Thanksgiving 2011

First ya gotta make the Turkey Place Settings

Thx to Linds for that contribution

now a j-fam tradition

Clair and Becka helpin out

Adding the eyes

(ps--who ate ALL the leftover OREOS?  Fess up you!)

Steamin it up in the Spa

...and hanging out :)

Pre-Feast

Carri helped me do ALL the cooking...

everything from scratch except 2/5 pies

Whew!

Everyone helped here and there... 

Thanks guys!

Taking 5

Our 1st Fried Turkey

Gorgeous!

Love this boy :)

Iron Chef Vaughn

Under the tutelage of Iron Chef Marsh

Two Chefs

Two Turkeys

~you decide which is which~

Marsh cramming the bird in the Fryer

(They were big)

Captain Vaughn lowering sloooooowly...

You can see it takes a Village

(No Vaughn does NOT use these gloves when cleaning toilets)

Deeves in her new house

(contrary to how it looks, 

no animals were harmed or maimed

in the making of this blog)

Pre-prayer

Post prayer

Ben is one happy camper--

it's his first Thanksgiving at HOME in 5 years

Deliciousness

Chow Time.  Clair is HAPPY

Our second Turkey, yum

Full Tummies

Can you say NAP ?!?!

***

BEACH TRIP

Ventura Coast

Kyler and Carri (Brigham in the background)

Great pic!

Brigham playing football with Marsh

Marsh and the Coast

There were dolphins off shore too!

Vaughn and Cami flying kites!

Luvin the surf

Cami got her kite up real quick

Vaughn's needed coaxing...

It had a mind of its own and at one point, took off--

with Lindsay and Vaughn wildly chasing after it.  

Saved the day those two!

Reeling her kite in...

Such a Beautiful Day!!

Marsh and the boys going to explore the rocks, with 

Carri, Clair and Becka right behind them, just not in the pic.

They found crabs and crabs and more crabs!

Naw, we didn't have crabs for dinner,

but we did go eat fish.

Becka and I ate SHARK! (she was so proud)

I love the colors, the beach, the coast.

Yes it's true... 

People actually LIVE here!

Cool dudes in their hoodies

After the sun went down, it was cold...

The sunset was so beautiful.

Nevermind... 

Lindsay is beautiful.

yeah, I took a lot of sunset pics

No, this is NOT a postcard

Becka was theee collector of the day

Clair was digger extraordinaire

Low tide, Smooth water

Kyler and Brigham and Emma had gone exploring,

else I'dve grabbed 'em for the family photo-op. 

Beautiful 

Becka and Clair are soooo happy around the water.

ANY water. 

They're not picky.

But they especially LOVED the ocean :)

We always wish we had more pictures!

A lot of videos were taken which really captured the fun moments. 

(Unfortunately, they're too big and won't upload.)  

Here's the sum up:

We slept in, went to Puss In Boots, fried our first turkeys ever, ate lots, 

ate some more, watched The Ringer (I totally cackled a ton), 

got 90 minute massages (best ever), 

went Black Friday shopping--multiple times for some,

descended on "Susie's Deals" ...and we found some DEALS!

...made more food and ate, ATE, ATE

swam in the cold pool (go Clair and Becka) 

relaxed in the steamy spa multiple times, 

went to Breaking Dawn (some of us), 

played games, went to the mall, made homemade binoits (french donuts)...

 trips to 7/11 and Starbucks (Carmel Apple Spice is AMAZING),

o'course, ate some more...

basically played super SUPER hard.  

--I'm exhausted just writin about it--

 Everyone got home safe and it was 'back to your lives citizens' on Monday. 

Hangovers big time, but smiles on everyone.

Same Bat-time, Same Bat-channel next year?

I'm in  :)