Then after Suz made a yummy breakfast, I got busy on pies. I seriously considered not making any pies since we were also celebrating an important birthday and birthday cake is delicious, but my kids wanted pies, and it just doesn't feel as Thanksgivingish without at least one or two. So I made three, per the kids' requests. Jack wanted blueberry pie (though to be honest, he simply requested "berries" when I asked him what he wanted for Thanksgiving dinner, after he requested tomatoes of course. So after some discussion we decided blueberry pie would be an appropriate dessert). Eliza wanted the peanut butter fudge pie I make fairly regularly and everyone in the family loves. Luke wanted pumpkin pie, which he'd tried during his Preschool Sharing Feast (I can't believe I forgot to blog about that - I'll come back to it) and fell in love with. So those are the three I made, and they turned out pretty well, I'd say.
While the pies were baking, it was time for the big birthday celebration, with an Office-inspired party (see video clip here). It was awesome. And yummy.
The younger three kids had fun in the St. George red dirt outside and Jack played catch with Ben while I did some more cooking.
And then when we realized that dinner would be much later than we'd hoped, Uncle Ben sprang into action and grabbed his rock climbing gear so we could take advantage of the sunshine and have a little adventure while the turkey cooked and the rolls rose. We went to Pioneer Park, a city park that's great for rock climbing or just exploring. Uncle Ben set up a rappelling line at the top of the Dixie Rock, and he and Suz made it possible for 4/6 of my family, and Whit, to go off a cliff on Thanksgiving. Thank you!
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| The kids are ready for an adventure! |
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| Ben was thinking that he'd rappel first, without a belayer, but then he thought better of it. I love this of the two Bens surveying the edge of the cliff, trying to decide what to do. |
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| Whit is a very experienced rock climber and was great about reassuring my kids and telling them what to expect. |
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| Suz got Cat all suited up. |
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| Cat was the most hesitant, other than me. But once she got off the cliff, she was great! |
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| Eliza = No Fear! |
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| "We could see your legs there for a while. We were wondering if you were ever going to come down." - Ben |
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| Jack also went off the cliff with much less hesitation than Cat and me. |
Once everyone who wanted to rappel had a chance, Suz, Cat, and I went back to the house to finish dinner and left the dads to keep the kids at the park and play/explore some more. Turns out, the kids just wanted to fill their socks/pockets with Magic Dust (dirt).
With everyone's help, dinner came together wonderfully, and the food was delicious. Most of us were really excited about it. The pies were yummy too!
Other Thanksgiving activities included: movie watching, crocheting, guitar playing, and piano practice (using a full-sized keyboard I brought from home - my grandmother couldn't believe when I told her I made the kids practice on vacation but the funny thing was that it didn't bother them at all, haha).
I am so thankful for these people, and a beautiful earth, and yummy food, and the many, many blessings I've received.
Wonderful Thanksgiving! I miss your rolls:)
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