November 29th ~ Oh Christmas Tree!

Headed to Hagg Farm to get our tree today! This will be our first REAL tree together and Bailey's first Christmas tree :-)


Riding the hay ride out to the trees


She liked that this one had a pink tag in it ;-)


We wanted her to pick out the tree but she kept saying no to them all. We picked the first one she kept touching and didn't say no to!

Greg cutting it down


Bailey was more interested in digging in the dirt :-)

Heading back to the hayride down

Picking out trees is hard work!

Watching our tree get shaken & baled


Checking out the animals and visiting Santa




Target after for some ornaments & coffee :-)

Long day! Passed out on the way to pick up Papa for the Civil War game. I've never seen her fall asleep playing with her hair before, reminded me of Elle :-)


helping with decorations with her dirt & peppermint stained face :-)

November 28th ~ Crab!

Grandpa Mark brought us a treat on Thanksgiving - two big bags of crab! yay! Bailey helped me with the loooong task of getting all the meat.

She kept eating the meat!

I've never ever cooked with crab so I was excited :-) I made this spicy crab dip which I baked & served hot with crostini. Very good!

And I wanted to make crab cakes because Rachel always raves about them but for some reason I've never had them. These turned out sooo good I have to share the recipe!

Crab Cakes with Creamy Caper Sauce

Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise (try with plain yogurt)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup drained capers, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives

Crab Cakes
1 1/2 pounds crabmeat
1 cup plus 2 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs (I used panko)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 large egg, beaten to blend
1/2 cup or more vegetable oil (for frying)

I know, don't they look sooo healthy?? ;-)

The sauce was my favorite, anything with lemon & capers will be a hit with me!

Yummy!

November 27th ~ Thanksgiving Day

My new turkey from my Mom, ain't he cute? :-)

There's that spinach dip again!


Loved these rolls...

Priscilla, the gravy, sweet potato & pie maker! :)

Frank, the turkey carver

My delicious turkey, it turned out soo great and moist!

Cranberry orange sauce, my favorite. Ran out of sugar so had to use brown sugar and it was great!


Mom & Priscilla



Mom are you helping out or eating the deviled eggs??

Frank & Priscilla in the half painted kitchen ;-)


Bailey & Uncle Steve




Playing with Bonnie & the boys

Alex, Bailey & Hunter...I think


Loving the hair ;-)

cuuute!! Apparently they want a little sister so they enjoyed having Bailey around!

Mom & Dad :-)

Can't wait for my Norman Rockwell sandwich tomorrow!! Cranberry, gravy, turkey & stuffing smooshed between two slices of bread..or maybe those rolls...yummy!

November 26th ~ Food Prep

I am determined NOT to be running like mad around my kitchen trying to make everything all morning tomorrow instead of enjoying the day with my family so i'm prepping most of the food today...

my spinach dip....yummm!


See? Organization... ;-) all ready for tomorrow!

Ok, possibly bordering on psycho organizing but I got all my platters out and labeled them...
(this one was Grandma Bates') ....


SUCH good stuffing! I can't wait to eat (more of) it tommorrow! Sausage, apple & cranberry!

my rosemary-garlic-lemon turkey...it smells sooo good and it's still raw! Oh even though it's in the pic, I took the stuff out of the cavity, read not to do that until tomorrow..still..most everything's ready for Thanksgiving!

November 25th ~ Sick & Healthy

Poor Bailey was sick today, completely not herself at all, just silently laying on the couch with a fever. Poor girlie :-(


On a happier note...my dad is officially in REMISSION now!!

November 24th ~ Mini Shoots

We did some fun kids shoots at my friend Michelle's house today....