Thanksgiving - November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving
November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving was very different from our usual tradition of going to mom/grandma's (Louise) with the whole family and usually a few other guests. We had Thanksgiving dinner at her house last year, she was still with us under Hospice care. We all brought part of the feast and had our last Thanksgiving with our mom and in her house. She passed away 2 days later. So it was now time to start some Thanksgiving traditions with my kids and their families instead of with the whole extended Little family. (The extended family was in California, we couldn't go because I had school.) Heidi and Scott and their kids came up from Henderson, Nevada, and Ryan, Brittania, Braxton, Emily, Scott and Shaun were all there to celebrate with me and Ray. Since it was time to start our own traditions I decided that instead of cooking a whole turkey and having it stuffed with stuffing (mom insisted on having the thanksgiving dinner home made) we would get one of the large turkey roasts from the turkey farms in Moroni and cook that for our turkey. They seem more flavored and seasoned than a regular turkey. Well, since we didn't have a whole turkey - there was nothing to stuff with dressing. Our solution - Stove Top stuffing. So, I think since I am now "in charge" of the Thanksgiving feast that there will be a few short-cuts. (but I still wish mom was here to be in charge and to have her great Thanksgiving dinner).

Each year we take pictures by the Thanksgiving turkey, but the effect is not quite the same with a turkey roast.

Brittania, Ryan and Braxton Walker

Claire, Heidi, Scott and Meghan Christensen

Scott and Emily Mason (somehow we missed a picture with Shaun)

Ryan got elected to carve (or cut or demolish) the turkey. The net that was wrapped around the turkey stuck to the meat and it didn't look very good when we finally got it off. Hopefully it will work better next time.

I think Braxton is done being in the high chair before we ever start eating.

Meghan is coloring while she waits for dinner. Emily brought Thanksgiving pictures for the kids to color.

Claire is ready to eat.

Mom/Grandma (Louise) started the tradition of playing BINGO after Thanksgiving dinner. I hadn't even thought about that until Emily asked if she could take care of finding BINGO prizes. So Emily found prizes and we all played BINGO. I will be better prepared for it next year.

From Left to Right: Brittania, Shaun (in the background), Ryan, Meghan, Heidi

Ryan, Meghan, Heidi and Scott playing BINGO

Scott, Scott, Emily playing BINGO

Braxton taking a shortcut to see the prizes

Anastasia and Shaun playing BINGO

Shaun, Anastasia, and Meghan looking at a photo album of when Shaun was a cute little boy

Me and Ray gave the grandkids new Christmas pajamas on Thanksgiving. That way they had the whole month of December to wear them. Claire and Meghan in their new Christmas pajamas (Braxton had gone home before PJ time)

Claire in her new Christmas pajamas

Meghan in her new Christmas pajamas

Thanksgiving weekend we went to Red Robin to celebrate Ray's birthday and get his free burger and fries. Meghan and Claire have new winter coats and hats. Shaun is watching them.

It was a nice Thanksgiving but it is always hard when you are missing loved ones.