Christmas-giving, a new holiday tradition...

Thanksgiving this year brought many changes and stories of remembrance and celebration of my brother's life.  We had a wonderful celebration of Joel's life which was an amazing testament to all those Joel has touched and directly impacted throughout his journey on earth.

We bypassed Thanksgiving and focused on the more important treasure of family.  I was able to spend quality time with my parents and focus on the true meaning of the holidays.  This meant that the massive turkey I had sitting in my freezer in Pittsburgh was taking up precious room that Paul would prefer to replace with microwave dinners.  So, I used one weekend when I got back and dedicated it to cooking therapy.

We called this main event: Christmas-giving

The menu was quite amazing and the evening was complete with a Packer win and a log in the fireplace which topped off the already impressive atmosphere that Josiah and Anna created at their house.  I am so happy they allowed us to invade!

Paul coming in to supervise my temperature checking technique!

We had to cook the turkey at their place, my first turkey!!  It seemed to turn out alright, how would I know any different I guess?  I stuffed it and everything!  We also had wild rice stuffing, sweet potatoes, crescent rolls, macaroni with garlic bread crumbs, and mini pumpkin cheesecakes for dessert.  Don't forget the mulled wine!

Ladies in the kitchen, with the resting turkey!

I'd say pretty good for my first turkey!  Thanks for all the tips mother!

We ate and drank until we couldn't move, it was awesome.  The Packers played an excellent game as usual for this season.  Paul was studying on the couch and it was one of Joanna's last nights in Pittsburgh, because she is moving on to bigger animal taming in Texas!

Men doing the carving, Paul might get his finger carved off!

Wishbone... and, I win! This year...