A Day of Thankfulness

Frozen Football...is that even fun?!

A crisp beach walkThanksgiving Snuggles: Auntie Barb and Uncle Wayne with Luke
Sorry Adam and Dave, no football today, we have to watch Caillou's Holiday Movie...again! That clock says 5:15. We were planning on eating at 3:00!
The Conlin Boys Players present The Story of the First ThanksgivingThe Narrator and Baby Oceanus born on the MayflowerFINALLY! 180 Degrees!

It has to be done...dirty dishes at the end of a feast.

This Thanksgiving was a McKenzie year (we switch off every other year between the families so we don't spend the day running back and forth between houses, which was fun once upon a time, then we had kids). Usually we are down in California with the extended McKenzie gang, but with the timing of the move so uncertain we didn't want to plan anything big. It was sad to miss our family who we see too rarely as it is, we love spending time with the Andersons and Frykmans, but we were still able to spend the day with extended family. The guest list: my parents, Tutu, Aunt Barb, Uncle Wayne and cousin Dave, who all live close by. It was a lovely and peaceful day. Adam started off the day with our Elder's Quorum Turkey Bowl in the frozen, frosty mud. Later, while my mom and I prepped, sauteed, baked, chopped, roasted and more (I love cooking all day!), Adam and my dad took the boys and the dogs to the beach for a FREEZING Thanksgiving walk. As seems to be the McKenzie Thanksgiving Law, the Turkey took much longer to cook than planned, but my mom is always thinking ahead and made sure there were pupus to keep our hunger at bay. Plus, we had plenty of time to watch Christmas movies, as it is the official start of Christmas celebration in our house on Thanksgiving day. In the end, we finished with a Thanksgiving pageant presented by the Conlin boys, ate until our bellies were begging us to stop, and listened to all the things each of us have to be thankful for this year. It is fitting that on a day we come together as a family to celebrate our many blessings, there was one blessing that was mentioned in one way or another by each of us: family.

Trick-or-Treating Super-Hero-Style

This is a conversation I have had 10 times today at least:

Josh: Mom, when is Halloween coming?

Me: Halloween is here now Josh! Today is Halloween.

Josh: Where is Halloween? Can I see it?

Me: No, Honey, Halloween is a day we celebrate, not something we can see.

Josh: Ohhh, Halloween is here, today!

Me: Yeah!

Josh: Can I see it?

Sometimes I just said, "No, Joshie, you can't, but you can have fun." Other times I tried to use the "It is a special day that only comes once a year, like your birthday" line, but since he thinks he had two birthdays this year (and another one is just a few days away, he's sure of it), that didn't help. I also tried to explain what it is we are celebrating...ummmm...yeah that came out something like, "We celebrate...." Here there was a long pause, then: "Candy...and costumes...." (and then under my breath) "and a long time ago it was a night to placate the dead to keep them from haunting you." What the heck is this holiday for now anyway?! So I pondered it for some time and then I had it...we celebrate being able to poke fun at the things we are scared of so they seem less scary. I tried this one out on Josh and guess what he said....

Josh: Oh, Halloween is a special day! And it's here! Can I see it?

You can't blame a mom for trying!

All, right, I just had to share. Now, on to the fun. We had another great Halloween night with our friends the Shevitz and Browns. Hannah was the Pink Super Girl, Zach was Superman and Madison was Princess Leia. Below are pictures from our Halloween night of spooking, treating and only a little tricking....

A good-looking group of spookies!

Yummy!

He would eat it all if we let him. He is our candy fiend! This is Madison, about whom Zach recently said, "I know who I am going to marry, and I think Madison has made up her mind too." Welcome to the family Madison!That's a lot of loot for little people (on that note, it's a lot for big people!). We let the boys pick out their 30 favorites and then we will give them 10 cents for each piece they give us after that. Pretty fair deal!

Happy Birthday, oh, and Happy Halloween, too!

Spiderman 3 and our summertime fave, Transformers!Are you Gellin'? Adam is now, with his new Magellan GPS!
So there aren't 32 candles on that cake...we wouldn't want Adam to get winded now, would we?!

We celebrate today for more than one reason, not just for the candy, costumes, and scaring the spooks away, but also because it is the day Adam was born. And oh, are we so glad for that day! His favorite story about his birthday is that his mom nearly named him Ichabod, fitting for a Halloween baby and also so she could call him "Icky" for short. I know it is not Thanksgiving yet, but I must say, I am dang thankful that he was named Adam. Anyhow, Happy Birthday, A, you 32-year-old geezer! I can already see the ear hair coming in! Just Joshin'. You are the best daddy and husband in the world, and we love you so much.