Thanksgiving in Bakersfield...The Pits!

This year in Bakersfield, we took a few turkeys and a roast over to my sister and Gabe's friend's house...Party Marty! Marty has a six foot deep pit in his backyard and every year he hosts a party the night before Thanksgiving to prep, stuff, wrap, and cook turkeys in his pit!

Staci, Marty, and Gabe
Gabe, Aaron, and Brian

We rubbed our turkeys with mayonaise and stuffed them with sausage, oranges, apples, and onions.


We put the turkeys in plastic bags and foil, wrapped them in burlap, and wired it shut.

We wired a washer onto the bag. Each washer had a letter for identification.

The wagon of wrapped turkeys ready to be pulled to the pit in the back of the yard

The pit

The next morning we went back to the pit to get our turkeys.

Notice the pulley by Caden...for lifting the very heavy lid (by the dog).

Marty has old playground equipment in his backyard.

Abbie tasting Marty's turkey that was stuffed with jalapenos and green chile sauce.

This was the best turkey EVER!!!

Back at Staci and Gabe's house...our turkey meat fell right off the bone...no knives or carving neccesary. Delicious!

More Thanksgiving Fun!

Staci, Hudson, Reese, Gabe
morning cartoons

playing outside

arts and crafts with Mimi

watching the parade with Papa

Staci got yummy turkey cookies for the kids and made sweet potato pie and chocolate pie from scratch! So good!

Friends Thanksgiving 2008

Our 17th Annual College Friends Thanksgiving!

Every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, my college roommates, Aaron's college roommates, and all of our families get together for a Thanksgiving feast! This all began in November 1992 in The Olive Tree apartments in Isla Vista (UCSB). We have continued this tradition every year since and we rotate houses each year. This year it was at our house. Our friends came from San Diego, Valencia, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.

This event also includes the annual "All Sports Day" competition in which the guys compete in random sporting activities. They earn points and the winner gets his name engraved on the coveted trophy cup! I am mad at myself for not going over to the park to take pictures of these events! This year's winner was Blondie (Mark). Congratulations Blondie!

Aaron rinsing the turkey.........Risa peeling potatoes

Some of the kids eating lunch

Risa's Brady and my Caden...........Nicole's Nicholas

Andrew and Couillard (Marc) lifting out the turkey

Top: Asher, Abbie, and Emma Middle: Paige and Macie Bottom: Caden, Brady, and Nicholas

Risa's Paige and my Macie

my Caden and Risa's Brady
my Abbie and Risa's Asher


The big kids at the kid dinner table
The girls

The guys

Mika giving Blondie a victory kiss!

The Withams..........................................................................The Andersons

We have such amazing memories with these people! Four awesome years at UCSB, the beach, the Gaucho basketball games, trips to Lake Arrowhead, trips to Mammoth, San Diego, birthday parties, weddings, deaths of loved ones, births of all our children (looking forward to Nicole and Neil's baby girl in a few weeks), fishing trips, and so many other special memories!