Moments with Michele: A simply wonderful Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving was quite a bit different than it had been the last few years. While I was working as a caregiver {as most of you know for the sweetest lady ever} I would take her to her family Thanksgiving. If I worked on a holiday, my family preferred it to be Thanksgiving so I could be home for Christmas Day. I did usually work on Christmas Eve also but always had Christmas Day off! Needless to say the last 4 years on this holiday with my precious client and her wonderful family were so special and I will always be grateful for that time we had together. {I sure did think of her alot on Thanksgiving!} Usually Jim and the girls went to our family friends the Naves however this year we decided to stay home and just be the 4 of us. It was really nice and easy going and fun to cook and set the pretty dinner table and just be together. My mom is away this year in Mexico enjoying the warmth & sunshine!

The night before Nat and I did a late run to Walmart to pick up a couple things we had forgotten and she asked if she could make Coleslaw...I said sure...I went to get her a bag of precut cabbage for slaw and she informed me that would not be "real" coleslaw. She picked up a head of cabbage and the other ingredients she needed. I didn't even know she knew how to make coleslaw. I learned the next day that the last time she and Jim were over in Bothell at his Grandma Lorraine's she taught Nat how to make it. I readily admit Grandma's coleslaw is the BEST and I'm hooked on it! Well let me tell you, Nat's is fabulous! I know we will be having "Grandma Lorraine/Natalie's Coleslaw" at all our family dinner from now on! {Perfect that Natalie's middle name is Lorraine}

I then made Orange Creamsicle Jello! It's a recipe my mom always made for special dinners so now I get to make it for my family. It is just simply delicious. I loved it when my friend texted me {in Illinois} saying she made Orange Jello for their Thanksgiving meal!

Lauren made these absolutely darling little turkey's for our Thanksgiving table. As you can see they are made with oreos, reeses, candy corn, kisses and icing. I loved it because they were too stinkin' cute and also because they turned out like in the picture. {That does not always happen for me!}

I made a banner {remember I've gone crazy making banners} for our Thanksgiving dinner.

We definitely have so much to be thankful for!!!

Lauren, Jim and Nat

My Girls!

My sweet client {CJH} was represented at our Thanksgiving table. This candlestick pair was a gift from her family after she passed away. She had the most phenomenal candlestick collection. I love my pair!

More fun shots from our day of Thanksgiving...

YUMMY dinner! Turkey {Jim's in charge of the bird and his recipe is oh so good!}, Stuffing, Creamy Mashed Taters, Grandma/Nat's Coleslaw {delish}, Asparagus, Cauliflower with cheese sauce, Rolls and Orange Jello. I forgot one thing which was the Green Beans w/ bacon. Funny thing was they were in the dish on the island but had something over them so they stayed hot. Oh Well...they tasted very yummy the next day for leftovers. I happen to think leftovers might be the best part!!!

Another part of Thanksgiving Day traditions is getting a newspaper so we can scour the ads and see where the best deals are! Yes, my girls and I {and even some years Jim} go out for the big shopping day! Last year Jim and Grandpa Al went black Friday shopping and fought the crowds so we could get our new front load washer and dryer. That's quite a story in and of itself. This year was different because most stores opened at midnight so that was quite interesting. We really didn't have much on the lists that were in the ads however it just is "our tradition". Can't break with tradition right???