I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For

It all starts with family.

Mary left Owen with me and took  Roger and Luke over to the Turkey bowl to watch Daddy play. Another few years and they will have 2 more players.

These guys are still at it.
There's talk every year of someone not playing or getting too old, but they still layer up and have some fun. Mike is still layering up, but now is the timekeeper/ball spotter and he loves being a part of it all.

White team - looks like all my boys are on the same team. My 2 grandsons and my 2 Bryan/Brians.

 Black Team

I am so thankful that the kids still do this. Yes, you are all kids to me - even you boys in your 40's.

Sharen and I were going to try and get out early Friday for some shopping. I have no idea why, because I hate to shop. Oh Yeah - GRANDKIDS.
We really had only one store to visit. Meijer's. The parking lot was filling up fast, but they were all headed to the Menards next door. What did they have on sale that so many people were running to the store? At 6:30am. That was crazy!!!

So, I had all my flyer laid out.

I handed the Toys r us flyer to Roger. "Pick out something you want for Christmas" He then asked me "Where are the tools?" We need to get that boy to a Bears or Bulls game.

 Luke was just having a good time looking at everything, including the car advertising. He did slow down to look at the toys.

Aunt Stacy got to read Luke and Roger stories. I got out the books I read to Bryan and the older grandkids way back when..

 Kaylyn got to hold 6 weeks old Owen. She was hoping for a girl, big time. She has all boy cousins (5) and 2 older brothers. I can understand why, but she gave some love to him anyway. Owen wearing big boy clothes!

 Uncle Brian was also introduced to his new nephew.

 Kaylyn takes the camera for a few sniper shots. Mike carving the turkey and me making the gravy.

 Stopping the madness for a selfie!

Even though the preparation can be exhausting, It was a great day. The food was good. Everyone was on their best behavior and my family was all together.
Yes, I have plenty to be thankful for!

Sisters

Thanksgiving was always a big get together time for our family.
Probably because we have a large family. We all loved being together.
Our families are even larger now and all of my sisters, and me, each go our separate ways on Thanksgiving Day.

I emailed my sisters (the ones nearby - love you and miss you, sister Mary) and suggested we get together for lunch before the holiday and connect with each other.
We do not do it enough.

We met at Applebee's.
Linda and Deanna were waiting when Sharen and I showed up. The hostess asked us if we wanted to be seated and all of us said "No, we still have one more" at the same time. We all said a few huhs, and ughs and a few whaaaat's and the hostess looked very confused and then we all said at the same time "It's a sister thing". Then we all laughed.

Man, did that feel good.
We sat around the table enjoyed our lunch and caught up.
I ordered a meal that Sharen said that it would be the last thing that she would eat. If EVER! Now I love it because we had it a lot growing up - she on the other hand hates it, because we had it a lot growing up. Grilled cheese and Tomato soup.

Vicki gets a free lunch when she find a large screw in her soup. She found it before she swallowed it or broke a tooth.
No more "soup of the day" for the rest of the customers.

Here we are!

People who I am very Thankful for.

Silly Turkey Hat

Grandkids make you do silly things.
When they ask you to put on a silly hat....
That is exactly what you do - and you secretly like it, because they wanted you to put on that silly hat and be silly.

Mike holding Owen wearing Roger's silly turkey hat.

Great Excuse

She can't walk around the neighborhood.
She can't go over to LA and get in the water with me.
She can't take a trip to Joannes. (We have coupons to use! damn it)

Why?

She has Ben for the day.
Ben's babysitter was busy so Sharen got to watch her little grandson.

I decided that I needed a visit with Ben too, so I took a walk down the street. LOVE  that we live so close together.

Hey Ben, I am your GREAT Aunt Karen!

I held him while he watch his Grandma make up his bottle.

PhotoBombed

Logan's football team "Orange Crush" played in Cedar Rapids last weekend.

They played hard on and off the field.
Took home a championship trophy.

These boys don't only play with each other they play FOR each other.
The home team (favorite to win) took out our kicker. He has a sprained knee and a broken ankle. The opposing team wouldn't even take a knee for our guy on the field. They hopped around like a celebration.  Our boys came out fighting mad and showed them what football is all about. So proud to watch.

After all was done - of course, we had to have our picture taken with 24.

24 and Mom. No Smile!

 24 and a proud Papa. Big Smiles!

 24 and Grandma. Big brother in the background.