Happy Thanksgiving

There is much for which we can be thankful...most of all laughter.

Joe is ready to drive to Grandma and Grandpa Loyd's!
Hydration + movies + snacks = a happy Joe in the van

We, along with Paul, gathered at Mom and Dad's home today to celebrate Thanksgiving Loyd-style. Turkey (just the breast, who can eat all those leftovers? Dad only asked me twice if it had bones...yes it did), stuffing (Mom's recipe - lots-o-butter - yum), corn pudding (Mom's recipe - it separated but we squished it together on our plates and ate it anyway), cranberry jelly (the only thing from the "feast", as Joe called it, that Joe ate), gravy (no lumps and Dad went back for seconds - a winner), mashed potatoes (Paul peeled and cut those bad boys - thank you), and rolls (from the freezer section...inferior to Mom's but I'm too scared to try her recipe - I may try it out for Christmas). Oh, and who could forget the green bean casserole (did Campbell soup come up with that one? Everyone at the food store was buying up those ingredients). Oh, and layered pumpkin pie (with whipped cream cheese, alright? YUM! But I wouldn't know just how yummy cause I forgot to serve it and Paul reminded me of it as we were ready to walk out the door. I had already gotten Joe into the idea of giving hugs and high-fives so we could leave so there was no way we were going to stay...I think it was Paul's idea all along not to share it. After seeing Joe wolf-down that cranberry jelly, Uncle Paul may have been afraid that he wouldn't get more than a sliver from the sweet-tooth nephew.)

Okay, enough about food...things that made Mom laugh:

This is a dress that Mom made for Rachel years ago that has been passed on to Julie. Mom was thrilled to see Julie in the dress...then had a hearty laugh when she noticed it was on backwards (Mike dressed the wee one this a.m.)










I prepped some of the food at home and it traveled in diaper boxes, great for storing or moving anything...let me know if you need any...we've got lots to share.









Julie ate before we did. Mom likes it when Julie picks up a small morsel of food, attempts to place it in her mouth, then ends up sucking her thumb. Mom laughs even harder as I pull the thumb out saying "No thumbs when we eat"...then I get a big grin, then the thumb goes back in.



After a frenzy of food flying from pots and pans, into the oven, out of the oven, onto the counter (Dad likes buffet-style, then you don't have to pass anything...he's no dummy) and onto our plates, we relaxed to eat. YUM YUM SUPER YUM! Mom smiled. After many years of this food-frenzy holiday, Mom didn't have to cook.






It was a relaxing meal because Joe was watching a show. Thanksgivings to the Disney channel.















Paul cleaned up. Mom smiled. After how many years of clean-up, she didn't have to.





Mom relaxed after the yummy meal by stretching her tootsies and watching Joe attempt to fill her shoes (see the brace?). Note Mom's Christmas socks...she's still a crazy-sock-wearin'-lady...at least this pair matches.









No one can fill Mom's shoes when it comes to putting a special meal on the table...but with some stained recipe cards and a lot of love, I beleive we came in a pretty close second.

Many blessing to you and yours this Thanksgiving! Take some time out from the feeding frenzy to appreciate the blessings in your life, no matter how small they may seem.