Thanksgiving 2010

It was our year to host Thanksgiving, but we nearly yielded it back to Mandy’s aunt and uncle. A few weeks ago, we still hadn’t gotten any commitments from my side of the family to attend. An inquiry to Uncle Steve about the Johnson Family’s attendance brought only a brief, non-committal response: “Will there be sledding?” – a reference to their last visit at New Year’s. Laurie’s husband was yet again deployed, this time to Afghanistan, and not able to assist in the cross-country travel from South Carolina. My mom’s house was in the process of being renovated, and not habitable. We finally settled on Laurie, Amelia, Olivia and my mom staying with us for the week, and Steve and Lisa made plans to arrive en masse after being assured snow was not in the forecast.

We’ve had outstanding weather for November and given the number of attendees, we were hoping for outdoor weather, and more places to seat everyone - unfortunately it was first scheduled to get below freezing on Thanksgiving Day. Despite that, all 32 of us managed to find a place to eat, and not surprisingly, no one went hungry. Laurie helped prep and cook a lot of our food, and everyone brought a ton (literally?) of other food.

Because of the chaos, we didn't manage to get pictures of everyone (or at least unflattering ones where you weren't eating), but this was pretty representative.

Mandy & I started out with an early morning date at Starbucks. Laurie and Elliot baked cranberry scones while we had a little quiet start to our day

The kids anxiously awaiting the food.

Karen, Anna and Sam eating at the kids table.

Noah and Amelia helping Aunt Laurie to make scones the night before.

Grandma Joann

Laurie and Bella talking to Uncle Rafe (from Afghanistan)

Grandma Joann, Grandpa Larry and Olivia

Noah tying something to his boat

Grandpa Rick making gravy

Uncle Steve and Katie

Beef tenderloin! We also had a 25-lb turkey and Jason brought a huge ham he smoked.

One row of sides. No one went hungry.

Just a few desserts...

Par for the course. Luci went on the lam again - Uncle Todd found her a couple blocks away near the high school.

Grandpa Rick at the "adults" table. Something wrong with this picture.

Happy Finn, eating some Thanksgiving meal.

Amelia (with evidence of Thanksgiving around her mouth)

Aunt Sam reading to Elliot

Grandma Lois learning how to use her new iPhone

The cousins playing with Noah's "marble thing" on the dinner table.

Bedtime stories with Aunt Laurie