Thanksgiving – Family, Fun, Poems, and a Gorgeous Talented Turkey

It’s been 19 years since George and I hosted a big Thanksgiving dinner.

Our family celebrating Thanksgiving 19 years ago.

Belly Stuffer

Thanksgiving always brings a terrible chore,
‘Cause I’m forced to eat and eat some more.
If I don’t eat it up right down to desert,
I fear the cook’s feelings will be hurt,
So I do my part, even though I suffer;
To help out the others, I’m a belly stuffer.
– Anonymous

Looking back at the picture above, I now realize what a special Thanksgiving it was. At the time, it seemed like an ordinary family holiday. Three of my four siblings and their families, plus my parents and grandmother, celebrated at our house. We ate and laughed and joked and ate and played charades and ate some more.

My niece, youngest of my parents’ 16 grandchildren

Little did we realize that some of us would be moving away. Get-togethers like this are a rarity now. The kids grew up in a flash, went their own ways, and now the family is more scattered than ever.

My grandmother has since passed away. (We miss you, Grandma). All four of our kids are married and so are many of our nieces and nephews. At the time this family photo was taken, my folks had 16 grandchildren. Now they have 15 great-grandchildren and two more on the way!

Thanksgiving 8000 Calorie Poem

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
– Anonymous

Here’s a short,  cute, and fun video for you:

What a gorgeous turkey and talented, too!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Do you love the hustle and bustle of the season? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m working on another post for tomorrow on how to barbecue a turkey, George’s favorite way to cook for Thanksgiving.