Thanksgiving rocked

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. This year it felt well-paced and enjoyable, as opposed to some years when the 5 day break is just exhausting... although I do have to admit that today I am not moving too quickly!

I had Wednesday off of work and Jack and I did our usual Thanksgiving errands. Sally worked half a day and then was gone all afternoon and evening with friends. Wayne got off work around 6 and came to our house for dinner and to relax before heading out with his group of friends for "Blackout Wednesday", though it was a rather calm evening from all reports. On Thanksgiving morning, I had a lovely walk with Jean before everyone was up and then it was time to get crackin'. We had a total of 19 people for Thanksgiving dinner: my mom, Susie, Jenny, Jay, Kjell, Arne, Beth, Abbie, Nina and Bruce (Arne, Dane and Kjell's dad) from my side and Bill, Marie, Downtown Sue and Paul from Jack's side, plus the four of us and Matt. Everyone was in good spirits. Wayne provided the appetizers and nuts, all Nabisco and Planters products of course! and he was in charge of that portion of the meal. He did an excellent job. After dinner, Beth, Sally and Susie took a ride to see Bill and Guiliana's new house in our town (for those who don't know, they have a new reality TV show that is pretty popular). Kjell, Arne, Beth and the girls hung around a while after everyone else left and it was fun to watch the girls do their thing. So entertaining!

This started out as a picture of three people and we just kept adding!

Bears fans!

Sally and Matt

Nina saying hi to Marmar

Wayne and Abbie doing some crafts

Uncle Paul, Downtown Sue, Grandma, and Bucky getting ready to leave

We all slept in the day after Thanksgiving...til 9:15! That is pretty much a record for me. The four of us rehashed the day and then did some more of the clean up. Sally, Wayne and I ran over to the mall in the afternoon for about an hour to check out the sales. Both kids were very successful. In the evening, Sally went to Matt's for a family get together and Wayne went to an annual beer pong tournament at Matt's (Christy and Steve's son Matt, not Sally's Matt). Jack and I went out to dinner with Chuck and Teri at a new sushi place in town and it was delicious. We were home and in bed by 10.

Yesterday, we had the annual Turkey Bowl pregame at our house. Every year, Wayne and his group of friends (many of whom he has known since kindergarten) go over to the local park and play touch football. They gather at our house first for some refreshments. It is so fun to see these kids (though no longer kids) every year. There have been a few marriages already, and one baby so far, Mason (son of Jeff and Andi; Jeff is the son of Mark and Cathy). Mason came by to say hi for awhile. He is adorable!!!

Jeff, Andi and Mason

Most of these kids have known each other since grade school

In the evening we attended Jordan's (note: Jordan is the father of JD, Wayne's buddy who just got back from Afghanistan) annual start of the Christmas season party. It was phenomenal as always! We loved seeing so many of our friends as well as the younger generation. Jordan has been inviting JD's friends the past few years and always invites Sally, too. It was a beautiful evening. The food and beverages were out of this world good. Fun times.

Maria and Jordan

me, Jordan and Christy

JD and Jack

Wayne, me and Mark

Wayne, Jordan and Sally

This morning Jack, Wayne, Sally and I went to mass together. It's the first Sunday in Advent. That is hard to believe! We have all been doing our own things this afternoon and getting ready to get back in the work groove tomorrow. I am so thankful to God for many things this year, including our health, jobs and the fact that Wayne and Sally don't have to leave to head out of town this year.