The thanksgiving gathering

Our little family celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday together on Friday and Saturday of this year. The Atlanta Horwedel's arrived Thursday night and left early Sunday morning, so we were able to spend the two days in between mostly all together.

Fortunately the weather wasn't too terrible. It was cold, but no precipitation other than some rain Saturday afternoon.

Friday we took Isaac and Ricci to see the new park along the river in Fort Wayne. Carrie and the kids (and dog) met us there. We took a nice long walk and the kids were able to play on the playground for a good while. We then had our "big" meal for supper Friday night. It was topped off by lazing around the house, and watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving classic.

Saturday we ventured downtown for the Holly Trolley shopping festivities. It was pretty chilly, but not unbearable. Again, Carrie and the kids met us downtown. We took a ride on the trolley, then ventured into some different small shops and sights around town.

In the afternoon we finally took Isaac and Ricci out to see the Feipel's new house on the edge of town. We hung out there, then went back to our house for turkey leftovers... and another Christmas movie.

The time seemed to go much too quickly, and I ate and drank too much, but no one got hurt and conversation remained civil throughout (as it usually does). Unfortunately our family just does not take good pictures though. Oh well. :)

One thing we did this year that is not really a tradition of ours, but a somewhat traditional Thanksgiving thing, is we shared what we were thankful for while we ate. The kids added a special element to this, and of course it was the youngest who reminded us to pray (after we were almost done eating). I think it would be nice sometime if we had a sing-along accompanied by piano or guitar (other than the music being played in the basement by Isaac and the grandkids - not that there was anything wrong with that).

So, another year has come and gone. It seems weird that Christmas is only a few short weeks away. Until then, it is now back to just the two of us. For as much ruckus as a house-full can sometimes be, it get pretty quiet pretty fast when they are all gone...

If only Jane had been in this shot...