Almost Dinner Time (Photostory)

It's Thanksgiving Day and family will be arriving in a few hours.  Antoinette got up early to finish her dinner and get the kids bathed and dressed.  All that's left to do is get the dining room situated before she can shower and get dressed. There is a lot going on in the Taylor dining room.  Most of which Antoinette is not happy about.  She wishes she could snap her fingers and everything would be done.

Antoinette surveys the room.  She wishes she had all gold chairs, but sadly she doesn't.

She takes a look at the table cloth and decides to change it before dinner.  She thinks a white one will be much better.  Nikaya enters the dining room.

"Mommy, can Nicole come over now, so we can play?"  (Nikaya)

"No. She will be coming with her family in a few hours."  (Mom) 

"But she's right next door.  Can I go over there, then?"  (Nikaya)

"No, Nikaya.  I need you here in case I need help."  (Mom)

"But mom, I never get to go play with my friends."  (Nikaya)

"Nikaya, I'm trying to think. Please be quiet."  (Mom)

"Better yet.  Go get your dad.  I need his help."  (Mom)

"DADDY!"  (Nikaya)

"Stop yelling and go find him."  (Mom)

Tony enters a little while later, with a whimpering Kenaz in his arms.

"What's wrong with my baby?"  (Mom)

"He bumped his head.  He's alright."  (Dad)

"Let me have him."  (Mom)

"Awww, my poor baby.  Are you okay?"  (Mom)

"You look like you need a nap."  (Mom)

"Honey, what did you call me in here for?"  (Dad)

"Oh yes.  I almost forgot.  I need you to move some things in here so I can make room for the kid's table."    (Mom)

"Why not just let the kids eat in the kitchen?"  (Dad)

"Because it's Thanksgiving and I want the whole family together."  (Mom)

"Daddy, daddy, daddy.  Save me"  (Zahara)

"Save you from what?"  (Dad)

"Kaya is trying to get me."  (Zahara)

Nikaya comes running in the room.

"Nikaya, what is going on?  You both know there's no running in the house."  (Mom)

"She threw my books on the floor."  (Nikaya)

"Zahara, apologize to your sister."  (Dad)

"I'm sorry."  (Zahara)

"No, you're not."  (Nikaya)

"She apologized.  You need to accept her apology."  (Dad)

"But she's just going to do it again."  (Nikaya) 

"I need you both to go find something constructive to do.  If you can't get along, and let me finish what I'm doing, you will be spending Thanksgiving in your room."  (Mom)

"Okay, okay.  We're leaving."  (Nikaya)

Nikaya turns and leaves.  Zahara reluctantly follows behind.

"Ok.  So I will make room for the kid's table.  Anything else?"  (Dad)

"No.  I think that will do it."  (Mom)

"I'm going to put him down for a nap and help the girls find something to do, before someone gets hurt.

Goodness only knows what this room will look like when dinner starts in a few hours.  And by a few hours, I mean this weekend.  See you then!

FYI - Zahara and Kenaz are wearing outfits from the clothes found in the trunk.  Antoinette and Nikaya are both wearing outfits I bought at the recent doll show.

Turkey Time!

When we left the Taylor family, Antoinette had just seen her husband off to work.  She had a long day ahead of her getting things prepped for Thanksgiving dinner.

The turkey is ready to be prepped.

She will add some stuffing in the cavity of the turkey, along with doing some in a pan.  After prep, she sets the turkey aside and decides to go ahead and make dinner.  That will be one less thing she has to worry about.  She decides on chicken pot pie.  It's an all-in-one meal, and the kids just love it.

She's such the professional.  I personally would have just foregone all the fancy stuff, since it was just for the family, but she always likes to go the extra mile.

Tony, nor the kids, will probably even notice the fancy details, but she feels better doing it.  You never know who might pop over for dinner.

After taking the chicken pot pie out the oven, she pops in the turkey.  Hours later, and the turkey is ready to be served.  She's pretty pleased with the results.

She better get a move on this Thanksgiving dinner.  It will be Christmas before she knows it.  

Chicken pot pie is currently in the Etsy store.  Unbaked turkey and stuffed turkey will be available, (MADE TO ORDER), in the Etsy store soon.  If you don't want to wait for the listing, send me an email at vanessamorrison68@gmail.com for more information, or to place your order.

The Guests Have Arrived at Nikki and Darius'

Nikki has just finished a few last minute details.  Their friends should be arriving any minute.  They are looking forward to a nice, casual evening with a few hor d'oerves and desserts.

"Honey, what are you looking for?"  (Nikki)

"I was checking to make sure we had Cokes and Sprites."  (Darius)

"I guess I can take this apron off, now."  (Nikki)

*DING DONG*

"It's showtime."  (Nikki)

"I'll get the door."  (Darius)

Darius returns moments later with his cousin, Jacquelyn.

"Hey, girl."  (Jacquelyn)

"Hey, Jacquelyn.  I told you, you didn't have to bring anything."  (Nikki)

"This is not from me.  It's from my mother.  I stopped by on the way over here and she insisted I bring this."  (Jacquelyn)

"Is that her rum raisin coffee cake?"  (Darius)

"Sure is.  Hope you don't mind, Nikki."  (Jacquelyn)

"Not at all.  I would never turn down anything your mom cooks, or anything with rum in it."  (Nikki)

They all start laughing.

"Ummm.  It's still warm and it smells wonderful.  Your mom knows she can throw down in the kitchen."  (Nikki)

"Looks like you've been throwing down, too."  (Jacquelyn)

"I do alright."  (Nikki)

*DING DONG*

Darius heads to the door to see who else has arrived. 

"I will have to call your mom, later, to thank her."  (Nikki)

Just then, Pierre and Nicole walk in.

"Well hello you two.  I'm so glad you could make it.  I haven't seen you guys in ages."  (Nikki)

"Hey guys.  Yes, it's been a minute."  (Nicole)

"Well come on in and have a seat.  Can I take your jacket, Nicole?"  (Nikki)

"Not just yet.  I am a little chilly."  (Nicole) 

"So what have you two been up to?"  (Nikki)

"Mainly work.  We did take a week off to go to Florida to visit my family."  (Nicole)

"Everyone seems to be traveling these days.  This one just came back from Egypt."  (Nikki) 

"You went to Egypt!  How was that?"  (Nicole to Jacquelyn)

Just then Racquel enters the room

"Hey guys!" (Racquel)

"Hey Racquel"  (Everyone in the room)

"Are you flying solo, tonight?"  (Nikki)

"Oh no.  Terrance and Darius took a detour to his office."  (Racquel)

"I'm going to strangle Darius."  (Nikki) 

"Come on in and sit down.  As soon as Darius comes back, I'll have him fix us some drinks."  (Nikki)

"Feels good to get off my feet."  (Racquel)

"How's the boutique coming along?"  (Jacquelyn)

"I can't complain.  Sales are pretty steady."  (Racquel)

"Do you have a nice selection of formal gowns? We are having a big Christmas party at work, and I'm trying not to wait until the last minute to find a dress."  (Nicole)

"I will be putting out Christmas dresses next week.  Stop by and take a look.  I ordered some really nice ones."  (Racquel)

Darius and Terrance finally show up.

"Honey, where have you been?"  (Nikki)

"Ummm.  Terrance had to show me something."  (Darius)

"Well, we are all waiting for you to do the drinks."  (Nikki)

"I'm on it."  (Darius)

"Come on Terrance, you can have my seat."  (Nikki)

"Okay guys, what would you like to drink?  We have red and white wine, beer, soda, seltzer, club soda, and tea."  (Nikki) 

"I'll have a beer."  (Terrance)

"White wine for me."  (Racquel)

"I'll just take a Coke."  (Jacquelyn)

"Ummm, you got a Heineken over there?"  (Pierre)

"Of course."  (Darius)

"I'll have a white wine, too."  (Nicole)

"Honey, I'll take care of the drinks." (Darius)

"You sure?  If so, I'll go ahead and cut the coffee cake.  Everything else is ready."  (Nikki)

The guests continue to chat while waiting for their drinks.  

Darius and Nikki join the group after serving the drinks and putting some of the hor d'oerves and desserts on the coffee table.  The conversation and laughter are flowing freely.  After several hours, Jacquelyn is the first to announce she has to leave.  Shortly thereafter, the other two couples follow suit, and call it a night.  Terrance and Racquel are excited to have a night alone.  Baby Shay is spending the night with Grandpa and Grandma.  Nikki and Darius clean up a bit before turning in for the night.

FYI -  Mrs. Langford's Rum Raisin coffee cake was a hit.  So much so, I decided to put one in the Etsy shop.