Family gatherings...

Two weeks ago I sat down to Thanksgiving dinner with 28 members of my family.

Whew.

One 20 lb turkey in the oven, one 10 lb turkey on the bbq, and a large ham in the crockpot. 15 lbs of potatoes, two types of stuffing, one vat of gravy, several varieties of vegetables, baskets of bread and rolls, bowls of cranberries (canned and otherwise), plates of stuffed mushrooms, five pies - and lots and lots of wine...

We don't do this every year, but once in a while it's worth all the fuss - even necessary, I'd say - to gather together and talk to each other, see what we're up to and how much we've grown! There's only so much bonding you can do over telephone, email (or blog!)

Some of us live here, others have moved away. Some drove down from up north, others flew up from down south. But everyone eventually arrived and somehow we had room and food for us all. Four generations, all packed in the house, and laughing...

grumbling, cooking, bumping into each other in the kitchen,

shrieking, eating, sitting and watching, cleaning,

playing dress up, playing cards, playing ping pong, playing music,

sleeping, climbing, smoking, drinking, talking,

singing, smiling, spilling, washing, crying, loving,

and laughing...

"My" side of the family, with Gram on the couch in the middle, surrounded by four daughters, ten grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren (and that was only some of us!)

One week before that, we drove up to Camano Island for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with more family, Steve's folks and sister's family and grandmothers.

Nani and Papa opened their beautiful home, spread out the food, cranked up the fireplace (for me!), put on the aprons, and cooked up a storm for us. Their house always looks lovely, with Nani's quilts and the views of the Sound, and soon the walls were ringing with kids laughing and playing pool, the girls' cell phones ringing, Jay and Andrew animatedly discussing, Sam and JJ and Maddy hollering, the grandmas reminiscing, Papa and Steve expounding, and Nani, Shelly, Gina, Glenda and I gossiping and solving the world's problems. Oh, and Danny alternately snoring and whining...

The two "Greats" flanking their four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with Nani and Papa in the middle, back row (that's the snoring whiner in the front!)

Yes, somehow it's all worth it, these family gatherings. We are fortunate.

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