Parades, Charades and a day of giving thanks.

Thankgiving day with all of the grandchildren was wonderfully noisy with the sounds of laughter and horse-play. We tried to remember to be thankful for the mayhem that was at times in full swing. Certainly, we were thankful to have each family present and at least one new face this year. We, as Americans are blessed beyond measure to have so much more than we could possibly need. I don't ever want to take basic freedoms for granted..they come at too high of a price.

Anna Claire, Austyn, Meme, Landon, Jake, Stephen, Katie, Wilson and, of course, Chaya snuck in.

Meme has more years of wisdom than all of the ages of the great grandchildren added together. That is amazing to me. We love you Meez.

I still cannot figure out how ALL of the men keep avoiding these photo-ops. Hmmmmm...perhaps they are being tipped off.

(Edited 12/10/08 to add: apparently when this was originally written, I, completely by accident, omitted my very handsome and wonderful nephew Ethan's name. So sorry, bros.)

Bertha, and all her peeps (sorry, family joke). This photo makes me think of Fried Green Tomatoes, Steele Magnolias or something along those lines. Anyone else thinkin' "The mean ol' Weezer..." or "Towanda!!" ?

After dinner dance competition begins...I feel certain dancing with the stars will be contacting one or more of these cousins. Stay tuned...

My cousin's son Jake introduced Wilson to Linkin Park (sp?) and the boys were working hard on the back porch to throw some finesse on the dance floor. Adorable, fer shizzle. No phone calls or letters please if that music is in poor taste...

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Thanksgiving parade: Eastern NC style

No day is complete without a shot with the cow. Chik-fil-a was certainly rockin' the hot chocolate on this freezin' cold morning (Ok, cold for NC. All you northerners would have been sportin' a wind breaker).


Stephen LOVED the firetrucks...they were loud enough to break the sound barrier at times. This one in particular can be spotted on any given weekday in a variety of fast food parking lots. One day I am going to ask them to let him climb aboard and watch him beam!!

Oorah! Semper Fidelis, Marines.

This is the face of misery when you just refused to put on anything but a t-shirt under your coat and now you are KICKING yourself in the 4 year old butt for being so hard-headed before you really ever knew what a parade was in the first place. LOL.