These food prep photos are all from Wednesday, when I cooked in the kitchen for 12 hours straight, with various “helpers” in and out all the while, and an evening break to put everyone to bed.  I was perfectly content not to take a single picture all Thanksgiving day.

Going around the table at supper time,

Màiri  Rose (age 2) was thankful for Hunter Pence (current outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, who’s name she’s heard quite a bit with all the baseball talk of the older ones)….to eat.  And then she laughed heartily.

Galen (age 5) was thankful for “everything, except that”, this said while pointing to the pot roast I had made.

Elijah (age 9) was thankful that he wasn’t a turkey.

Iain (age 11) was thankful for, and I quote, “I don’t know, everything I guess”.

We’ve had years where this sharing around the table has been solemn and moving and deeply felt.  Clearly this year that mood wasn’t quite there, and that’s ok too.  That’s life and the way things go sometimes, especially when you are dealing with such unpredictable creatures as children!  It’s good for a laugh and I’m thankful for that too.  I am thinking that next year it might be prudent to go oldest to youngest, instead of vice versa to set the tone!

I, for one, am exceedingly grateful for the gift of being a part of this amazing family.

Today we are all nursing a bit of a cold.  I think we’ll all take it easy and spend the day resting and eating leftovers.  I foresee a lot of cuddling and book reading in my future.  And I’m thankful for that as well.