Thanksgiving on the Couch: 2011

I must say I'm getting very used to the chaos and shenanigans going on around the house, and not being able to lift a finger to help out with any of it!  By the time I can actually get up and do anything to contribute to the daily routine of keeping the house going, I'll be totally fine with never keeping it organized again!  This crash course in letting go of my OCD is working, after about 2 weeks I think I'm cured.  That's better than medication!

I've enjoyed seeing a lot of this however

Yesterday we had 8 adults and 7 kids over for our pre-ordered Summer Shack Fried Thanksgiving Turkey meal.  Fried Turkey=yum!  Everyone contributed with extra goodies and tasty side dishes and it ended up being a really fun evening, and the kids had a ball playing with each other.  One of the favorites to play with was the box that the meal came in.  Forget spending exorbitant dollars on toys this year!  All you need is a cardboard box and the kitchen tupper ware.  

 Our Fried Turkey Dinner:

At first I had this completely irrational vision of how I wanted things to pan out.  The adults would all somehow be able to sit at the table at the same time to enjoy the meal, the kids would sit altogether at the kitchen table (and actually eat), and then we would all take turns saying what it is we are thankful for.  Yeah.... slap me upside the head quickly.... what was I thinking!!?  The reality was just as fun though.  I think my mom and I were the only ones that stayed in our seats for more than 5 minutes at a time, and I don't think the kids ever sat in the kitchen for any length of time until it was dessert time.  I ended up settling for everyone playing musical chairs between the kitchen and dining room, kids agreeing to eat a spec of broccoli only after being promised candy after wards, and Vince loudly declaring that he's thankful for trains.  

Our little girl looking like Cindy Lou from Whoville

Our best at getting the little ones together for a picture

Of course no Silvestro Holiday would be complete without our beloved neighbor Mary, who came over to entertain the kids in a little Ring Around the Rosie

Ring Around the Rosie:


And last but not least, let us introduce our Elf, Gordon (affectionately named by Vince, after one of his trains).  He was sent from Santa a few weeks ago to watch over Vince and Zoë, and to report back to Santa if they've been good or bad...  I told Vince about him ahead of time, and he immediately got spooked at the thought of someone watching over him.  He started looking around the house with wide eyes, crying and mumbling something about not wanting an Elf hiding around the house to watch him.  Oh don't worry, they are friends now.  Everything was made better after Gordon came back from visiting Santa one morning.... and had a ring pop to deliver to Vince as a small token of good wishes from Santa that Vince was being a good boy.