A Birthday on Thanksgiving

This past Thanksgiving also happened to be Catherine's birthday.  She was actually born on Thanksgiving as well!

Early birthday gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Klingele.

Thanks, Grandma!

The annual ripping of bread for Thanksgiving stuffing.

All of the kids enjoy this job!

We decided to celebrate Catherine's birthday the next day, but she opened one present on her birthday.

Birthday celebration morning found Catherine learning how to shoot a BB gun.

Dominic aimed at the target.

Anne's turn.

Here was Joseph.  

The target.  Joseph actually hit the bulls eye! (Anthony did not get to shoot.)

Catherine got to choose a fun activity with Daddy for her birthday.

Go-Karts!

Catherine chose a horse-themed cake. 

Happy Birthday to Catherine!

A present from Anne.  It was a horse (of course!).

A camera!

Horse trailer.

The Year of the Turducken!

Thanksgiving 2013 was a good day.  We cooked one turkey in the turkey fryer, and the other one was baked.  The baked turkey was special, as it was a Turducken:  a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey.  No, we did not stuff the birds inside each other ourselves.  We bought it already done.  I can only imagine how messy that must be!

Turkey fryer turkey got injected with a Cajun sauce.

After this, the kids got busy ripping up bread for the dressing.

Pause for a few smiles.

At the right time, Dan slowly lowered Mr. Tom into the boiling oil.

There he goes!

Dominic stepped on the do not cross line that Dan drew around the turkey fryer.  Anthony busted him.

Yep, I mean you.

All done!  Doesn't that look good?

The kids couldn't wait to dig in!

The Turducken, fresh from the oven.

Time to slice it up.

Isn't that interesting?!  It came with a rice stuffing inside.  The Turducken tasted good, but I wouldn't want to get one every year.

Let the feast begin!

After the feast (and clean-up and napping), the kids played dodge ball with Daddy, except with a football.

Thanksgiving 2012

We found out on the day before Thanksgiving that our little Benedict Joseph had died in utero, so we had kind of a quiet Thanksgiving at home.  Well, not really quiet, with 5 little squirts running around, all excited.  Subdued might be a better word, at least on my part.

One turkey was already in the oven, but this turkey was slated for a different fate.

Dan lowered the turkey into the fryer.

The captive audience.

How long is that turkey going to take?

A little baseball action while the turkey fried.

All done!

Much to be thankful for.

Mommy and the kids.

Pumpkin pie made from a pumpkin out of our garden!

Yummy!

Enjoying the pumpkin pie.

November Catch-Up

The kids and their cousins waiting for their concert to start.

 

This year the homeschool choir concert was held in mid-November.  The little kids chanted the Our Father, then sang Father, I Adore You and Had a Little Rooster. These were followed by four songs accompanied with either rhythm sticks or egg shakers. The kids loved using the instruments.

The combined little kids' and big kids' choirs.

   Together the choirs sang Oh, Susanna! and How I Love My America.

Close-up of the kids.  Catherine and Dominic are in the second row and Anne is in the front row.  There were 25 kids in the little kids' choir this fall, though not all of them sang in the concert, like our Joseph. 

The weekend before Thanksgiving we were able to visit my parents.  We had a nice visit.

The kids with my mom.

Catherine hugs my dad, thanking him for the birthday present.

Thanksgiving was spent here at our house.

The kids watch Daddy prepare the turkey for the oven.

What fun to rip up lots of bread for the dressing! 

Our Thanksgiving feast!