Friday Favorites - Thanksgiving 2023 edition

And, after planning for this day for an entire year, it's over and the clock is reset for next year!

Happy Friday this post-Thanksgiving day. As usual I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika and other bloggers who planned to put out content today/this weekend. If I don't get it done today these pictures and memories will most likely stay in my head forever. . .it's that time of the year.

FAMILY

This year all the "regulars" were present and accounted for :)

The intro picture with our oldest goofing off with his glasses is the Bell family that generally gathers together each year. . .the above picture with our youngest doning the ridiculous glasses includes the addition of our Maxwell framily and Jason, a regular Thanksgiving guest at the table.

And this is the crew that travels from Knoxville and Chattanooga to be with everyone:

These people are enough to fill my "Thankful" list but there was more, of course.

BEAUTIFUL TABLE DECORATIONS

We had an "adult" table (and there was another table set up in the entryway for 4 more adults)

A beautiful buffet table

And a "kids" table. Even though, technically according to our government, they are all considered "adults" - ha! Aunt Debbie said they can't graduate from the Kids' Table until they have kiddos of their own :)

TURKEY

Yes, per tradition, we have THREE turkeys - one smoked, one baked, one fried. For me the smoked one was the winner this year - it was marinated in an English tea concoction - so flavorful!! Honestly, though, picking one "favorite" is extremely difficult.

Plenty of drumsticks to go around too!

DESSERT

This is as much of a tradition as the rest of it - Nancy's apple pie, Patrick's carrot cake, Barbara's cheesecake, and our peanutbutter pie.

If you are counting you see two additional desserts there - a pumpkin pie and pumpkin torte, compliments of Nancy and Barbara. Truly, what do you pick??

Tom and I started with this. . .and there were refills ;)

Grandpa Fred especially likes his desserts!!!

And some were put into a food coma. . .

GAMES & CHRISTMAS

We heard a lot of noise upstairs - a rousing game of Parcheesi!! It was so great to relax watching the girls play a game, listen to some Christmas music (which we do not do until after turkey has been consumed) and enjoy some of the decorations already out. Stephen was relaxing next to the Thanksgiving tree downstairs: