Thanksgiving 2023: More about Thanksgiving Day

Second Post of the Day

Thanksgiving Day Craig and I were both up and hard at work early. I still had a lot left to do plus I was waiting on Lisa to bring her folding table and some of the cheeseballs. 

Lisa had said she and Frank would be there around 9:00 to help get things set up, but she didn't come. By 9:30 I was starting to wonder why - that was not like her. But, I figured she was just running late because she had the dogs, table, chairs, and food to pack up, plus we had been up very late Wednesday night. I moved onto the next thing on my to-do list while I waited for their arrival. (In retrospect, I should have texted her.)

Well, I've given birth on Thanksgiving Day, but never have I had a family member hit by a drunk driver that day. 

She was late because Frank had been hit by a drunk driver at a four way stop as he drove to our home. Fortunately, despite being very drunk, the other driver had had some idea that he needed to stop at the stop sign and had slowed way down. But he didn't stop in time and rolled through the intersection as he turned, hitting Frank head on.

The drunk driver backed up, drove around Frank, giving him a peace sign as he blew past, and took off at a high rate of speed. Luckily, Frank wasn't hurt and he'd had a dash cam going. 

Thanks to that, Frank was able to give the sheriff the license plate number and the guy was apprehended at his home ten minutes later. Lisa and Frank had to spend time with the sheriff, giving statements and showing him the dash cam and phone footage all of which contributed to them being late.

We were all dismayed when we heard what had happened and very grateful that no one was hurt. (Frank's car did not sustain any apparent damage, either. Grateful!)

We got the dogs, table, chairs, and food unloaded and began setting out the appetizers.

Jessica's cranberry and cream cheese spread.

Jessica also made caprese while Lisa got the chocolates at Meijer - I am fond of all things cherry, and the cherry chocolate red candies were amazing!

Lisa's chocolate chip, beef and green onion, and cheddar garlic cheeseballs.

A tray of cheese, crackers, salami, and beef cheeseball from my brother's wife, Cindie.

We snacked on these before, during, and after dinner!

We got all the tables set up and even served dinner on time despite the car accident.

The kitchen table and stove were covered with a variety of dishes (you can see Cole in the kitchen filling his plate) and the feasting began.

It had been a mammoth challenge to get everything ready, but we did it!

 

And while we were missing Sarah, Kyle, and their families badly, we still were grateful to be together. 

After dinner, everyone helped clean up, take down the kids' table, and get the living room ready for Dirty Santa by setting all the chairs in a circle and the Dirty Santa gifts on the coffee table.

Gag gifts have always been a part of Dirty Santa, but last Christmas had gone to new heights. Between Sarah's Merman ornaments and Steve & Cindie's mystery bag topped with two black bananas in a ziplock bag, this year several of us were trying inspired felt challenged to top those.

Rick opened Jessica and Andrew's gift of a tortilla blanket. It was round and supposed to make you look like a burrito when you used it. Looks like it fooled Nash!

Like last year, Curt picked Steve and Cindie's gift. The first thing he opened was a head of broccoli.

A can of chili beans.

Some Gas-Ex to counter the effects of those beans,

And a can of something that had been opened at the bottom, washed out, and filled with $2 bills.

Pretty funny, but in my book, Jessica and Andrew won this year's best gag gift with their other gift. 

A zippered pouch that was made to look like a man's hairy stomach, complete with a navel and tiny hands with which to scratch it.

Bizarre, a little gross, and hilarious, all in one. 

Dirty Santa over, we hung around, ate more, and talked the rest of the afternoon.

Some of us were so tired they were able to sleep despite the commotion,

while others of us did crafts and walked around showing people what they'd made.

My siblings left around 4:30, but my nephew Eric stayed with us and we sat around the dining room table playing Bank and Code Names. 

There is always an open kitchen after the big meal is done, and people continued eating late into the evening.

It's Sunday morning as I write this, and the last of our family hit the road for home this morning. Thanksgiving is over, my house is quiet, but my heart is very full.

I have so many things to be thankful for, and my family is at the top of that list.