Thanksgiving or was it Christmas?

With all the snow and cold, Turkey day felt almost like Christmas!

We had hoped my parents would be here for the holiday and La-La's baptism but Mom was still recovering from a bad allergic reaction to iodine and did not feel up to a long drive yet. (We have scheduled La-La's big day for December 11 when my parents are planning to come!) So instead we invited ourselves to a friend's house, the other Dr Justin works with. They were happy to share the day with us and I was thrilled to not have to cook and clean the entire meal by myself!


Our friends live at the top of a steep driveway and after Monday's snow and ice storm, we could not drive all the way to their house; although we tried and ended up sideways stuck in a blackberry bush! We knew we would have to hike so we came prepared with all our snow gear and a sled to haul the food! So after getting unstuck and parked a little better, we burned lots of calories hiking and sliding our way up the hill.

While we finished cooking and preparing dinner, the kids had a ball sledding down the driveway. I even snuck a few runs in myself! I told them I was going to take pictures of the kids and just happened to slide down the ice once or twice!

Dinner was delicious with all the fixin's and the most amazing sweet potatoes I have ever had! They were so rich and delicious I had three servings! Just so you know, I usually do not eat sweet potatoes. I have never had sweet potato pie but I imagine what we ate, tasted like it!

After dinner, we talked while the kids played and then we all enjoyed pumpkin and apple pie made by yours truly! For me it is not Thanksgiving without the pumpkin pie I grew up on. Once you try it, you will never be happy with store bought dense pie! Just to be nice, here is the recipe!

Pumpkin Pie
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
2 cups canned evaporated milk (one can plus about 1/4 C regular milk works just fine)
3 TB corn starch
½ tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp salt
2 egg yolks

mix all ingredients except egg yolks in a microwave safe bowl. Cook in microwave on high for 3-4 minutes, stir and repeat until mixture is pudding consistency. Beat egg yolks in small bowl, add small amount of pie mixture to eggs, stir and add to pie mix. Cook for 3-4 for more minutes and spoon into baked pie shell. Cover pie with wax paper to prevent a thick film from forming on the pie and chill in refrigerator for several hours. Serve cold with whipped cream

It is truly the best pie I have ever had!

Around 8:30, we decided to brave the steep hill in the dark to head home. Jaco opted to sled down the hill. At one point the driveway became quite steep so all of us told Jaco to stop sledding and walk with the rest of us. He chose not to listen and went flying down the hill. He would have been fine except for the parked car that was in his path! We watched completely helpless as he barreled right for the car. We heard him slam into it and waited for the screaming to begin but by some miracle, he was fine! He said his body just kind of wedged under the car but no pain to be felt! I was picturing blood, bruises, and or broken bones!

We made it home safe and sound, had more pie, and went to bed happy, full, and grateful for small miracles among many other things!