Friday, November 27, 2009

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

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!

11 comments:

Shannon said...

omg. It was just suggested that I video myself reading your blog posts. The pic of marshmallow Lainey and Lainey wanted to hold the turkey. O.M.G. Laine is a hoot.

Tammy said...

awesome pics, Casey. I love reading about your family. the placemats crack me up. so glad you're writing down all the funny things your kids say.

Dee Stephens said...

cute pix and stories! glad it was a good one!

Coco said...

Love Lainey's "Party time!" pose. She will make a wonderful Chi-Omega.

My kids are going to freeze their asses off.

SASS said...

Too CUTE! I agree, Laine's party pic pose has been mastered at age 2. Awesome.
Before and after of the lights---love it! You guys had a great spot!

Kristen said...

I love this post... I am so impressed that your kiddos make the green beans all by themselves! Wow- well done crew!
And Lainey- yeah, she is too flippin' cute. Adorable...
And I miss the Plaza lights. I spent of my undergrad years at Mizzou, and had a cousin who lived in Overland Park (I think I may have told you this already), but she would come haul me out of the dorms for a nice weekend away and we would shop at the Plaza and take in the lights. So beautiful!!! Glad you got to enjoy it with your family!

The Jones Family said...

Love it. Great pics!

Sara said...

Love Lainey the Marshmallow. And the picture of Jack screaming in the stroller is great.
And...I really hope Blake didn't let Miss Lainey hold and pet the neck of the turkey. Please tell me he didn't!
Sweet Carter...I bet his green bean casserole was awesome! Sounds like y'all had a great holiday!!

Jodee said...

It looks like you had a great Thanksgiving! Cute pictures of your crew!

We love, love, love the Plaza! It is just beautiful at Christmas time!

Kim said...

Oh I love the lights it has been a long, long time since I have seen the Plaza at Christmas time. What a fun tradition to see them flip the swtich! Gald you had a great Thanksgiving!

If the shoe FITZ said...

Coco, she is totally going to be an Easy Dee Zee!!! ;)