Turkey Time!!

I've always loved Thanksgiving.  I love the name of the holiday, the purpose of it, and how it is celebrated.  I suppose the purpose of the holiday could get lost in some way, but I feel like it has always done what it was intended to do.  Bring family together to recognize all that we have to be thankful for.  

My earliest memories of Thanksgiving are getting together with Dad's side of the family at the old Red Cross building in Orem or Provo because we couldn't fit in anyone's house.  There was always one really long table for everyone, and then a little card table set up for Jessica, Whitney, Caroline, and I.  We loved having our own little spot.  I also remember the Thanksgiving salad that Aunt Jesse Del would scoop on to a piece of lettuce a hour or two before the actual meal.  I don't know if I ever tasted that salad.  I also remember when we finally decided to break into individual families because we were just getting too big.  It seemed so small at first to have just our family around the table.  But over the years spouses and nieces and nephews and friends have filled our homes.  

This year was the second year that Matt and I hosted the gathering.  About a week before we were talking about the logistics when a new family tradition was born.  Matt wanted to put the Christmas Tree up as part of the decorations. I was opposed,  not wanting to skip over Thanksgiving.  So he suggested that we have a Thanksgiving Tree.  Emily and I both immediately agreed that could be a lot of fun! It wasn't long after that Emily was dragging our tree in.  She was the primary decorator, using fall leaves, stuffed crows, tying rafia bows on the branches, little stuffed pumpkins, and a wooden 'Thanks' down the center.  We got everyone's family pictures and put those on the tree.  It turned out darling.  I'm looking forward to this tradition in years to come.  

I wanted to have something for the kids to do while when everyone got here and we were preparing the food.  So I made a bingo game.  They had to get people to sign different squares by doing whatever the activity that was listed.  For example, they had to find someone who, "will give their dad a hug and say 'I love you." or "has exactly three sisters." or "will sing 'You Are My Sunshine' to Grandma or Grandpa."  It turned out really fun.  

When it was time to eat we gathered around.  The little cousins were all around the dining room table.  After an opening prayer the moms and dads all got busy helping kids scoop up the yummies that they wanted.  I just love, really love, seeing all these cousins together.  How I hope our kids will feel a bond and a closeness to their cousins.

 The middle-sized cousins had their own table.  I know there were a few that were especially excited to be included at this table (Jonathan Taylor Benson).  I'm not sure what caused the distress, but I think Spencer D. also liked being one of the big kids despite the expression on his face in this photo.

 

 At the adult table we enjoyed the food, but much more than that we enjoyed chatting.  Another tradition we started a few years ago was to type up questions and cut them into strips.  We rolled the strips of paper into the rolls.  So as we ate and would find a question we answered the questions.  It's like fortune cookies... except not.  

The chatting continued for a while after dinner ended and while desserts were being set up. 

Robyn went above and beyond the call of duty in regards to the pies.  There are eight pies, my friends, EIGHT!!  And every one was a delight.  There was actually left overs, much to everyone's joy, so they could take some home.  There was cause for concern that there wasn't any leftovers from dinner.  I'm not sure how that happened, but we'll be sure not to let it happen again.

Some families had to leave to go share the day with others.  Some stayed for a while longer to chat and play and chat some more.  It was a wonderful day.  There are few joys in life that are greater than being with family.