All the Pictures I've Not Been Sharing

I'm not entirely sure where the last 3 weeks have gone. Perhaps it got lost somewhere between my ferocious bout of strep throat, trying to shop for everyone's Christmas gifts from a small island in the Pacific, and cramming all things Christmas into a 3 week window. So in an attempt to recap what the McClellan's have been up to these last couple of weeks, I have some quality pics coming your way! Let's start with Thanksgiving. Our friends Donna and Jerrod hosted a "Friendsgiving" at their house for our Texas family, and I decided I would share with the group, the yumminess that is my Grandma Schatzi's cherry pie. Why I thought this would be a good idea I'm not certain. Cherry pie is not a dessert where my culinary skills really "shine". There is a lot of lattice work crust involved and really that's just too much precision and detail for this girl. Especially when our grocery store decides that Kwaj doesn't need pre-packaged pie crusts. WHO DOESN'T STOCK PIE CRUSTS THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING?!?!??! Kwajalein, that's who. But not to worry, I suffered from a brief Manic episode where I thought...

 "Self: you got this! Your Nana made her own pie crusts from scratch, and you can too!"

Mom. When I called you and asked for Nana's pie crust recipe, you should really have told me to just quit while I was ahead. Pie crusts are no joke. Especially when your working with a recipe that gives such user friendly, specific instructions like:

-Add water to the flour mixture slowly, don't add it too fast...add just enough so it mixes well. Oh yea, and the water should be icy cold. Happy Baking!

Ah perfect...I love specific instructions with exact amounts. Really doesn't leave a lot of room for error.

After my 3rd attempt at a pie crust, I think Johnathon could sense that I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and came to my rescue. Between the 2 of us, we finally pieced together a crust that I deemed presentable, and called it a night. I must say...tip of the hat to you Nana for punching out homemade pie crusts like the best of 'em, all while raising 7 kids single handed! Not as easy as it sounds folks. So the next day we took our pies and squash casserole down to the English's for "Friendsgiving."  They put together a really great Thanksgiving. There was so much yummy food, and lots of kids running around, that it really felt like we were back home. The Cowboys/Giants game was even on to round out the day. Here are some candid shots from "Friendsgiving."

The mom's attempting to get all the kids fed first!

Candid "man talk"

Leanne, Jane, Lindsey, and Lindsey's Parents

Angela, Jerrod, and Donna

Donna and her awesome homemade turkeys!

Cher, Wes, and Johnathon with his No Shave November look

All the yummy desserts...my cherry pie is toward the back by the turkey!

After Thanksgiving I came down with a nasty bit of strep throat, and was out of commission for a week. Johnathon took good care of me though and I was feeling well enough to check out Santa's arrival on Kwaj. In true Kwaj style, Santa arrives via outrigger canoe, and gets paddled into the marina by some of his strongest elves!

Santa getting paddled in by his elves

The Army staff waiting to welcome Santa to Kwaj!

It was crazy packed at the marina...everyone wanted to see Santa!

Santa then led the parade to downtown on a tractor trailer...cause that's how Kwaj roles. Santa and his helpers threw candy to the kids all the way to downtown Kwaj.

Donna with a very excited/festive Jack and Hannah

The Parade to downtown

 Once we got to downtown, there was performances including kids dancing, some adults singing Christmas songs, and there was lots of food and vendors selling yummy goodies!

Marshallese kids doing a traditional Marshallese dance

Adam was festive with his reindeer hat...sorry Preston...this was the only pic of Adam I had!

I rounded out the Christmas festivities with constructing a gingerbread village. I invited my friend Sarah who is new to the island over to help me make the village, and she was nice enough to play along with me! Here is Sarah with our village!