As the family gathered to celebrate the very special holiday of Thanksgiving, I couldn’t help reflect on all the blessings my family has received in the past year. All my adult children have wonderful, fulfilling jobs. Five of them are married to wonderful spouses, who also have full time jobs, four of them have beautiful children (my grandchildren!). The grandchildren are excelling at school. Tommy is in Pre-K 4, Ellie is in kindergarten, Cami is in 1st grade, Hannah is in 2nd grade, Michael is in 3rd grade, Ari is in 4th grade and Nora is in 4th grade. Seems like once they started school, time started flying! This past year, Michael and Ari made their First Holy Communion and this very proud grandmother was so happy to celebrate their sacramental success!
Besides Thanksgiving, another commemoration for the month of November is the birthdays of three of the granddaughters/ cousins , Ari, 10, Hannah, 8, and Ellie, 6. The girls were born on the even numbers of November, Ari, November 14th, Hannah, November 16th, and Ellie, November 18th. We actually celebrated Thanksgiving this year on the Friday after the actual date, so everyone could be in attendance. Uncle Mike entertained the nieces and nephews by playing,” Are you Afraid of the Dark?” in the basement. Ari and Tommy were the best at hiding during this game. Nora and I played a game of checkers, then Ari and Nora played a game and Stephen and Elisabeth did too. Teddy, Elisabeth and Stephen’s dog. loved sitting right in the middle of the board!
This year’s meal was made easier because all the adults contributed by bringing entrees, sides and desserts. John and Georgette brought cheese, crackers and blueberries and a delicious pumpkin pie. Tom and Marissa brought sliced carrots with a special sauce and tasty stuffing. Marianne and James supplied a spiral ham already sliced and delicious macaroni and cheese. Katie and Dan’s contribution was mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts. Stephen and Elisabeth brought a delicious salad , sweet potatoes and a pumpkin pie. Michael baked a chocolate cake from scratch for his birthday nieces. All I had to do was cook the turkey breasts and make some corn. We also had Hawaiian rolls on the table, everyone’s favorite!
A special thank you to everyone for helping get everything ready. Dan was busy in the kitchen with the mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts, James prepared the ham and macaroni and cheese, Georgette made the pumpkin pie and the delicious turkey gravy, Marissa made the carrots and stuffing, Elisabeth made the salad, Stephen made the sweet potatoes, Tom carved the turkey breasts, and Stephen acted as the clean up guy at the sink. A special thanks to Marissa for getting Mom Mom and all the grandchildren on the front porch for an updated picture!
After dinner, the grandchildren got to sit at the dining room table while their parents, aunts, uncles cousins and grandmother sang Happy Birthday to the three nieces for their birthdays. The girls each got to blow out their own set of candles and make a wish. Everyone feasted on the chocolate cake, ice cream and pumpkin pie! Uncle Mike did a great job with the cake as well as being the official photographer for our Thanksgiving! Now we are all looking forward to a new addition to the family. Katie and Dan will soon be welcoming another daughter into their family! Another blessing to the extended family! Yes, we have so many reasons to be thankful!
Mom Mom's Musings 