Ever Changing Thanksgiving Traditions

Whew!! What a day. I am working the next 36 hours straight and unfortunately my partner LPN had to call off sick as her 6 month old baby girl had to go to the ER last night. I of course told her she was not working and I could handle it all by myself-hahahahahaha!! My prayers are with Maria and her baby, Bianca.

I was thinking today about how my Thanksgiving traditions have changed from when I was single until now (married with 5 kids.) When I was growing up, we always would drive down to Tennessee to visit my aunt Becky and Uncle John. We cousins would have fun playing and generally driving our parents crazy while they prepared the full course meal. It was always formal and fun!! I had dish duty after but it was fun to visit with my Aunt Becky. She has since passed away to cancer (way too young) and my Uncle John died of a massive heart attack a few years later. The day after Thanksgiving was spent shopping with my mom and my aunt-I swear we spent more time looking for a parking space:) But those 2 were always giddy to go shopping and I was more than happy to go along.

When I married Rich, I married into a big extended family. His mom is the oldest of 11 and Rich's grandma is still alive-95 and kicking! It would be next to impossible to have a formal sit down dinner with as many people as we have show up. I believe the count today was 60. It has ranged from year to year from 50-80. We used to hold it at a park which was actually alot of fun. The kids would eat and then run for the playground and the cousins would play football. That was always good for some giggles! We now meet in one of the ward buildings as the older adults are too cold outside (it was 70 today!). But that is ok too, as the kids take over the gym. Today they played a rousing game of tag followed by kickball. The competiveness kicked in as the great-grandchildren of Esther Fay Lee (rich's grandma) split into teams and proceeded to make up new rules for kickball:) Kids!

The food is always good and of course served buffett style. One of the aunt's is in charge each year of splitting up who brings what. We had to do the sweet potatoes for 60 people. Caused a little spat at our home last night as my sweet hubby told me he was bringing home sweet potatoes. So I went to the grocery store last night and just bought 7 small cans of sweet potatoes, thinking that his mom had sent plenty home. Went to gather my supplies last night and we had 14 baking sweet potatoes and my 7 cans-oh my!! It somehow worked out and we were able to get two huge pans made of a sweet potatoe casserole-the spat is still continuing as we are deciding who was wrong. No one ever does that, now do they?!

The only problem with the big buffett style is no left overs to munch on when you get home. That is half the fun is to keep going back and sneaking a taste or a piece, etc. So this year I finally got smart and cooked our turkey while we were at the church. We came home to a hot yummy turkey and we also made some of the other side dishes. I think this will be a tradition I will continue.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and watch out, here come the Christmas decorations!!