Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving 2015 was... delicious.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  

We hosted this year, which is always fun.  We were a little small in numbers, well, not exactly small since we had about 37 when it was all said and done.  It just felt smaller because the Tischners and the Spencer & Rachel Macdonald families were not there. We did invite Grandma and Grandpa Walambos and their kids Mary and Uncle Laurent, the family of Ben and John - Brett & Tufa's foster boys.  We also invited the Elders and Emily had two Canadian friends flying into town on Thanksgiving afternoon who stopped by for some turkey and pie.

We got assignments out to everyone.  That included Dad making nut cups and little paper baskets of gold coins for everyone.  I was super grateful that Emily stopped by the day before and helped set up all the tables.  They looked darling (wish I'd gotten a picture!).  I'm always impressed how she uses the same decorations every year but comes up with a new way to use them.  The decorations are from our wedding reception and have used t each year that we've hosted.  I love it.  

We decided to try to make the rolls the morning of so they would be fresh.  Maybe not our best idea since it's a long process.  I was grateful when Josiah and John came early to create a little scavenger hunt for the cousins to do to find the treasure of gold coins.  They were more than happy to help with the set up once the scavenger hunt was put together.  We put them right to work cutting up the roll dough and rolling them.  They were awesome!  Johno also contributed by making these darling turkeys cut out of apples...

There was a happy, hectic, busyness all morning as we all worked to get things pulled together.  Amy was in charge of our "Thankful Wall."  She has Polaroid camera and was busy taking pictures of each person and then hung them on our wall.  It was super cute and she seemed to enjoy getting everyone.

We got the name tags set and the nut cups on the plates (can't put them out too early or some little people empty them out).  People started arriving, food started filling up the counter, and the noise level began to rise as cousins began playing and adults were chatting.  I loved it!  Josiah got the kids going on the treasure hunt.  Ash-Anna, Juliet, and Jess with their treasures...

A little love in the kitchen :) Almost ready to start!!

Here's the girls table with Kate, Ash-Anna, Piper, Sadie, Claire, and Juliet in the front.

The boys table, Tasi, Ben, Daniel, Josiah, Jess, John, and Johno.

And the adult tables were cozy and comfortable.    

Matt thanked everyone for coming and we had an opening prayer.  It took a bit to get all the kids situated and then the adults lined up for their food.  Matt typically stands in the kitchen and makes sure everything is running smoothly.  I think he eventually ate.  I finally sat down to eat but couldn't finish.  It was de-lish!  Dad had cleaned up all of Mama and Daddy Taylor's silver for us to use.  A very nice touch.

For as long as it takes to prepare for Thanksgiving, the actual eating doesn't take very long.  But the chatting that goes on before, during, and after the meal is what the holiday is about.  As we finished up, Ashton came over to chat and held Oliver for me.  I realized this was the oldest grandson and the youngest grandson.  That's worthy of a photo, don't you think?  Good lookin' boys (and cute Ash-Anna)!

Once everyone was done eating the grand cleanup begins.  We'd borrowed a bunch of chairs from Caroline and John, so Kate was helping Aja take them out to the car. 

And then comes the chatting and chatting and chatting afterwards.  This year the after dinner show included some dance moves by THE Aja Domingo.  She lost to Ashton in pool and that was her payment ;o) 

 

I had gotten the chance to sit and talk with John and Ben's family much before dinner, so I sat next to Mary after things had gotten cleaned up.  She doesn't speak English and I don't know any Swahili, so we just smiled a lot and tried one-word questions.  Then she reached for Oliver and put him on her lap.  She was a different person.  She was talking to him and cooing, and he was completely content.  I said a little prayer of thanks in my heart for this little baby helping Mary feel comfortable in our home.  Brett told me later that Mary had lost her husband and baby in the fighting in their country.  I felt quite overwhelmed at what she had been through.  I wish I knew how to better extend some kindness and friendship to her.   Amy took of all the family members on her poloroid camera and Grandpa asked if he could keep them.  They are such little pictures (maybe 2 x 3 inches) that I took a picture with my phone and told them I would get them a bigger one.  It was humbling to have this family with us on a day when we are giving thanks for all we have.  

Oliver Mac got all sorts of tuckered out being passed around and not having much of a nap.  Grandpa helped out, providing a "water bed" (Grandpa's own words) for Oliver to zonk out on.  What a good day.  There is such a sense of contentment when the house if full of family.  Happy Thanksgiving!