Thanksgiving Memories and Continued Traditions

This year my "official" Thanksgiving festivities began with Parker Ann inviting me to her Thanksgiving Feast at school...

She continued to sing, "I'm Glad I'm Not a Turkey on Thanksgiving Day" for the rest of the weekend!

                                                                 Our cute little Indian.

And then the rest of the week preceding Thanksgiving was filled with preparations for the meal.  I had decided to once again host the meal at my house,  but this year I wanted to learn to make my mother's "Famous Cornbread Dressing".  Up until this year, I had always depended on my mom to make the dressing and it was still as yummy as ever.  BUT...it was time for me to learn how to make it myself so that I could pass the recipe and tradition down to my own daughter.  So I told my mother I would pick her up Wednesday to spend the day and night with me and we would make the dressing and she could be here to spend the entire day with us on Thanksgiving.

 There is no written recipe for this dressing...except now I have it since I wrote it down with all sorts of little notes of special secrets.

   And Parker Ann showed up to help us too!  I predict she will be a very good little chef some day.

 And since Justin was my only child able to make it in for this holiday, Parker got some extra special attention from everyone.

 Another surprise this year was that my in-laws 56th Wedding Anniversary fell on Thanksgiving Day!

The dressing was DELICIOUS, if I may say so myself and proof of that was the naps they were taken after lunch...

                                     HEY...At the end of the day it's all about the nap, isn't it?!

    I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving while counting your many blessings.  I sure did!

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Gobble, Gobble GIVEAWAY!

Our Etsy Shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop/ittyknittynoggins  is having a THANKSGIVING GIVEAWAY.  Find out the details on either our Face Book Page or follow us on Instagram @ittyknittynoggins.  This will only be the first of several specials we will be offering.  Also be watching for our BLACK FRIDAY SALE and a FABULOUS CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY, that will include several other SUPER CUTE ETSY SHOPS!  You definitely DO NOT want to miss out on these.

                                                   GOBBLE, GOBBLE GIVEAWAY!
You will get to choose from either bow ties or hair bows.  Items will be given to one individual on Face Book AND Instagram so enter both to get an EXTRA ENTRY!

                         HERE'S TO WISHING YOU A VERY BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

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A Double Baby Dedication

After Hubby's BIG 50th CELEBRATION, we had another big day on Saturday as we all headed to Shreveport for a family friend's wedding.  And then Sunday was a Double Baby Dedication for our babies, with both Holli and Beckett being dedicated at our church.

                             And look who showed up in my bed first thing that morning!

   These two sweet babies enjoyed playing with each other while their parents got dressed for church.

                                                     And then it was time for breakfast...

                       I love seeing these two babies of mine taking care of their two babies.

And when I emerged from my room ready to leave, I found that these two cuties were both dressed in blue for their special day...and it wasn't even planned!

Kevin could not get off from work for the dedication so David and Codi decided to dedicate Beckett at the same time so Caitlin wouldn't have to be there by herself.

                                  And, of course, I was there to help out with the babies too.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.  Both of my children were dedicated in this church, baptized in this church and married there; it was a pretty special day.

                            I had to have a picture of me and these two precious ones as well.

After the church service, we (all 23 of us...) ate lunch in the church restaurant, where we were also lucky enough to snap this family photo in front of a Christmas tree...I'm thinking Christmas card photo?

The weekend was busy, fun, loud and filled with a house bursting at the seams with all of my family here... just what I like!  Who could ask for anything better?

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Back Yard Renovation Finished Just In Time For A Birthday Celebration!

For the past couple of weeks, I have have been busy beyond belief.  Caitlin and Holli came in for 10 days, followed by all of the other kids and grand kids for what was a super fun weekend of events!

First, I had been planning Robby's big 50th birthday celebration for quite some time.  While he was gone on a hunting trip, I finalized all of the details with a little help from Pinterest...

 Thankfully, the back yard renovation was FINALLY finished and we could entertain for the party out there!

                           With the help of Pinterest, I placed cute little 50th posters around...

                                                              Pinterest-Inspired Poster.

              I hung the pallet wine rack that Justin made me over the farm sink. (Pinterest)

 The Cake Barn created this great cake in keeping with my "Aged to Perfection" theme for the party.

                                                 I found these cute napkins on E-Bay!

                                                         Another little Pinterest project.

          YAY!  My furniture made it in before the party!  I was sweating it there for a while.

                                   We also got the bathroom finished by hanging the mirror.

The party turned out great and I am so happy that his space is finally ready so that we can enjoy our back yard again!  The party was only the beginning, though; we had more events planned for this busy weekend...

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It's Pinterest Recipe Day: White Cheese and Chicken Lasagna

When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, it looked so good that I HAD to pin and give it a try!  I, however, tweaked it a little bit to make it a bit more healthy.

WHITE CHEESE and CHICKEN LASAGNA
                         INGREDIENTS

• 9 whole Lasagna Noodles (not Oven-ready)
• ½ cups Butter
• 1 whole Onion, Chopped
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• ½ cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• 1-½ cup Milk
• 4 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, Divided
• 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, Divided, Plus Additional 1/4 Cup For Topping (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Each, Dried Basil And Oregano
• ½ teaspoons Ground Pepper
• 2 cups Ricotta Cheese
• 2 cups Cooked, Cubed Chicken
• 1 package (10 Oz. Size) Frozen Chopped Spinach, Thawed And Drained
• 1 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Parsley

My Substitutions:
*Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles
*I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
*Low Fat Cheeses
*Fresh Spinach

                                               First, boil your noodles, drain and set aside.

                Next, melt butter in a saucepan and add onion and garlic, stirring until tender. 

                                              Then, add flour and salt and stir until bubbly.

                               Mix in broth and milk and boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute.

                              Stir in 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

             Season with basil, oregano and ground black pepper.  Remove from heat and set aside.

                                                 Mix chicken and ricotta cheese together.

                                  

    Now, start with the layering.  Put 1/3 of the sauce mixture on the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish.

                                          Next, place 3 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.

                         Then, put all of the ricotta, chicken mixture on top of the noodles.

                                                       Put 3 more noodles on top of that.

                                                   Put 1/4 sauce on top of the noodles.

                                                                    Add the spinach.

             And the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

  

Top with the rest of the sauce, parsley and additional 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (optional).

                      Bake 35-40 minutes in a preheated 350 degrees oven.

                                                    Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

DECISION:  This is definitely a "2 Thumbs Up" recipe!  We LOVED it and will be making it again.
                      Original recipe can be found on:  www.tastykitchen.com

                                                                       BON APETITE!

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