Thanksgiving dinner?

I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year.

I have always wanted a huge Thanksgiving. Likes ones I remember during the Navy days. While hubby was deployed, friends would reach out to us that had no one.
Great memories that made the day good in time of loneliness.

This year the my family has reached out to ones that have no one. My SIL is managing a deaf ministry so she has 3 friends coming and my hubby invited friends that have been very gracious and dear to us. And then cousins may be coming from out of town. This is adding up to about 29 people. Wow!

I have the menu planned out already. Monday is the big shopping day! Hubby wants me to take Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare most of the dishes.

Turkey
Prime rib

asparagus
corn
mashed potatoes and gravy
broccoli
spinach salad
yellow squash
sweet potato casserole - hubby is already asking and bragging. (makes me happy)
Stuffing made with homemade bread
fresh rolls
fresh made cranberry sauce and relish

pumpkin pies a apple
cookies for little ones

The appetizers I still playing around with
Deviled eggs
turkey roll up
cream cheese and red pepper jelly with crackers
stuffed mushrooms
or go with the old veggie platter and cheese and cracker

HELP!
Looking for any ideas anyone has on the appetizers. These listed are just ideas and not sure since I have so much cooking going on already I would like simple easy little prep.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today November 16, 2009

Outside my window...sun is rising giving the clouds the most beautiful fire outline. Little chill in the air with dew covered grass.

I am thinking....how nice it was to have dinner with friends.

I am thankful for...the time I have had in our country home. Why has having this house been a trial since the beginning. It always seemed to work out and we felt God wanted us here. Now 6 yrs later and we still are fighting to hold on. Every time we are ready to walk away a blessing comes our way to help hold on longer.

I am wearing.... pink nightgown just woke up. Hubbies coffee is brewing, good thing for spell check it obvious I am not awake enough to type.

I am remembering....to eat healthy. It is hard I love eating the not good for you foods. It is a constant decision to be making. Being away from the house is the hardest. It has begun to pay off so now I have a incentive!

I am going.....it is Monday we have orchestra practice our recital is Dec 7.

I am reading....school books about all I can fit into the week so far.

I am hoping....to be a size 10 again. I thought 12 was fat back then oh how I would love to be that today.

On my mind....math, out of 4 children I have one that is having trouble retaining facts. How do I help him? There has to be away for him so it is not so hard and frustrating to both of us.

From the learning rooms....definitely a math lesson. Then we have music, and later silent reading. If time allowing some history.

Noticing that....the year feels as though it is speeding up. Each day goes by quicker, one week to prepare my list for Thanksgiving. We are shopping on Monday then spending Tuesday and Wednesday preparing. Full house this year I am so excited!

Pondering the words...."Remember the days blessings. Forget the days troubles."

From the Kitchen....chicken and yellow rice I think. Need something in crock pot. Tacos and nachos, 15 bean soup, steak and onion sub. Some of the meals for the week.

Around the house....laundry there are piles everywhere I turn. I have never fallen this behind and had such a hard time catching up. Oh I know who the 4 little calibrates names are. I believe they will be helping hang some laundry today.

One of my favorite things....sharing 16 yrs with my husband. Yesterday was our anniversary!

From my picture journal.....ladies tea with family.

To see more daybooks visit The Simple Woman's Daybook. Thank you Peggy for hosting this every week.

Plans for today.....

Lets see if anything goes to plan.

Pick up house. Not a lot to do today, my amazing 13 yr old cleaned the kitchen by himself last night. WITH OUT BEING TOLD!!!

Laundry is started..looks as rain is due today. So we will need to keep an extra eye on the line.

Math needs to get done corrections made and a decision made with my 10 yr old. Is he not getting or not trying? Fact sheets are going to be priority.

I need to get my walk in before all of this or the walking will be lost....and the trampoline sometime before dark.

3 of the children are out playing at the moment which is good they are not trashing the house.

Kids have their choir today so the day is shorter for us with school and chores. Missed last week due to sickness around here.

Now off of here until tonight, washer just beeped ready to be hung. Then I am going for my walk, it is a good thing.

Blessing to everyone,

For Today November 9, 2009.....

Outside my Window....absolutely beautiful fall weather. The breeze coming in the window is so refreshing and enjoyable.

I am Thinking....Thanksgiving is on my mind.

I am Thankful for.....family. That my husband has parents that love him very much and have never walked away from him.

I am wearing...walking clothes getting ready to do my morning walk.

I am remembering....how much it means to my husband to have an all from scratch homemade Thanksgiving dinner. I love cooking it for him...a memory for my children.

I am going...drop books off at library, stop at a store and go to orchestra with my 4 children. They are all doing so good with their instruments. The first recital is Dec 7, it is around the corner.

I am reading...patterns..working on Christmas presents does not leave me much time between schooling 4 children and tending to our home.

I am hoping...to finish hand stitching a quilt I pieced last year soon. I have 2 boys asking for a quilt from mom for Christmas. Trying to figure out how to pull this one off. One doesn't care about the fabric so I could do his easily. The other son wants camouflage which means buying fabric and right now that is not in any budget around here.

On my mind....the families that are suffering from a lost loved one's right now. Two senseless shootings that took innocent life's this week.

From the learning rooms...daily math, reading always and for the oldest memorizing a poem. The other boys grammar and the youngest is learning long vowel sounds. This week the youngest who is 6 just was moved into Saxon 2 math. She is so excited!

Noticing that....the sun is setting earlier. Which means I need to get out sooner for my trampoline work.

Pondering these words....Every time I come to this section. I become stumped, makes me wonder if I ever have any deep thoughts. I am so in the here and now at this moment that there is not much intellectual thinking going on at this time.

From the Kitchen....enchiladas and nachos, tonight. Chili tomorrow, homemade pizza on Wednesday. not sure of Thursday and Friday just yet.

Around the house....Work continues at a slow pace with the remodeling. The drive is not there with the possibility we could lose the house. Prayers are need.....

One of my favorite things....joy of my family having a good time.

From my picture Journal...finished piecing the quilt top. Picture doesn't truly show it. After I sandwich I will try to get a better picture.

To see more daybooks visit The Simple Woman's Daybook. Thank you Peggy for hosting this every week.

Wonderful gift!

A pair of violin earrings that were being sold at orchestra. They are so cute. My son took all his money today and bought then for his mommy. What is so special is he has been saving and saving ever penny he gets.... Here is my sweet thoughtful son.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today November 2, 2009

Outside my window.....a bit dreary looking, temp dropped, more fall like.

I am thinking...the yuck in this house needs to go away. Baby girl has the mucus in her chest now that wants to just hang on. The boys and I are in our 3rd week.

I am thankful for....being able to home school my children.

I am wearing....walking clothes.

I am remembering.....the need to go by library on our way to orchestra.

I am going....try to relax with the as we watch a history video.

I am reading....recipes magazines, ideas for Thanksgiving. Not sure why I normally do traditional but I do like trying something new and different each year.

I am hoping....to begin to see some significant weight loss soon.

On my mind....meal planning for the week. Making sure the big meals are at the end since the cousins will be here.

From the learning rooms...looking for some good truthful history videos not sure where to begin would like to be WWI and WWII and Vietnam.

Noticing that....even though it has been hot and humid the trees still know it is time to drop their leaves. We just miss out on the wonderful colors.

Pondering these words...The Ten Commandments, been teaching the children the importance of them and memorizing.

From the kitchen...I am thinking chili. It is cool enough finally.

Around the house....decorated for Thanksgiving. I forgot about some of the things I had since they have been put up for 2 years.

One of my favorite things....bright colors of fall leaves.

From my picture Journal...violin practice along with his best friend Gloria.
To see more daybooks visit The Simple Woman's Daybook. Thank you Peggy for hosting this every week.