Our Family Thanksgiving(s)

This year, and last, my family celebrated Thanksgiving twice.

Because, why not?

On real Thanksgiving, we had dinner at my sister's mother in law's.

Or as I like to say, my mother-in-law-in-law's.

She hosts a lovely Thanksgiving.

And my sister's sister-in-law Heather (aka my sister-in-law-in-law, you follow?)

was home from college,

and she set and decorated the table.

My dad got an extra special place setting.

The moms chat it up in the kitchen.

My MILIL makes the most amazing Potato Bread.

Soft.

Buttery.

Delicious.

I've been looking forward to it since last Thanksgiving.

Third helpings consumed.

There was also plenty of Heather, aka SILIL to go around.

She even made a drink menu.

Huge selection.

I went with blood orange italian soda.

SO GOOD.

They also have a cat.

I do not like cats.

At all.

My allergies do not like cats.

At all.

But...huge but,

Henry aka SparkleCat, is not your typical cat.

And makes for some seriously awesome holiday entertainment.

He enjoys the bag.

And I can carry him around like a baby.

Without getting any cat dander on me.

Allergy win.

I also took him for a spin after dinner.

I promise you he liked it.

He went back to the bag for more torture attention shortly after.

Also after dinner, there was some InstaGramming.

And a sister who was hating on my InstaGramming, 

by InstaGramming pics of me InstaGramming.

(Still with me?)

But, um, hello, back atcha sis:

And then there was some Facetiming. From across the room.

Family fun, right?

My mom also likes to cook her own Thanksgiving dinner so she can have leftovers all week.

And by cook her own, I mean, have my dad cook a full meal for her.

However, their microwave died this week.

Which is not convenient for leftovers.

Also not convenient

is the oven blowing a fuse.

We blow a fuse EVERY holiday we cook.

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

Although, this was the first time that it was just the oven.

Usually its the entire kitchen circuit.

Mylie took over on watching the oven for blown circuits.

She had it all under control.

The good news is, I voted this the best Thanksgiving dinner my dad ever cooked.

Everything tasted SO GOOD.

Mom liked it too.

And after working hard all day,

 Dad tried to eat his dinner in peace.

Key word: TRIED.

I also had a Pumpkin Pie Throwdown.

With myself.

I used the Trader Joe's Pie Pumpkin recipe. (Made with Condensed Milk)

Vs.

The Libby's Canned Pumpkin recipe. (Made with Evaporated Milk)

But for both, I used freshly roasted pumpkin.

Homemade crusts.

And homemade pumpkin pie spice.

Mom and Dad were MORE than happy to be taste testers.

I thought for sure the Libby's recipe would win.

In the end, the TJ's recipe was the winner.

3-0.

But with two turkey dinners on our belts. 

Waistlines.

Whatever.

Everybody won.