I hope all of you had a most wonderful Thanksgiving!

This year was difficult in that our family lost too many loved ones on the past year and a half. They were very much missed and in my thoughts for the days leading up the festivities and especially on the day of. I wanted this year to be a celebration of our family, near and far, and all that we are blessed with.

We had a great day with lots of laughs, card playing, loud talking like only Italians can, rainbow loom making and of course AMAZING food!!! This was our first time hosting Thanksgiving and it came together with some help from my father in law who seriously kicked some butt with an incredible turkey!!! I’m pretty sure that there is no living up to that bird, it was that good!

Here are some pictures from our day….

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It all started with a delicious breakfast, overnight banana french toast with homemade whipped cream & berries.

Back to the bird for a minute… My father in law prepping the bird the morning of. Butter, olive oil & herbs rubbed under the skin, stuffed with a basic stuffing and draped with a wine/butter/herb soaked cheese cloth. The cheese cloth was left on for the first portion of cooking then removed for browning. WOW!!! Juicy & incredibly flavorful!

My table! Its simple but I LOVE how it turned out!!!

Food, Family & Fun!
All of our fancy Pilgrim & Indian hats were courtesy of our big guy Jack {he was too busy having fun to sit and take a picture with us heehee}.

And we can’t forget dessert {as if we hadn’t eaten enough yet}