Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving week really started on Monday with my Education department at the Zoo's annual

"Turkey of the Year" lunch.  What is this fantastic event you ask?

Well - it's the time of year where we all come together to remember all of the

stupid, idiotic things we've done all year. My job in this event is to essentially plan it.

I tell everyone what to bring ask people to sign up for food, plan silly centerpieces,

and then organize the troops.  At the conclusion of lunch we narrate and re-enact if necessary all of our escapades and then we vote on who the "turkey" should be.

You get a turkey trophy and everything!  Thankfully I was not nominated this year (what happens in ZooKids, stays in ZooKids is always my motto).

 

 

As the week progressed I started to feel more and more sick.

Which essentially meant that I landed at Urgent Care Wednesday morning.

Diagnosis?  Bronchitis and an ear infection. Awesome.

They loaded me up with antibiotics and I headed home to my

feverish child.  Thank goodness Rob was also able to take the day off

and hold down the home fort.

 

 

In between all the crazy - I did manage to put together a delicious

salad and made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to take to our

Thanksgiving in Dayton.

 

 

We drove to Dayton on Wednesday evening (after bathing Max and loading

up the car)....and once we got there - we went right to bed.  All of us.

I wanted everyone to be well rested for the main event!

 

(Max woke up looking especially adorable in

his two piece Christmas jammies)

 

 

 

 

 

On Thanksgiving Day, we all gathered at my parents house.

My mom delegated all of the food tasks....and we even got a

smoked turkey from City BBQ...which I would highly recommend.

It was tasty and lots of leftovers :)

Auntie Stacy made the pumpkin pie and the stuffing.

Poppy brought the booze and rolls.

We brought the salad and alternate dessert.

My mom made the vegetable and jello salad (a Cloud family favorite)...and you know what? 

It seemed to work pretty well.  No fuss - we just enjoyed the day together.

 

You can't tell from the pictures...but we also watched the Macy's day parade,

Max played with the grocery cart and all it's contents over and over again,

we searched for Max's "elf"...whose name is Nick, watched football,

took some awesome naps (Rob, Max and I) while others played cards, looked at Black Friday ads, snuck back in the kitchen to steal from the cheese tray, ate second dinner with our left overs, and even hit up Carters at 10pm for some great deals (50% off, then another 10%...)!

 

This year, more than any other year, I felt a staggering sense of gratitude.

Thankful for my healthy, talkative, curious little boy - whose smile charms my pants off.  For my husband, who talks me off the crazy town ledge pretty regularly and who helped me decorate our house for Christmas in the two hour span of Max's nap.  My friends whose encouragement and cheer mean the world to me.  And my family...those in Ohio, Oregon, and Arizona...I'm so privileged to be surrounded by your love.  Thank you for your graciousness, you candor, and your acceptance.

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!