'Twas the Day Before Thanksgiving

Here we are!  This, as I say every year, is one of my favorite days of the year.  I love this day of cooking and preparing my favorite fall feast favorites!  It is also a day of anticipation for the holiday to come--the family, games, Black Friday plans, and homemade apple cider (to which our favorite Captain is always invited to make an appearance). :)
I truly have much to be thankful this year, besides the BIGGEST blessings of family, friends, faith, our health, safety, and our home.

What else am I thankful for?

A new niece that we will meet this Sunday!  Hannah Faith was born last Sunday and will be baptized this weekend.

David's grandparents celebrate their 60th anniversary this week as well!  I am so thankful for my grandparents, who I do not get to see nearly often enough. They still continue to teach me lessons every time we are together.

OK, I already mentioned my friends, but they have to be mentioned again.  I am so very thankful that my friends' mom Marilyn is continuing to recover after her miraculous, really, survival from their September car accident. Never, ever give up hope. Thank you for that important lesson, Marilyn.  I think good stubborn German genes help, too!  And for all of my friends. God gives each of us quite the survival kit to navigate this tricky life on earth and I am so blessed by you.

Adele's new album.  I was a fan of the songs from her first album, 21, although I never bought it.  I bought 25 last week and--wow--close to vocal perfection. The subject matter is also timely, with the theme of growing up past childhood and letting go of what used to be.  I spent most of my year 36 with those thoughts and feelings, of times and responsibilities changing.  Am I that much more immature that it took me 11 more years than Adele to realize this?  I think I was just too busy having babies at the time!

Cooking kids. Landen made lunch today and Nathan handled tomorrow's special cranberry sauce. We made our own recipe because . . . well, why not?

Oven bags and slow cooker liners . . . I know I mentioned these last week, but I really do sing their praises every time I lift them out of a pan and throw them in the trash.

UNO. This card game is revived every once in awhile.  Now we're all old enough to play, even if we don't all use strategy. :)  You better be ready to say UNO if you play with the Melius family!  My kids show no mercy.

Amazon Smile. It's easy to donate .5% to your favorite charity if you go through smile.amazon.com, which has the exact same stuff as Amazon.  Our favorite, Cranio Care Bears, has already earned over $1,100 through this program.  (David asked it that was from MY shopping only.  I assured him that I was not THAT great of an Amazon shopper, although our mail carrier may disagree.)  There are many charities to choose from and you can always change to a different one, too.

Wednesday nights. There's "church school," and after our return home, "Survivor" night with my husband. Red wine and popcorn.  I love our mid-week "dates." "The Profit" night on Tuesday is a close second, and then there's "The Middle," which continues to be my life in a 30 minute episode every week!

And . . . is it too soon?  Christmas card season!  I love sending them and getting them.  Stamps are purchased, although the Christmas letter is still yet to be penned.

One more thing before Thanksgiving break . . . Nathan and my super special cranberry sauce!

1 cup orange juice

1 cup white sugar

(Dissolve sugar in juice in a saucepan.)

1 bag fresh cranberries, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 cup frozen raspberries

Cook until mixture comes to a boil and cranberries start to pop.  Remove from heat, cool, and pour into a serving bowl. Refrigerate until Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Countdown

We are now less than one week away until Thanksgiving!  I have been preparing to host again this year and have been thinking of what every cook should do in these days ahead of TURKEY day.

1.  Put your turkey in the fridge now.  Yes, right now.  Make sure it is in a pan on the lowest shelf.  It will take at least this long to thaw a larger size bird by next Thursday morning. If it still isn't completely thawed come Thanksgiving, run some water through it. (Just be careful not to splash turkey bacteria water all over the place!) Remember to remove the bag of giblets, too, before putting it in the oven.  I like to cook mine in a cooking bag.

2.  Use cooking bags and slow cooker liners All. of. the. time.  No scrubbing or soaking huge pans or crocks in your sink all day!

3.  Ask your guests to bring your favorite dishes.  Mother-in-law's dressing and bread?  Check.  Mom's one-of-a-kind cole slaw?  Check.

4.  Have your bought your refrigerated pie crust?  DON'T. Use THIS RECIPE and you will have a more delicious homemade crust in less time than it takes to bring a store bought one to room temperature.  Trust me.

5.  While we are on the subject of pies, go ahead and serve a frozen pie if you must, but don't lie to your guests and say it's homemade.  That's just wrong. :)

6. Save your Black Friday ads from the Wednesday paper (if you live in rural South Dakota). These will be excellent afternoon entertainment for the ladies on your guest list.  Better yet, ask your guests to bring their store ads, too, so there are more to pass around the table.

Hmm . . . anyone have any other suggestions????

I will let you know if I think of anything else before next week!

Walking Together 2015

I finally got around to taking the 2015 road picture yesterday.  Thankfully it was still nice enough for no coats!

We always have to take a few silly photos, too!

37

I turned 37 yesterday.  I'm feeling alright about it, even though Teresa exclaimed that I am OLD!

Although I do have a video of the candle blowing and birthday song singing, I don't have any photos to share of the day.  That's what happens when the family photographer has a birthday. :)

I ended up spending most of my day helping a friend and her family move out of their home and onto their next adventure. It was a bittersweet day to be sure, but I am excited for them and it was a blessing to be able to help out for the day.

After I returned home, there was supper, cake, presents, and my cup overflowed with blessings once again.

Life is good.

Even at 37.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

This post could also be called . . . Why You Don't Hand the Camera to your 12 year old to Take Birthday Photos. :)

Nathan's 10th birthday ranked right up there with the best, thanks to a surprise visit by cousin Jared and three of the Melius cousins--Thomas, David, and Elizabeth.  I had forgotten this, but Jared and Jan were actually visiting South Dakota when Nathan was born and came to visit us in the hospital!

What great timing for this visit. (We missed you, Jan!)

The kids played Nerf guns and football all night. Before they left, I had the exhausted party goers line up for a photo.

Whew!

By the looks of all the leftover candy and cake around this place,

it's been a pretty great last few days!

Nathan is 10!

Nathan David (aka Nater) entered our lives 10 years ago and it has never been the same!  He has been adding excitement to our lives even since before he was born. 

"For this child I prayed, and God has given what I asked of Him."

On November 3, 2005, God answered our prayers and blessed us with a healthy blue eyed boy who LOVES life . . . and adding life to our family.

His first smile captured on camera.

One year old photos

Nathan being Nathan!

We were able to ride Thomas the Train in 2007, shortly before Nathan became a big brother.

He doesn't look too sure of the future here.

For as energetic as he is, Nathan has a calm and peaceful place in his heart for animals. When we visited the Butterfly House in Sioux Falls, he stood still until he finally got a butterfly to land on his finger.

This is the famous 4th birthday monster cake that didn't get eaten after he used spit instead of air to extinguish his candles.

Another one of my favorites. He ALWAYS has a ball in his hands. He could throw accurately by the time he was 2!

t-ball days

Nathan "couldn't believe it is a girl" when Rachel was born, but he quickly became her biggest protector and best bud.

100 years old for the 100th day of school

All that Nathan personality in one little person!

Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan!!!