Kirsten and her family were up visiting this weekend. We celebrated Friendsgivingween. We were going to have a Friendsgiving dinner, but Audrey was so upset when we left St. Louis last month Kirsten told her we could celebrate Halloween too.

How do you celebrate Friendsgivingween?

Step 1: You spend time with the people you care about.

Step 2: You prepare a feast, with help from enthusiastic helpers.

Step 3: You take a walk in the woods to encounter nature. Sadly I did not get a picture of the woodchuck we saw. I did not zoom in to take this picture.

Step 4: The kids trick or treat. They put on costumes from the dress up bin and ran from the back door to the front door to ring the bell. Rob handed out the candy.

Step 5: You make a gingerbread house out of Pop Tarts. Well, really Kirsten builds the house and the kids decorate it while I make a casserole and have a cocktail.

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Step 6: You make up a recipe. Twice Baked Potato Casserole.

3 lb yellow potatoes
1 stick salted butter
1 brick cream cheese
16 oz sour cream
shredded cheddar
Scrub potatoes and have Kirsten chop them up. Put potatoes into a large pot of cold water. Bring water to a boil and kind of forget about them until they are done. Use a knife or a fork to stab them and it goes in easily you are good. Drain potatoes. Smash them up using a ricer or potato masher. Mix in butter, sour cream, and cream cheese. Put in buttered 9X13 pan. Top with shredded cheese, just sprinkle on enough to cover the top. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before dishing up. It is a good idea to call a cardiologist while you are waiting to eat this casserole, as you are going to need one.

Step 7: Make a lot of food. So much food. Primarily beige food. Turkey breast with orange cranberry gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, cornmeal dinner rolls, caesar salad, and pie.

Step 8: Eat most of the food from step 7. Don’t eat the pie. You will be too full.

Step 9: Get kids to bed.

Step 10: Enjoy an hour or two of wine and delightful conversation with your friends before you are too tired to stay awake any longer.

Step 11: Start planning a Christmas Valentine’s Day celebration. Christentine’s Day?