Over the River and Through the Woods to Uncle John's House We Did Go

Happy Thanksgiving!  It is that time of year when we give pause and reflect.  We have much to be grateful for. . . family, friends, fulfilling work, good health, creativity, playful spirit, dreams, and a life that is hard only sometimes.

We had Chinese the other night for dinner and the fortune in my fortune cookie read:  "Great minds talk of ideas.  Small minds talk of things.  Average minds talk of people."  For some reason this stayed with me over the last few days, but especially during our two hour drive to Uncle John's house to celebrate Thanksgiving.  You see, while the husband and boy were snugly nestled in the back of the van, comfortably watching a movie on the DVD player, Grandma Carol and I manned the front seat with me at the wheel.  We visited about the recent election--the ideas, propaganda, and beliefs behind the election campaigns and advertising.  On the way home, we visited about how socialism has recently popped up on the media and what was potentially driving this, especially the inaccurate links to the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.  I just kept thinking. . . here's a lady with a "great mind!"  Let's add that to this list of what we have to be thankful for!

Anyway, we had a grand feast, thanks to Uncle John and Aunt Diane.  Yummy!

 Here's Uncle John with the bird.  He had cooked it on the grill and tended to it regularly since early that morning.  Moist and tasty!

 Yep, that's me, taking a moment while the bird "rested" before cutting. 

 Here's cousin Eric anxiously waiting the feast.  He was preparing for his long work day on Friday in the retail market.

 Here's the buffet table with all the traditional Thanksgiving fare. . . potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, rolls, deviled eggs, cranberry jelly, etc.  Diane out did herself!  Something else to be grateful for!

 The boy snagged the turkey leg.  That and Aunt Diane's pumpkin bread were his favorites!

 Ah, the post meal nap.  That's the husband enjoying a snooze in a comfy chair.  Something else to be grateful for--naps!

Grandma Carol joined in the napping, too.  What's Thanksgiving without afternoon naps!  I learned from Uncle John that it is a family gift to be able to fall asleep at anytime, anywhere.  Let's add that to our list of things to be grateful for!

 Here's the boy working on his Wii skills.  Uncle John has different Wii games than we do, so it was fun to play something different.

The adults got out the deck of cards for a friendly, but competitive game of Spades.  Yeah, Diane and I creamed them!  We then played a 5 person round of Hearts!  Diane won that game, too!

We headed back home in the late afternoon with PLENTY of leftovers in the car.  Thanks, Diane!

And, while we were there, George, the cat, watched quietly from a distance.

Now, another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Grandma Carol mentioned in the car that it is now "legal" to put up holiday decorations.

Let the countdown begin!