Holy cow. Where do we start?
First with the food prep. I started on Wednesday morning, making casseroles and cutting veggies for the remaining dishes. I had
lots of help, as you can imagine. While I typically allow them to stir and measure for me, I handed over the entire green bean casserole to the kids this year. All ready:

Is Lainey ready for college or what? Look at that
party pic pose.

Getting busy. Carter read the recipe and kept everyone on task.

Lainey posed some more.

Ta dah!!!!!! Proud of my crew.

Fast forward to Thursday. Carter helped me out by testing EVERYTHING. More than once. So much like his daddy.

Blake helped the children make our traditional Thanksgiving place mats......that don't look very traditional at all......not sure why there are 6 instead of 5.......and it seems that 1/2 of them are adorned with trains. Interesting. And, yes, two are crumpled because Jack freaked out over something and destroyed them. Not to worry. We're used to this by now.

More testing. What would I do without Carter?!

Hello, homemade stuffing.......delish, if I do say so myself.

One more note on our meal. As Blake was preparing the turkey that morning, he held up the raw, repulsive looking neck to Lainey and asked her if she wanted a bite. (Don't ask why we do the things we do. We don't always know.) Her response? "Awe.....Yainey pet it? I hold it?" Again. Don't ask.
Later, we ventured over to Sass's parents' house for dessert. Took one quick picture and missed Sass in it. Sorry, folks.

And, finally, we drove into Kansas City for the
Plaza Lighting.
Lainey looked like a
marshmallow elf.

Our three punks.


We arrived early in order to figure out where to go and what to do....we're newbies....so, there's lots to learn. Kept busy on these steps for a bit and the kids enjoyed it.


The Plaza Lighting started in 1930 and now draws hundreds of thousands of people on Thanksgiving night. It's Kansas City's
Macy's Day Parade. I love this.....and think it's the perfect timing......turkey is eaten......time to get out of the house and kick off the Christmas season!

There's a large stage set up that we could barely see due to the crowd. Countdown...lights go on....and then fireworks. Lots of fun.

And, like most over-stimulating events, Jack hid. He doesn't like too much excitement, people. Like Thanksgiving day place mats.
Or, singing in unison.
Or, praying out loud.
Are you getting all of this?

The lights are amazing to see.
This:

Turns into this:

It takes 4 months to cover the 15 block shopping district. Makes your 1/2 day outside seem do-able, huh?
80 miles of lights......nearly 300,000 multi-colored bulbs illuminate the city. They turn on each day at 5pm and will be lit through the middle of January. Can't wait to shop and walk the town!