Scenes From Thanksgiving Break

Hello from the other side of Thanksgiving!  Remember when Thanksgivings were so sad because we couldn't get together with family and friends, and then this year we could?  And it was awesome.  

Praying grace and giving thanks.

My brother who lives in New Hampshire hosted the meal, and 28 of us were able to attend.  That's just my parents and siblings + spouses and their kids.  One sister couldn't make it so we were down five people there and two of my nephews didn't come as one is in grad school and one went to his girlfriend's family.  JP also wasn't there because he is in Austria until December 4th but we facetimed him while he was *unknowingly* at a big Thanksgiving dinner and dance the school threw for the students.  He's below the arrow, dancing in his Austrian garb:

Like a good big Irish family, everyone brings a few dishes to share and I need to note that I don't have to double/triple my recipes because there is always soooo much food.  I made Chocolate Chip Spiced Cookies which were amaaaazing and I am definitely making them again for the cookie swap at work in December.

I also made ten pounds of mashed potatoes with bacon and cheese, no recipe because it wasn't my favorite.  And finally two Apple + Pear Crisps (minus the orange juice because I don't like it):
The crisp to fruit ratio is just divine, so much crumble!  See that little guy in the background keeping himself busy?  He was making a turkey out of perler beads WITH NO INSTRUCTIONS, just completely freestyling it at the ripe old age of 6 years old.How adorable is that?

On Black Friday, we decorate for Christmas:

Both Maggie and I wanted to be intentional and particular about what ornaments we hung up this year, so she was very bossy while handing out the chosen few to the little guys and my successor has been officially named Maggie. 

The Willow Tree Nativity is my favorite.

Lucy the dog likes Buddy the elf.

This Fontanini Nativity was a wedding gift from one of the priests who married us.

The kids have their cherished Little People Nativity and then we have one last outdoor nativity in the front yard.  Do I have a nativity addiction...or just collection?  It's a fine line ;)

Would you believe that the kids still expected dinner after decorating all day?  The nerve!  

I made some pizzas, which I think I have down to a science now.  Three balls of dough left out to rise all day + one small jar of tomato sauce + one huge bag of mozzarella cheese + basil from our AeroGarden.  Cook at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, rotating pizzas every 5 minutes between the three shelves.

Oh wait - that's another nativity set, but it's Maggie's nativity and handmade stable that she received from her godfather...I told you she was my successor ;)

We did zero shopping in person (except for groceries) and a lot of shopping online, watched too much football, ran and walked many miles, and relaxed unapologetically.  It was a wonderful and much needed Thanksgiving break.  I hope yours was too :)