Thanksgiving 2009

For the first time I was the Commander of the kitchen and actually had a willing and able crew to boss around. I cannot tell you what a joy it was to have someone to go over the menu with and to have someone volunteer to purchase and prepare dishes. Of course, I have always been the primary cook and upon request (albeit loud, repeated requests) I would receive the usual half hearted, whinny assistance one would expect from lazy teen agers. As remarkable as it may sound I didn't even have to raise my voice or cry or make threats of physical violence to obtain help in the kitchen.
This year Kenny did not fry a turkey and he left the cooking of the bird to me and Katie. I know that sounds like a big mistake on his part but it all turned out. Katie did refuse to touch the turkey and I was a little confused about where exactly you put the stuffing- who knew the bird had two cavities to stuff!! We wraped the bird in a foil cocoon and forgot about it until its appointed time and the turkey turned out perfect!
Between me, Grandma Bada, Paula and Katie we had the rest of Thanksgiving dinner in the oven in no time. I didn't even peel a potato; I did however endure some criticism of the condition of my potato peeler!
At first, I thought Paula's smarty pants remark "whoever uses this peeler better have their tetanus shot up to date" was going to lead to a mutiny but desertion was adverted when I produced a brand new shinny peeler. The small scuffle over who got to use the new peeler just added to the festivities and turned out to be all for not because the shinny peeler was about as sharp as a butter knife!
Have I mentioned how good it was to have little ones under foot again! It's been a long whiel sense we've had extended family with us for a holiday- and we loved every minute of it!!  I wasn't surprised when the girls and Grandma Bada refereed a game of indoor hide and go seek from the couch. I was surprised however, when Cousin Jake turned out to be 2 yr old Ava's favorite. Ava would sit in Cousin Jakes lap and play with her baby doll and rub her nose with her blanket. Uncle Rachel and Cousin Jake were definitely the favorites!
Soon enough we will have a brand new baby to pass around and to play with. He will bring excitement back to the old boring holidays! The timing is perfect. So move over Kendra and Rachel!! We will have a new little buckaroo in charge of the holiday/ family gathering entertainment. So go on with yourselves and dump us for your friends, your cell phones and the mall! See if we notice you are missing after the baby gets here!! That is as long as the potatoes have been peeled!