A Proper Three-Day Thanksgiving!

Last week, true to the first Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a three-day feast with family visiting from NYC and North Carolina. 

The table was all set with my Friendly Village china! There was enough to use for everyone and everything!

Family arrived late morning and into the afternoon so we had lots of appetizers including these amazing Butternut Squash Crostinis.

Here is the appetizer table:

Our weather was nice and warm and the kids took their swords outside to fight!

Lots of conversation going on over food.

And then we finally got to THE meal itself!

Here it is!

We had a lovely time around the table. A highlight for me was going around the table and each person taking a chance to read about one of our ancestors from the very first Thanksgiving in 1621 right down to the present. It blows my mind to think of all the trials and hardships various generations endured, including one ancestor named Shadrach who was imprisoned on a British ship in the Manhattan harbor during the Revolutionary War. Except for many acts of Providence we would not be here today. God is faithful over centuries!

Later on we enjoyed a pie smorgasbord!

The little cousins had fun together!!

I went to bed tired, with a kitchen full of dishes yet to do. But, I woke up to this the next morning!!! WOW!!!

A sweet little elf had done some work.

I really appreciated that because we left at 9:25 am for a busy day! I sent the relatives to have tea with mom while I went to meet my friend's darling baby!!!! Isn't he cute!!!!

After I pulled myself away from the baby, I picked up Rachel and my cousin Anna and we went to lunch together downtown at Milktooth! Can you just see how good this food was?!!!

We ate outside because it was busy. And we had a lot of fun together! It's funny that there is only a gap of almost 6 years between the youngest cousin in my generation and Rachel.

Oh yes! I'm sure many of you know where we went after that!!!! Anna was delighted to discover Goodwill Outlet for the very first time!

Mom and Christina drove over to join in the fun!

Then everyone reconvened at our house for snacks and dinner.

I served my favorite salad: spinach, persimmons, goat cheese, candied pecans, and dried cranberries.

We had leftover pie for dessert (oh, and breakfast too). Saturday we met down at Wildwood Market for brunch. Here is Uncle Bob and Anna holding up Uncle Bob's amazing soda invention.

The shop is always beautiful and always a treat to visit!

The family loved it!!!

Here I am with cousin Anna -- remember her from New York City?! Maybe we are starting a trend! Maybe someday she and I will have our picture together in another amazing city!

Have to take a picture of lunch!!!!

And the breakfast sandwich (gluten free and dairy free version):

After brunch we headed to the Indianapolis Museum of Art since it was a free day! (YES!!!!) After walking around we stopped for some coffees. Time for more good fellowship!

Then we walked out to visit the Lily House and the modern art Christmas tree.

Well, we managed a half group shot!

It was fun to walk around and admire the lovely interior of the Lily House.

The kids loved it all too!

Favorite room was the dining room -- look at the magnolia garland and the bright orange from the clementines.

Then we headed to Christina's for one more family dinner!

And lots more happy conversation!

Arthur decided that Michael is his new favorite person (other than his own parents and brother!!). He spent the weekend calling, "Michael, Michael!"

Christina's house was festively decorated for Christmas!

And the table was just lovely!! Aunt Georgie made moussaka and Christina put together a delicious salad:

And there was the most wonderful gingerbread for dessert!!!

And with that the weekend was over. Such special memories. Many things to thank the Lord for!