After Thanksgiving

 On Saturday morning my dad and I cooked up ohukaisia (Finnish crepes) for everyone.

 We had three pans going to keep up with the crowd. Bacon, fruit salad, and cookies rounded out the meal.

Nora has a little of several toppings on this one. It can be hard to choose what to have. After brunch we had an unexpected chance to see a house that was going to be for sale.

That night we had sandwiches. Nora's creation was cheese, salami, and a potato chip topped with herring. She says her everything sandwich was better than the one she made with turkey.

Thanksgiving

After our exercise the kids and I came home to finish cooking. Maryann drove over and made it in time for lunch. I made festive mashed potatoes (peeled!) with the ricer that is on long-term loan from my sister.

After lunch there was game playing and napping and reading and relaxing.

Desserts with coffee in the afternoon and turkey sandwiches in the evening. A good day with family remembering all we have to be thankful for.

Turkey Trotting

Two years in a row makes this a firmly established tradition.

But if we run into bad weather it's one I'm ready to relinquish. This year that wasn't a problem and we had another lovely sunny morning for our walk. Penny walked some and rode in the stroller some. Millie and Mark stayed home with the actual turkey in the oven.

Henry did some running and was our fastest finisher. It's fun to see the costumes that some of the runners wear.

Pre-Thanksgiving festivities

Anja brought facial hair for everyone.

It was a hit. By the end of the evening Henry had a mustache, beard with sideburns, and thick eyebrows. 

The baby did not think this game was funny.

A wedding

A friend from our church had a lovely fall wedding. Mark and Henry stayed home to take care of Helena, so Nora, Penny, Millie, and I represented our family.

They had a brunch reception with lots of delicious food.

Penny was my helper that morning when we dropped some things off at the church. She is able to ask the same question repeatedly despite getting the same answer every time. 

We wish them a long and happy life together!

Little patient

Poor Helena got sick just as we were gearing up for Thanksgiving preparations.

We are glad for antibiotics and that a few days of rest had her back to normal.

Gratitude

We collected different kinds of leaves and made some crayon rubbings.

Then we cut out some of the leaf shapes, took turns thinking things we were thankful for to write on them, and hung them up.

Among other things, the children are thankful for...
air
turkey
Blue dog and Butcher bear  (stuffed animals)
Daddy
friends
stars
pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pudding
sandbox and shovels
chocolate
being tucked in by Daddy at night
family
candy

We are certainly blessed.

Roll it and pat it

Penny helped me shape the rolls for dinner. She had a great time.

 And the bread dough can take rough handling.

Can you spot the ones made by kids?

They love to eat their own creations.

Crafty

Nora has taken to weaving mats out of the iris leaves.

I think she was inspired by playing with a potholder loom that belongs to a friend.