Our Canadian Thanksgiving

This weekend was a whirlwind of family and friends – and it was awesome. We had Thanksgiving with my family on Saturday, then with Garrett’s family on Sunday and then finished it off with a family engagement brunch on Monday morning. I ate so much fantastic food and was able to spend lots of time with the ones I love. I got a little teary last night thinking that it was all over and that I have to wait until December to have everyone gathered together again.

My mom and sister did a fantastic job setting the table for Thanksgiving on Saturday. We had almost 20 people around the table and it is always chaos. But the good kind of chaos where all you can hear is laughter and the sound of forks clinking on plates – and when it’s all said and done, we get up from the table with full bellies and big smiles.

Right before our guests arrived on Saturday afternoon, we made a quick run to the pumpkin patch to grab some pumpkins to decorate the table.

I’m loving all the mini white pumpkins everywhere these days.

Our haul from the pumpkin patch. The sun was so bright that I just couldn’t keep my eyes open for the photo. This was the best of something like 40 takes.

Hanging out with these two was one of the best parts of the weekend. I miss the days when we used to be home together all the time, so I have to remember to stop and appreciate moments like this. I don’t remember to do that as much as I should.

To make the Thanksgiving arrangements, my mom grabbed some flowers from a local greenhouse.

 Bright orange gerbera daisies – one of my favourites.

 Beautiful yellow oranges with red tips.

 Yellow button mums – always so cute.

She arranged the flowers in lovely vintage vases with a bubble polka dot pattern. The table was scattered with mini pumpkins and crystal votive holders for a little glitz.

The cousins. I can’t believe how tall everyone is now. The kids table is now the bigger table (and always the loudest when we all get together).

My dad is an expert turkey carver and this year he taught me. I was so excited to learn all his tips and tricks. Now I want to make some roast chickens and practice before Christmas gets here.

You can tell which one is his – the nice evenly sliced top row. Mine was a a mix of thick and thin slices. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it over time.

We had an awesome spread. Turkey, ham, mom’s macaroni & cheese, my great aunt’s cranberry sauce, homemade stuffing, turnip, honey glazed carrots and the dish that I look forward to the most – my aunt’s creamy broccoli and cauliflower.

 The best view – looking down the table and seeing everyone enjoying their meal.

The mantle was loaded up with amazing desserts – Pumpkin Pie, a chocolate turkey surrounded by my sister’s awesome Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese, pumpkin spice white chocolate fudge from Vermont Nut Free Chocolates and Nana’s date squares. I’ll have to do a post on it soon because it turned out to be a great way to display the desserts out of the reach of curious dogs.

I ate the last piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast this morning and it was amazing. I really do think it should be recognized as a breakfast food. Right up there with cold leftover pizza.