We had 14 people for dinner and it was great - the kids played, the adults cooked and chatted. It was one of the most relaxing and laid back Thanksgivings ever. There were no restrictions, no expectations and no other places to rush off to this year. My sister didn't have to go to work after the meal - or before it - and everyone was so sleepy after eating that all 4 beds in the house were occupied by tryptophan afflicted individuals.
I love that everyone is so comfortable with each other - that it doesn't matter whose bed you end up sleeping in - there are no worries there!
My grandma joined us for dinner - my mom went and signed her out of the place she lives in Crestview so she could spend some time with the family. She was in good spirits - exclaiming "I know you!" when she saw me walk out on the porch. Her words are still so jumbled - an ongoing symptom of the dementia and Alzheimer's that is robbing her of her lucidity and coherence.
She said "grace" this year. She volunteered and as we all stood in a circle, holding hands - she blessed all who came - and then added a few more stories into the prayer. My mom jumped in and said an exuberant "AMEN" right after she started talking about some man and a bowl... It makes me sad because somewhere buried deep beneath the scales of her disease is an old Southern Baptist preacher's wife - who once gave beautiful and sometimes long-winded prayers.
After everyone except me and the kids and my mom had napped - we packed up - just the four of us - and headed home to drop off the necessary containers of leftovers (I'm enjoying a plate as I type!). I must say that there wasn't much turkey leftover and I'm going to buy one tomorrow so we can have some more and I can make turkey soup and freeze some of it for later meals.
Wyatt fell asleep in the truck - so we decided we'd drive around and ended up at the Destin Commons - the kids played, we walked around and eventually ended up at Books a Million - where the kids played with the train table - I scoped out their offerings in the Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding section (not bad for once) and Maddie collected every pony, unicorn and puppy stuffed animal she could hold in her arms.
It was all in all - a most wonderful day - free from unnecessary stresses (and I can't believe we made it through a holiday without some kind of blowup as there were so many of us cooking in the kitchen at the same time!).
I am thankful that it is over - because the Christmas season now starts officially for us - but sad at the same time because it's just another reminder that time passes by too quickly and there is another year gone with many accomplishments and as many failures.
Here are some pictures to go with my stories :)
Family Picture:
Mike picking at the turkey prior to dinner and my dad playing around with him
Get out of the turkey!
Maddie, Wyatt and Lona resting on the deck after the meal
Naptime
Natalie was in there somewhere
Mike changed beds!
Jerry in the guest room
Self portraits
Mom and her mom (grandma grace)
The kids playing Scrabble
Look how smart Wyatt is - he spelled his name!
Maddie spelled hers too!
Silly Pictures
Three Generations of girls
Mom and Jerry (he's 16 now!) Can you believe how tall he is?
Me and my "baby" brother - he's almost 14 years younger!
Dancing to the Wiggles with Mimi
The three of us were all holding hands walking up to the Commons - it was cute!
Fun at the Playground
Starbucks
Playing on the boats at Bass Pro Shops
Books A Million
On the way back to the truck
All in all it was a pretty fun day - and now that I've accomplished my goal of getting all these pictures up - I'm going to do some online Christmas looking. Mike just told me tonight that one of the families he works for - who has always treated us like their own kids and treat Maddie and Wyatt like their grandkids - because they don't have any yet - asked me to email them with present ideas for maddie and wyatt so they can have a present for them under their tree. We'll probably go see them on Christmas Day again - something I'm looking forward to!
And after that I might work on my website a little bit more - I haven't announced it yet - because I want to finish it all before I put up the address!
