Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving video.

Here in Canada, we celebrated Thanksgiving this weekend. Monday, for most was a statutory/Bank holiday. Not for me, I had to work, which is fine, Ill take the stat pay anytime! So, we celebrated on Sunday. We invited all the family over.

The weather on Sunday was quite stormy, it poured down rain and the wind was gusting all morning. I had only had the turkey cooking for a couple of hours and the lights flickered and went out. Thankfully for just a few minutes! I was starting to think maybe I would have to barbecue a big turkey! In the meantime, Heidi, who has just studied food safe at school is right on me telling me that the turkey is going to be unedible if it gets into the temperature danger zone! I reassured her, that if we didn't open the oven, it would be alright for a while. We all cheered when the power came back on! I love entertaining and cooking for a crowd. With all my little helpers, the work left for me was minimal. The kids peeled all the potatoes and vegetables. The boys brought up our extra tables and chairs. Heidi and I had fun setting the table, with table cloths, candle sticks and ornamental dried leaves. Bread baskets lined with thanksgiving themed napkins. She rolled the cutlery up in napkins. All the silly extras that make a feast special. Keith was working until two, but thankfully he made it home with enough time to shower and shave before our first guest arrived at 4pm.

Keith and I each have three siblings, who are all married with children. One of my sisters is out of town so she couldn't be here, and Keith's Sister was working. Even so, we got a fair crowd of 23 for our feast. Everyone pitched in and brought something for the table.

Even with a table set for 18, we still had some sitting in the living room. The little kids thought it was cool to be able to kneel around the coffee table! I wasn't worried as my carpets are getting cleaned this week anyways! But they didnt even spill one thing. The dog was put out as he was all too willing to help with the kid dinners. It was torture for him to sit right at nose level with those little plates!
What a great time we had. The kids always enjoy playing together, they all get along so well. The little girls are completely smitten with their cousin Troy who has just moved here from another province, he was very sweet and patient with them.
I am so very grateful for my wonderful, loving extended family. I feel so very blessed to have so much love. I have a fabulous, loving husband, great kids and even the pets are a blessing! What a great family.
Heidi kept putting on the Christmas CD's! She said it felt like Christmas to her. All my kids agree that these get togethers are awesome. I figure if my teenagers appreciate their family, even the aunty who kisses them too much and the grandpa with his chronic sinus snort, then we must be doing something right. It makes me proud that my kids are now hanging around and conversing with the adults instead of running down to play with their cousins. The boys incurred some lively debates on politics and the environment, history and religion. They are so much more interesting than I was at their age!

So now, in spite of Heidi and her Christmas music, I am pumped for the next big gathering which will most likely be Christmas. The fact that we have seven people live here, makes every day a gathering of sorts.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends. I am so thankful for all of you. I hope you enjoyed your holiday as much as I did.



Here is a short clip. I panned the room. For those of our family who wanted to be here and couldn't, I hope this helps you feel the vibe! Kayla, Lexi and Nick, dad is waving at you!

26 comments:

Penny said...

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to you. It was lovely reading about your family gathering.

Joan said...

Your family gathering reminds me so much of ours years ago. I sure miss all the laughter and catching up in each others lives.

Isn't it great when the older kids start hanging with the adults ...it's so interesting to see the two generations come together.

I used to keep my dogs in the house when all the little kids came over...my rug were spotless. And..ummm so were the kids plates, if you know what I mean.

Jo said...

Susan, how lucky you are to be able to talk about your family, and even show their photographs. What a nice bunch of people they are too! You have a lovely home.

We actually(!) had a very nice Thanksgiving as well...!

Cheers,
Josie

Anonymous said...

Susan, your Thanksgiving sounded so perfect, as it was! We had a very nice one too, but didn't have our siblings and kids. Our three kids were here, plus our daughter in law and my dad (the only living parent). The only ones missing were my daughters boyfriends. It was nice to hear the girls whispering in the spare room as we all settled down to bed, it was like when they were small minus the squabbles.
Hugs,
Faye

Unknown said...

I think we mis a lot over here in Holland :-(
These family reunions on Thanksgiving Day are really Great.
And your children are having the time of their lives. When they later leave the house to build their own families, they have then wonderful memories. I understand why you are so happy and greatful.

Canadian flake said...

glad to hear you had such a wonderful day. We had a quiet day at home..just the gnome, gremlins and me cooking all day..but it was really nice actually.

Dick said...

It sounds like you did indeed have a wonderful family gathering. It really would make more sense, or at least spread out major holidays, if our Thanksgiving in the US were in Sep or Oct rather than the 4th Thur in Nov. That always puts it fairly close to Christmas.

We will be at Pat's younger daughter's new home for our Thanksgiving dinner and it sounds like there are already something like 22 expected to be there. She loves to cook and everyone brings something. Plus their house is large enough that it will work.

Mrs. G. said...

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving.

Leslie: said...

Hi Susan! haven't been around too much lately, as you can surmise. Looks like your Thanksgiving was great. I have a small family but it was nice all the same. If you check out my blog, you'll see that it was a combined birthday and Thanksgiving party as my son-in-law and I share the birthday. This year I went out with friends and he had a crazy hat party. Then Sunday the family got together.

I must thank you for the lovely tribute just below your Thanksgiving post. That was so sweet of you! Hugs to you for being so thoughtful.

sharon said...

Sounds like you have a lot to be thankful for, Susan. I am also a family oriented person. I see so many families that seem to hate each other, it makes me so sad. But it's nice to see that there are other fams out there that actually enjoy each other's company. It's these kinds of gatherings that will give the future generations of your family something to model after. Good for you!

David said...

Greetings to an old friend.

Barbara Doduk said...

looks like it was a great feast of family and love.

Walker said...

Family and friends gathered around is one of lifes pleasures.

You look like you had a great time and you have a great family :)

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