Like the Movies

Have you ever watched one of those holiday movies where the family gathers, and you think wistfully for a day where you might live that moment? Today that moment was mine. It embodied everything that makes Thanksgiving my favorite holiday.

We started the day out with both boys and did the Turkey Day 5K.

This was both boys first 5K. O got to sit back and enjoy it via a stroller ride, but K had to run it. No shock that O took a leisurely nap throughout the whole thing. We started out running all four of us together ... K made it almost the whole first mile before he decided he needed to walk. We let D and O split from us and we conquered that last two miles. It was tough on K, he told me how much he hated it and hated me for making him do it. He got encouragement from me ... and random strangers. D met up with us again for the last quarter mile and helped me cheer K in to run it home. So proud of him, even if he didn't enjoy the whole thing. It was a perfect way to start out the holiday, with 15,000 other people who wanted to give it a go.

Then it was off to home and getting the meal prepped. My youngest sister and her husband arrived first, about an hour before we planned to put out noshy food. The boys love them, and like to hang out with them. They had a good time. As the rest of the family arrived, we got our "tide you over" butternut squash soup served. Then while we waited for the food to cook, we played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. K and I have wanted to play this game for a while, we've just never had enough other people available to play it. So, fun was had by all as we enjoyed the game.

The food was fantastic ... I'll try to remember to come back and add photos later. D gets to take credit for a lot of it. (We were up yesterday prepping, prepping, preppy) but it all turned out well. We had good conversation over dinner (no TV!) and just enjoyed each others company. It was so grown up, but there were young kids at the table, too.

 Between dinner and dessert, K had the family read this Thanksgiving play from school. And everyone but me (I had dish duty) participated. This kind of thing would not have happened in the past ... it was one of those movie-kind-of-moments. Just crazy good.

Then we had delicious cheesecake and pumpkin pie for dessert. The family rested, more conversation. It was just delightful. I asked K how he felt the day went, and he said it was fantastic, amazing, wonderful! I can only hope that all his Thanksgivings are this good!