reservations

well, thanksgiving dinner at that tapas restaurant I mentioned didn't quite work out as planned. turns out the restaurant that took our reservations ended up being closed on thanksgiving (totally reminded me of that seinfeld episode- clip below). so where does one go when almost every restaurant in the city is closed? why cracker barrel, of course (well, it was either that or piccadilly). there is nothing more my dad appreciates than a good deal. we got turkey, ham, 3 sides, a drink & a piece of pumpkin pie for $8.99. it was actually delicious & we ended up having the best time. we pretty much giggled our way through the entire meal ("I can't believe we are those people who are eating thanksgiving dinner at cracker barrel!"). god bless that place. 

 {kara & robert, waiting on a table}

 {you better believe my martha-stewart-mother would never fail provide cute place cards on a holiday}

 {a little pre-meal game}

{thanks to our amazing friends the xides for letting us crash at their place & finish their puzzle}

thankful

boy, we all have a lot to be thankful for, don't we? it's so easy in this society to feel sorry for ourselves & obsess over what we don't have instead of what we do. this year I'm feeling extremely grateful for my health, my faith & the love & support of those around me. what are you feeling grateful this season?

this thanksgiving is the first time in family history that we're breaking a big tradition. after losing pop over the summer, we all felt it would be too hard to go back to the lakehouse
this year without him (thanksgiving was his very favorite holiday). so we're doing something crazy. we're headed to atlanta today to stay with my sister & get this... we are skipping thanksgiving dinner altogether. we're going out to eat at a tapas restaurant on thursday! totally crazy, I know. but I suppose thanksgiving isn't so much about what you eat as it is about who you're with. and I'm pretty proud of myself for trying something new. I have a bit of a problem with change (I'm the one who pitches a fit if a certain food gets left off the thanksgiving day menu. like that one time when my mom tried to make the argument that mashed potatoes & sweet potatoes were basically the same thing!! um... no!)

I did, however, manage to get a little baking in - smitten kitchen's salted caramel apple tart. hopefully it travels well. 

happy thanksgiving, friends! 

thankful

it was, yet again, a wonderful thanksgiving. it was on the small side this year, as some of the family was traveling. and my sis works in retail, so therefore she couldn't make it into town (thanks, black friday!). but other than that, it was a beautiful day at the lakehouse, with lots of super-delicious food. I am reminded all the time how incredibly grateful I am for the countless blessings in my life. god is good! 

{prepping to smoke the ham}

{grammie is still the world's best thanksgiving cook}

{we are thankful for the lazy susan}

{post-meal walk around the lake -  to help make room for dessert}

{too chilly to swim}

{robert trekking through the weeds}

{the lake at sunset is a beautiful thing}

thankful

I love thanksgiving & all of the traditions that come along with it. this year robert & I made some new things for the feast at the lakehouse. I love getting together with my whole family every thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for!

{ina's cranberry fruit conserve} 

{prepping the honey glazed carrots} 

{prepping the roasted garlic mashed potatoes}