Gobble gobble gobble! Thanksgiving 2012

Sorry that I took forever to post this, my dad just left yesterday. And we all were enjoying our time together so much, all of us. We had a fantastic visit.  So better late then never...as they always say. : ) This was my Thanksgiving meal last Thursday. But let me back up in the posts down below. Back track a bit.

This pic was taken the day before Thanksgiving. Last Wednesday. November 21, 2012.  Both Branden and Noah were at school and I started making and baking the pies. The butter is for the butter crusts that I make for the pies.

Add in some pumpkin spice. Yumm.

Just the amount the directions say. Gave it a stir. Then rolled out my crusts.

The crusts I let chill for a bit. Rolled them out. Then poured the pumpkin mixture in them... put the two pies in the oven. Pumpkin pies homemade are pretty easy and the butter crust is easy as well.  I also cut up my salad stuff, washed my salad stuff real good, dried the salad stuff via my salad spinner. Then threw the salad mixture into a ziplock for the next day/Thanksgiving.  I also chilled the black olive can and cranberries in the fridge so the next day everything would be nice and cold and prepped. So very easy for me the next day.

The pies right out of the oven. They cooled on the counter. And then when they were totally cool, I wrapped them and put them into the fridge for the next day.

Not sure which picture of the pies, I like better, this pic or the one above this one. Hmm, tough call. Either way, I'll just put both up. ; )

Remember how we had 5 turkey pans. Well, Noboru had an idea, a really good one. He said let's poke holes in one of the pans so that when we drain the turkey later when it gets too full. We can just lift the platter/foil pan with holes and then drain the other pan. We basically used 2 pans, 1 with holes and one with no holes, just made it easier to drain while cooking. And it worked awesome. So, probably next year we should buy another 5 pack of disposable pans just in case. But yeah this idea worked beautifully.

Thursday morning, I knew my dad was on the airplane on his way to Japan to be with us/his family for Thanksgiving. And meanwhile the boys were at school. As soon as they were at school, I cleaned and put the turkey into the oven. And then I left the house for about 25 minutes, Noboru stayed at home and kept an eye on the turkey. I went to the bakery to get some delicious bakery bread sliced in 8 slices each for the perfect leftover turkey sandwich. So 16 slices total enough for 8 sandwiches. And I did go back to the bakery Saturday to get 2 new fresh loaves of 8 slices each again so 16 slices total on Saturday. For more sandwiches. But yeah, I want the best sandwich I can make for my family. That big round sliced provolone cheese omg! So good for turkey sandwiches.... fresh lettuce, Miracle Whip, I was so ready for the sandwiches for afterwards. Plus my dad also brought sliced swiss cheese also for the sandwiches.

Two packs of Lay's potato chips from the drugstore near the bakery. And leftover turkey sandwiches...I was ready for em' already!

About 6 pounds of potatoes. Running out of food....yeah just not going to happen! Hahaha.

My white table cloth underneath was all freshly washed and dried the day before. The house was all clean. I was ready! Last finishing touches I got the table all set. Noboru was off work last Thursday and Friday. So that was great too.

The pilgrims have landed!!!! ; )

I had all the potatoes peeled, diced and boiling. They were 98% done in boiling water when I turned off the pot. And my dad's plane landed at 1pm, but by the time he deboarded, went through immigration and customs etc and got into the MPV and drove back with Noboru to our home. Noboru went and picked up my dad, the boys meanwhile both got off school last Thursday at 2:45pm. So as soon as they came home. I did the last minute things, like boiling the potatoes again, just basically heating them draining them and mashing them and we ate around 4pm. This is a huge bowl and the potatoes filled this bowl. We also had more mashed potatoes in another container as well.

We keep things superly simple at our house. There is definitely no "black tie required" at our dinner table for Thanksgiving or Christmas. And if you've been reading for a while, you'll know that and probably be smiling. Because you probably already know... we dress for comfort around here. In fact Noboru was wearing sweatpants, when I snapped this picture and I was wearing yoga pants.  We concentrate on family...togetherness....gratitude, being thankful. And the meal. If you'd like to wear a pony tail, headband and sweatpants too. In all seriousness...totally more then welcome! We do not dress to impress for dinner. That's just not the way we roll around here. lol. It's just not our focus and focal point. The food and family time is though. : )

On this side of the table, there is, mashed potatoes (this isn't even half of the amount we had) whole cranberries, stuffing, gravy and turkey.

And from this side, we have salad in wooden bowl on the left, black olives, green beans, croutons for the salad and we have 2 salad dressings, a balsamic vinaigrette and goma dressing.

My dad was giving grace, which is why Noboru had his eyes closed. And then we went round the table real quick and said what we were grateful for...for this year, 2012. I was grateful that we have Noboru's grandma still with us. And that hopefully she is on the mend. And I was also grateful that we are all healthy and happy. And I was grateful that Noah has not had any problems with switching to elementary school from yochien, at all. We all had a lot to be thankful for this year and I was happy to share mine with my family. We all started to eat.

Branden's a little blurry because he dug right in! : ) Noah giving me a little smile.

Ahh, a little smile from both Branden and Noah. Pardon the note on the dish cabinet. It says "pots this side" Both boys unload the dishwasher and sometimes I leave little reminder notes. I also currently have a note on the microwave that says "popcorn 3min 40 seconds" again nothing critical but it helps to have tiny reminders like this for them. : )

Aha this is the same pic at the top of this post. It was a nice big portion, I missed lunch and boy was I hungry!  Dinner conversation was great and fun! My dad told us about his flight. My dad also brought us a good amount of goodies inside his suitcase, so we were all chattering pretty much nonstop in between eating. We had Christmas music lightly playing from Denver that we stream via my ipod. Just a very nice simple quiet family night.

We all had pumpkin pie for dessert with whipped cream. Coffee for us adults that went with.  And with Friday being a holiday in Japan, the boys didn't have school, Noboru didn't have work the next day and so we were all sorta just chilling at the kitchen table. The boys went upstairs and showered, came down in pjs. I ran up real quick afterwards. And then next person showered and then so on and so on. Until we were all in our pjs in the living room. The central heating is on, as well as the floor heating is/was on also. So toasty warm house. We all sorta just enjoyed TV.  After a few hours someone went to the fridge, came out with a few black olives. Another came back with a handful of chips from the food pantry. Another with another slice of pie from the fridge again. It was cool! No worries and we had more then enough food. So please...eat eat! : )

My dad was the first to fall asleep around 8:15pm (in dreamland and snoring). Then Noah around 8:30pm (zonked to the world). It was then just Noboru, Branden and myself, awake. I made my way into the kitchen around 9:30pm. And I usually don't eat a whole other meal that late. Graze on popocorn or pretzels sure. I'm not perfect..... but whole other meal...not really a common thing well unless you're talking Thanksgiving leftovers are in the house tempting me like crazy! : ) So considering it was indeed Thanksgiving....I made myself a turkey sandwich around 9:30pm. I was really wanting this sandwich for a long time. Miracle whip, fresh crisp lettuce, provolone cheese, white meat turkey salt and peper, some chips. OMG! Heaven.  Branden was zonked and asleep around 9:45pm. Noboru and I stayed awake until 11:30pm. Just chilling watching TV.  We have a big L shaped couch so he had one side and I had the other. We each had fleece blankets to cuddle with and big fluffy pillows. And enjoyed TV until we were nearly nodding out downstairs. So we went to sleep. Anyway, there you have it, our family Thanksgiving 2012.  Again sorry I took a thousand years to post this, but I do hope you all..... if you celebrate it...had a Happy Thanksgiving. And if you don't celebrate it, I hope you at least enjoyed your 3 day weekend, if you are in Japan. : )

The turkey arrived Sunday. What an awesome football game, go Broncos! And grandpa gets here Thursday

Our turkey arrived on schedule. Sunday November 18th around noon.  A Butterball Premium turkey! He was delivered frozen and was rock hard. So he's been in the fridge since Sunday. And he is very slowly defrosting. He'll be ready by Thursday morning though, so he can be rinsed clean and thrown in the oven.

We ordered an 18 lb-20lb one. And after throwing him on the scale, he is slightly over 20 pounds verging on 21 pounds. So he's huge!

Being an American, I grew up watching football.  For the most part whatever city or state you come from, that's "your team" of course some states don't have teams or some states have a few teams like California, and yes you could have a different team altogether from where you are from, I guess, if you want to. But I was raised in Denver, Colorado. Everyone in my family was and is a Denver Broncos fan. And so that's just always been my team. And when Branden was born, teeny tiny Denver Broncos hat for him. When Noah was born little Denver Broncos sweatshirt for him and so on. Anyway, the good news is the Broncos have been having an amazing season this year. We are leading the AFC so far. And I hope we stay that way.... fingers crossed! This Monday morning for us in Japan, but Sunday night football for Denver. It was held at Mile High Stadium in Colorado. And I watched the game here at home after getting the boys sent to school. It was a fantastic game. The Denver Broncos played San Diego. And we won.

Go Broncos go!!! : ) Anyway, not much to say except. The turkey is here, has been here since Sunday. I am in Fall/Winter mode happily watching football. I do love watching a good game! And tomorrow/Wednesday is pumpkin pie baking day as soon as Branden and Noah go to school. My dad is flying in Thursday for Thanksgiving. We are so happy about that. And he is staying until next Tuesday.  : )

Bits and pieces

All of this stuff is stuff basically that's been up and we've been up to since we've been back but I haven't had the chance to add these in anywhere yet. : ) Until now. Hmm, a month ago, during one of my walks Noah was pictured riding his bike in an orange tee shirt and orange floppy sun UV blocking hat, he's had forever. And now he's in jeans and a house sweatshirt, just for bumming around in type sweatshirt. Used to be Branden's but not good enough condition to actually cruise to school in, it type sweatshirt but perfect still for cruising our housing community.  Yep this means the weather has definitely gotten cooler. : ) Meanwhile, Branden and I were walking side by side talking.  Two grandpa aged guys were playing tennis.

Coming around the bend. Leaves are definitely changing colors.

Same day as the walk, but Noah switched into sweatpants. Noah played on his tire swing out back. I meanwhile was in the house getting lunch ready but I went outside and snapped this pic, before I went back inside.  Let's see what else....

I love those Oprah Winfrey interviews she has on her OWN channel/network. I try to catch them every week. Sometimes I miss a week or two, if we are not home or watching something else instead.... but I was looking forward to Bette Midler's interview so much! The "Divine Miss M!" I love her! I totally adore this lady! My mom always loved Bette Midler. Beaches, Stella, Hocus Pocus, The First Wives Club, Ruthless People, Big Business, The Stepford Wives (The 2007 one) And I could go on but... the point is, she's hilarious. She's funny she seems really down to earth. And her voice amazing! Like butta!!!! ; ) lol!  So yeah, I had to catch her interview.

They brought up Beaches.  Bette Midler says she still gets people walking up to her, to this very day saying how much that movie meant to them. It means a lot to me too.

She very briefly talked about her daughter, they seem a great mom and daughter pair. Don't they look alike? I thought so. And Oprah showed a clip of when Bette and her daughter were guests on the Oprah show years ago. Oprah asked Bette on this new interview though on the OWN network, "where she is now." Not just physically either. Bette answered, "I'd say I've settled into myself about 60 percent. The other 40 is still struggling."  I liked her answer very much.  Anyway....great interview... really amazing. And btw, fwiw, Bette Midler was born in Hawaii, same as President Obama and Branden. Hahaha : )  Anyway, I thought that was cute...okay moving along....

Branden brought home a bookmark. His sensei really loves making homemade picture bookmarks. And he also makes movies CD's with bunches of pics of his class on them and gives a copy to each of us, of the CD. And he's really cool like that. Anyway his sensei made every student in his class a bookmark from the Halloween party.

The first pic is the group class shot. Branden and the Jinbei Boy were not there. We were in Guam at the time, not sure where the Jinbei Boy was. But you can see who was in the center of this pic. Mr. Jack Pumpkinhead! With hat on and everything! Needless to say they loved him! I think Branden bringing the pumpkin was the right thing to do. I really do.

Branden said the middle pic on every one's bookmark was different. Such as, Saya-chan's had Saya-chan's face on it. And this one has the 2 boys who were absent that day.... and since they are superly duper good friends they danced around while the sensei was taking the picture (and the sensei did say do something zany for the pic and I think it came out good that pic!). Branden and the Jinbei Boy two very good friends.

This bottom pic everyone according to Branden got the same pic with same wording. So same top pic for the whole class and same last pic, this one. And middle pics were depending on whose bookmark it was. This says "Jack o lantern made by (2 kanji that I whited out, our last name) and Branden. So basically it says, Branden made this.  I am so glad they put a candle in Jack. The kids really liked him a lot. And if they decide to have a Halloween party next year, we'd definitely give them another pumpkin if they'd like. : )

Meanwhile...Noah brought home this note. It basically says the first graders and parents will be baking a Christmas cake together. December 19th. As you know our school is really big on "learning how to cook" getting that hands on experience. Learning how to sew and getting that hands on experience. Etc etc. the nature walks, the acorn tops. Our school is huge on "experiencing" things. And the kids start cooking class from the first grade, same as English class.  The note basically says, the cake we are baking with our kids. And if we need any topping or decorations to bring it. So basically long story short..."I better bring everything." Whipped cream fruit, decorations, hahaha. Oh well, it's okay it's for the kids fun and experience. And they did give us a month advance notice, so it's not last minute notice. So after Thanksgiving is over and done, I will get on the...."collecting Xmas cake supplies" lol.  Not too many of course, but I better come prepared. Also, Noah needs an apron and whatnot. Which we have.

Forgot to share this pic. When we were at the movies last week, the milk stand place that sells old -fashioned milk in bottles and soft serve ice cream. Was selling corn soup/potage flavored ice cream. We heard a few months back that the GariGari corn potage was sold out everywhere. I wonder if that's why this place came up with it or not.  Anyway....

Also last week Noboru and I put up the Christmas lights. We did this last Friday. As soon as the boys went to school. We keep them safely in an old suitcase.

It's an all day thing. Which lights are burned out? Pull them out by hand and replaced them.

Taped off the area where the ones needing replacing need to go.

This is a 2 person job! I kept feeding/passing him more lights as he needed them.

Good bye Mr. And Mrs. Scarecrow.  See you next year.

Hello Mr. And Mrs. Clause and Frosty.  I was fluffing his beard (santa), meanwhile making sure Mrs. Clause had her glasses on right.

By now, all the icicle lights were on, 2nd story and 1st story icicle lights. And now we did half of the banister. All the lights worked properly. The final decorating not even started yet. We put decorations and bows on last. But before we did the final decorations we strung the left side. This pic is of the right side. well the left side didn't light! @_@ We checked all the wiring. Keep in mind it's cold outside. Hence the coffee cup in the pic on the banister. I left to get Noah, bring him home and got right back onto the lights helping Noboru. Still not working! So I leave yet again go and get Branden. Bring Branden home. Still not working. At a certain point we gave up. Had dinner. Lights 95% done 5% not done grrrrr!!! So, after showers and Noah fell asleep, Branden was asleep also, Noboru brought the lights that were not working into the house. He switched every single bulb all 100 for that side. And then it worked.  So it took way longer then expected but we got it up.

Pic taken Saturday morning 8am.  You know us moms, even us housewives we sure keep busy all week and work hard Monday through Friday, housework, cooking, dinner prep, laundry etc etc. Just to enjoy that 2 day weekend. That never seems long enough. ; ) But here I was waking up at 5:30am on Saturday too. Got dressed, flat ironed my hair, put my makeup on. Woke up the boys. Made french toast for all 4 of us. There was so many things going on, for the same day.  #1, from 2 weeks beforehand, Branden and the Jinbei Boy and Keita-kun had a going to the movies plan. First time ever for any of them to go to a movie without parents. Noboru dropped off the boys all 3 of them. And another parent was bringing them back. The only time they'd be alone was at the movies. I admit I was a little nervous. I had Branden take his cell. Gave him the whole stranger danger conversation, he's been getting forever since he was in yochien. The whole, you guys go to pee in groups. Don't go by yourself. It was all indeed safe. But me honestly, I was a little nervous. It was his first time. He plays in our neighborhood and stuff of course just fine...  but this was different. I know Branden is responsible, It's not Branden I am worried about.... it's stories though like that little girl in Westminster Colorado who was also 10 who got murdered and dismembered, yeah stories like that is what scare me. It's not that I'm a helicopter parent or I am wanting to stunt his growth etc etc. Or that I don't trust my son. It's none of those factors. My worry comes from...it's the fact this is the day and age of 2012 and there are creeps out there and so yeah I worry. And I think it's a normal feeling as a parent. So yeah I do worry. I wished to drive them myself, to see Branden get to do this for the first time, but I had the recycle thing so I couldn't go. : ) I had the recycle pick ups to do.  And yes he was fine. Totally totally fine. It was me just being cautious and understandably worried. So anyway this is a pic of Noah in yellow sweatshirt running around the center park. Every single mom in the 5th grade "had" to help. No option of saying no, this time. You were required. Spring was optional to help but I helped anyway. Fall you had to, as in no choice. But I volunteered anyway back in Spring to help in Fall anyway. So in all honestly either way....it didn't matter to me, because I volunteered last Spring anyway.

I like this pic because it shows a few different shades of the green trees and some turning yellow. Interesting because the other trees in the area are red and orange already. : )

I really can't go into too much detail. But what I can say is, 2 mother's who live in our housing community who each have a kid in the 5th grade. Are not getting along (the mom's not the kids). Made for a slightly awkward recycling day for them. Thank god I just stay out of all that stuff, stuff like that gives me a headache, I tell you! I am neutral, I keep my mouth shut (that's always the safest way, if you ask me). And so I manage to get along with everyone. Made me thankful Branden is in class #2 (these 2 mom's and their kids are in 5th grade class #1).  Oh yeah also after the recycling part was done...we 5th grade mom's did talk afterwards at the park in the center of our housing community..... that next April, the kids will be 6th graders and we will be making yearbooks as graduation presents for the kids and be hosting a shaon kai party! Anyway, Noah and I drove home in 1 minute, seriously since we were just at the park up the road, the center park.....so once at home Noboru told me about how he dropped off the boys at the movies. How happy Branden was...and his friends were going to the movies.  And how Noboru watched them go into the movies then drove away.  Branden went to see "Hotel Transylvania" or "Monster Hotel" how they call it here in Japan. : ) Yes we did see it in Guam but Branden wanted to see a movie with his friends and this was what was playing.

Noah and Noboru and I went to the bakery to get some fresh bread, sliced for Sunday morning breakfast and the baguette for the lasagna we had for dinner that night. And we went to Cocoichi for an early lunch. Branden was at the movie still. Then we got home and Branden got home not too much after we did. I washed my makeup off. Put my hair in a tiny pony tail. But btw, my hair is growing. It's like 1 dot from reaching my shoulders, I think when I get my hair straightened my hair will be like 1 dot below my shoulders. I plan on going to the salon in about 2 weeks or so.  Branden enjoyed his first movie with friends. He had many stories to tell us. They also stopped at MC D's since it was a mall while they were waiting for his friends mom. So all in all a good Saturday. I also enjoyed my Saturday. The boys enjoyed their Saturday too and so did Noboru. And after that, we put the left side of the banister up,  and guess what....the lights worked. Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah!!!! ; )  And we did the final touches on the garland areas o the porch area.

Saturday evening, Noboru went to his Father's Club Meeting.  The Father's Club decided about a month ago for the "Marathon day" they would serve soup to the entire school/students. Miso soup. The Father's Club  is very hands on. They are really involved. And then the PTA wanted to join too. So it's now a joint effort but 90% Father's Club and 10% PTA. But whoever can help will help. Noboru will be there preparing soup from early that day and pouring soup for all the kids after they run. Their marathon is next month and they have started practicing for it, running every day. marathon day will be on a Saturday this year.  I think Noboru said, all kids will be asked to bring their own rice balls/onigiri to go with the soup.  So that's coming up also.

What else, I started my Christmas shopping last week. But more on that later. : )