A Feats of Strength Thanksgiving

Sometimes it takes a holiday like Thanksgiving to remind you to be thankful about the things you take for granted.

I am thankful for my parents, who constantly sacrifice to make their children's lives better and easier.
I am thankful for my siblings, with whom I share a strong bond.
I am thankful for my husband, who loves and accepts me as I am.  Who works hard so I can stay home with the kids, cleans up puke in the middle of the night, and is the first one up with the kids every morning.
I am thankful for sweet, funny children who make my life better.
I am thankful to be related to so many smart, articulate, and witty people (cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws included).
I am thankful I get to live in such an amazing neighborhood.

I could go on, but I will spare those who have grown weary of reading what everyone is thankful for in Facebook posts.

After our first year of marriage, Dave and I decided that we would never again do two Thanksgivings.  We now celebrate with each family every other year and it all works much better and our guts thank us.  This year we celebrated with my family.

Eileen was VERY excited about her pilgrim hat she made in preschool.

While I baked pies,  Linus decided it was important that he teach Eileen so that she could be smart like him.  He went about making her a worksheet and then quizzing her.  It was really quite endearing to listen to.

I was so excited to see my aunts Molly and Eileen, uncle Duane, and cousin Emily.  I don't get to see them nearly enough.  They were always so good about playing with us when we were kids.  It warms my heart to see them take an interest in my own kids.

Great Grand Eileen, Emily, and Robin

We played a lot of board games.  We taught Linus how to play Battleship that morning and brought games with us to my parents' house.  I really appreciated everyone's willingness to play games with the kids, giving Dave and me a break.

Crazy Eights with Uncle Duane

My children are weird and don't like Thanksgiving food.  Linus doesn't even like sparkling apple cider.  What's wrong with them!?!  In an effort to get the kids to try food, we implemented a feats of strength competition.  Can you drink sparkling cider while doing a one armed push up?  My brother, Tim, apparently has the ability.  It was enough to get Linus to try cider.  Linus managed a one armed push up while drinking orange juice.

Tim eating sweet potatoes while doing a one armed push up.

We debated passing around an aluminum pole (selected for its strength to weight ratio) in order to do an airing of grievances, but decided against it.

Our family has been wracked by ailments for the past month.  Linus threw up almost every day for three weeks.  The kids currently have colds, causing Eileen to lose her voice.  Eileen's dinner of cider and pie was apparently too much and she puked twice in bed last night.  I will be thankful when everyone is finally well.

I asked Linus today what his favorite part of Thanksgiving was.  His answer?  Playing board games.  That's my boy!