Thanksgiving 2014

We held our annual Thanksgiving feast at Nic and Lori's home- definitely an "over the river and thru the woods" experience!
Good food and good company made for a lovely day. 

Although Jan, David, Mark, Danny, Stephen, Laurie and families were not physically in attendence, they certainly were with us in our thoughts and prayers.
We thank God for the special gift of family and friends.

what a spread!

my first helping

the chef extraordinaire

Lori in charge of the deserts

Trevor educated us on "Fans 101"!

Zak and his little girls, Joni and Stevie

Turkey Dynasty

The Davis trio

The Leslie Wantz clan

the pity picture

our little gobblers

Uncle Colin is so funny!

and still making them laugh!

ready to brave the snow for trip home to Lakewood

Happy Birthday girl

The "after party" at my house... cards and football games.
Dexter loved his girlfriend Mya- 11 years his senior!

this is how we all felt in our self induced triptophan comas...

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night..."

We are Family

Yesterday was a special day in our family.  It was 5 years to the day since we lost our beloved mother and we gathered together to remember her in our hearts.
 What better way then to eat some of the delicious foods from our past.   I made her infamous "grandma's potato salad" and got the recipe  just right!

It was "bring your own meat" for the grill and a potluck dish.  Everyone brought their best and there was plenty for all.

We also celebrated the special guests who were in town for a visit-  Danny, all the way from Cambodia and Uncle Lowell from Kansas City, Mo.

Cheesy potatoes, sour kraut, sausage, beans, etc.

Head of our household

lovely sisters in law Diane and Cheryl

Uncle Danny  with Zak

eight of ten  (miss you Steve and Laurie)

guest of honor, Uncle Lowell

open your eyes, Danny!!

shall we gather at the table

Nic's new hippie look- move over Bude!

Mom's potato salad (before)

my potato salad finished product in red pan

Roy the chef meister

looking for Danny's keys

and we are still looking...

New puppy

Guess I should not have named my dog after a serial killer!  

"Dexter Morgan" the Golden Retriever was born May 12th, 2014 and shares his birthday with my sister Lois and niece Renee.

I took  him home at just over 6 weeks old and he weighed in at 11 lbs.  Today, at 11 weeks old, he is 20 lbs and growing.

I think I am too old to handle a puppy but trying...

Mama Chloe and 7 siblings

Aunt Beth

Aunt Lois

Aunt Laurie

he pulls the covers off my couch bed!

thank God for the fenced in yard!

he likes to watch tv!

travel crate

first party 4th of July at Lois's pool

first "doggy" play date with Mya

Jenn and Renee and Big Boy

Bella and Dex

water bowl play