up their car and sent them off to home. Caryn and Erin came over after dinner and we chatted and played Mario Kart before I went to bed (they stayed up quite awhile longer).
Saturday - no houseguests and nothing scheduled - it was almost too easy! We went and grabbed coffee and went to Home Depot to look at a couple more things we are looking at doing in the house (a few more shelves, some cabinets for the laundry room, and I want to replace the kitchen sink with a long-neck pull-out sprayer). We intentionally avoided shopping this weekend, and after reading about the guy that was killed as people in a Wal-Mart trampled him Friday morning when the store opened, I think I've decided never to participate in that ugly day of the year ever again. Saturday night Erin went to see friend Dan home for the weekend, and I went about redoing all of the samba shares on my server so that we could more easily share music and pictures across our computers (exciting I know). I also watched the Oklahoma/Oklahoma State game, which turned out to be not much of a game. I officially now hate the BCS, as Oklahoma ended up #2, and Texas #3, despite the fact that Texas beat them on a neutral field and they have the same record. I'm hoping Missouri wins the Big 12 championship so that Texas will possibly be in the national title game.
One last shameless self-promotion before I go - this Saturday, December 6th, my salsa band "Fuego" will be playing at the Blue Moon Ballroom, sponsored by the Rochester Salsa Community's "Diego Sanchez" weekend. Admission is $10 for the dance (8:30-11:30) and $15 if you come at 7:30-8:30 for the dance lesson given by Diego Sanchez. Unlike most Blue Moon nights, this event is for 18 and older, and will have a cash bar, so this is your opportunity to come and have a dance lesson by a salsa dance champion, hear my band, and have some drinks!
No comments:
Post a Comment