So Thankful

There's much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Healthy and happy family is at the top of the list. Spending time with family we haven't seen for a while is also high up there. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new nephew in Idaho is a topper, too. And, if we're being all out truthful here, I'm also thankful that I collect and store food like a overachieving squirrel. The cupboards, improvised pantry shelves, freezers and refridgerators have been put to very good use the last couple weeks, all for today.

We had eight for our Thanksgiving, although I cooked for an imagined crowd of 20. Sean's sister Traci, her two girls Justine and Tanisha, and Tanisha's daughter X'zaijah came up from Tacoma to join us. X'zaijah is a doll, and refuses to eat anything other than apples, string cheese, popcorn...I think that's all I've seen in the past two days (except for candy, but what sane child would refuse Smarties?). While the rest of us sat down to a turkey dinner with all the fixin's, X'zijah dug into her bag of Orville Redenbacher. It was classic. But you know, I think I remember from elementary school that the pilgrims did eat popcorn at the first Thanksgiving...and I am pretty certain they didn't have green bean casserole. I don't blame them; I don't eat that stuff either. But Traci and Tanisha LOVE it (and they'll be taking home any leftovers, thank you very much).

In a house with two elementary aged boys, a toddler, and a teenage movie hound, there's no post-turkey football watching. They're watching Happy Feet.

But Sean, Mr. Go-with-the-Flow, doesn't mind. He's fully immersed in a Thanksgiving tradition in the making--brewing beer on the back porch in the freezing cold. Should be ready by Christmas!