Thanksgiving

On November 25th we celebrated Thanksgiving in proper American style. We started the day off with the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade downtown. The event starts pretty early (at 9am), probably to give everyone enough time to prepare the Turkey after I guess.

 The parade in Houston is not as fancy as the one in New York but it is still pretty good and the main one for the state, sponsored by the big Texan Supermarket chain called HEB (Here Everything is Better - honest that is what it stands for).

Rick brought his paint brush to watch the Parade (we just painted the dining room at home) and managed to score yet another fancy set of Mardi Gras beads. 

 

Some things where quite high up in the air, like the TV helicopter and the inflatable Nemo, Dog, Sponge Bob and muppet that also came by. As it was very very windy some of the teams where struggling to keep their 'balloon figurines' up in the air.

 After about an hour and many floats, balloons, marching bands, entertainment troops, local Misses, local service brigades etc the Parade was over.

And so it was time to go home and prepare the Turkey.

The visiting Grand Parents immediately got enlisted to help out and alleviate the Turkey stress. Eelco had a lot to live up to after last years' success. The help obliged happily and after a major scare (Eelco cut off the tip of his finger - mainly nail), Sjoerd was actually left to do quite a bit of the Turkey work under Eelco's diligent supervision (with 1 hand in the air)

 

The result was amazing - the tukey was stunning ans so where the stuffing & cranberry sauce. Sietske prepped the traditional Green Bean casserole that goes with the Turkey and Marlouke and Joost brought the sweat potato mash with pecans.

 

 Little Maartje, Mees and Rick appreciated the food as well.

 By the way do you like the new pinkish color of the dining room? We finished painting at 10pm the evening before.... After the Turkey & sides we finished off with Sietske's amazing Pecan Pie and some coffee and Whiskey

And after everyone had gone home again and the mess was cleared away Rick enjoyed some private time with his Oma.