5 pies, bunt cakes and a pumpkin roll.

Success. A very big success it was. Our first hosting of turkey dinner and Thanksgiving day turned out very well. The only thing we were missing were more mouths to eat the feast. However, our gathering of 8 was perfect company.

Our feast this year and holiday was very different than the year before as so much has changed. First, we stayed in Grand Haven at our home and had family come here. If the snow wasn't a foot high I think I might have packed us all up (and the feast) last minute and took the road home. I missed my parents, lil sis and grandparents a lot. But, I am ever grateful for those who came to us.

Secondly, R's Mom celebrated with us this year; another first. I really enjoyed having her. She brought corn cassarole, biscuits, fresh cranberry relish, 6 pies (more details later), beverages and teddy grahams for Edee. Oh! She brought me a beautiful vase of flowers too! Have you ever had Thanksgiving flowers? It was a nice little surprise.

Third: R smoked a turkey this year. For 5 hours too. He used wood chips, apples and onions. It was delicious. He can smoke a turkey every year if he wants too.

Fourth: We have leftover dessert! And there's nothing wrong with that. Even though we lost the pumpkin pie, it slipped off the pan and fell on the floor, we still had: 2 pecan cheese, 2 chocolate pecan and a pumpkin brickle, small pumpkin bunt cakes and a pumpkin roll. Gotta love having a baker in the family. 

Dinner took all day to prepare and 5 minutes for us to devour the delicious feast. It was well worth it. E and I ended our evening with a surprise visit from my little sis! The holiday turned out pretty good. Now I can't wait for Christmas!

I hope all of you were blessed with time spent with your loved ones, full bellies and lots of leftovers.

Keep loving.

There’s nothing like writers block. I must apologize to my ever so interested and consistent viewers for my lack of writing. I've been tossing around several ideas for new entries and have come up short. Also, The Millers have been busy bees as family is in town for the week. But, I am making all efforts to keep everyone updated this weekend!

Driving to work felt wonderful this morning. First off, I was early. I dropped E off @ 7:50, R off @ 8:00 and was heading towards my destination (work) @ 8:05. How that happened? I am not quite sure. I've been cutting it close lately; two minutes too close so I moved quicker this morning. Secondly, as I was driving over the big bridge out of town I look over and the sunrise is absolutely beautiful. The sun was tucked behind the clouds just enough to wear I wasn't blinded by it but the light was blazing around the clouds creating purples, pinks, bright yellows and oranges in the horizon. Amazing!

Or maybe it felt wonderful because all though it is Wednesday it is my Friday. With the holiday tomorrow, I have a four day weekend. (Another perk of my office job.) And all though E woke up @ 2:00 AM and again at 5:00 AM to stay awake and play for an hour, I am wide awake. Waking up definitely took a bit more effort than usual. I had to pry open my eyelids and shove myself out of bed but none the less I survived.

I have high hopes for tomorrow. R has been talking about having smoked turkey for two weeks now, which he will be doing himself. I am looking forward to this. Can we eat already? Did you know Thanksgiving 2013 is the first official Miller Family Thanksgiving. Well, the first year we are hosting it anyways. And it is the first year Diane will be joining. I am looking forward to her baking tomorrow. And cranberry relish too. All day with our family (well the ones that can join us) will be a blessing. I will be thinking Maddi, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents that we won’t see.

While patiently waiting the smoked turkey feast I have been crocheting and creating like crazy. I am almost all set for the holiday market on Saturday. Please check out the details here. I am a fan of shopping local. This little market is a perfect place to start!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Keep loving.