Gobble-gobble

Thirteen years ago (or there-bouts), my mom coordinated a huge surprise for my dad's 60th birthday by inviting all of my brothers and sisters to visit for a big reunion/birthday bash.  I'm the youngest of 7, you see.  Four sisters and two brothers precede me from Dad's younger-years with his first wife.  Though this is not the case these days, my fifteen year old self was incredibly intimidated by these people.  They were bigger than me.  They were funnier than me.  They were better looking than me (at the time... I'm way better looking, now ((snicker))).  Aside from my sister, Jennifer, who was an adolescent when I was a baby, the rest were adults while I was growing up.  I didn't see them often, so the idea of sharing my space and my Dad was foreign to me.  However odd it was at the time, I loved it.  The family decided to begin a tradition to celebrate Thanksgiving together at our house.  

((Snicker = to chuckle facetiously.   

 

Yeah... like that.))

Over the years, most of us have managed to keep the tradition alive.  As an adult, I've found my place as a participant in the yearly extravaganza.  Some years, I man post at the gumbo pot.  Others, I help coordinate the menu and sleeping arrangements.  This year, I took pictures.  Many pictures...

Although this year's turnout was not quite as large as in years past (20-plus and their dogs), my parents' house was filled to the brim with laughter, food and barking.

Lets begin at the left.  Ironically, in chronological order... Here we go: Dad, oldest brother Darren and his wife Susan, oldest sister Julie and husband Ron, Mom (well, almost chronological), youngest brother Jim, wife Suzette, kiddos Caitlin, Riley and little Matthew, me (caboose), my boy Collin, dogs Babe, Bell, Moose and Rags.  Oh, and the hubster is behind the camera.

There he is...

((drooling))

For the record, I drug most of them out for these pictures while they kicked and screamed intermittently.  They'll appreciate it, eventually.  Onward...

Although we have strayed from our traditional menu a year or two, one thing has remained a popular staple in our Thanksgiving Dinner... 

Deep.  Fried.  Turkey.

You can't get better than that.

Frying a turkey is an involved process.  Dad posts camp on the patio to watch the pot...

You know... in case the bird flies away.

It's a big job, but somebody's gotta do it.

Better go back inside, Caitlin, or they'll put you to work!

You know, smoke follows beauty.  Dad says so.
  

Almost ready to eat.

My picture-taking continued through dinner (between bites), much to my family's dismay.  Like I care.  ((snicker))

Ultimately, through the course of dinner, the family found my incessant picture taking was a little... well...

... annoying.

So, I took a break.

Until after dinner.

After a few minutes of surveying my parents' pasture for a nice photographic backdrop (this is where the kicking and screaming comes into play), I lured my kin to the determined spot with the promise of expediency.  

On our walk to the back of the pasture, I had my dad's Nikon and giant lens tucked safely under my arm.  I did get razzed a bit about taking charge... the caboose rarely gets that privilege.  Hmm... I didn't get that memo.  ((snicker))

The group picture was somewhat successful.  Unless you would consider getting everyone to look at the camera at once a success.  If so... 

Yeah... that's Mom and my husband clucking and kissing at my son like they would a pet.

 

People, this was no easy task.  Between the dogs, the jokes, my squirmy son (did not want to take part) and the occasional 'photo-bomber' (in the case of the above picture, our dad) relinquishing some compulsiveness was inevitable. 

But, I held my ground.

My friends, this is the best I could get.  It's obvious why, isn't it?  I'm in it.  ((snicker, snicker))

To avoid further confusion (for those not related), I'm going to re-cap. 

  These are my sibs.  From the left.. Darren, Jewels and Jimmy.


Don't let this mild mannered picture fool you.

Ruthless.


And they are still bigger than me.

Here are the kids.

From the left: Kit-Kat, Chubbs, Ry, Maffoosa.
 And Moose, the photo-bomber.

With Suzette and Jimmy...

 Jewels and Ron... 

Darren and Susan...

My absolute favorite...

Mom and Dad.


Now, perhaps you are wondering by now... what about Tommy and Jess?  Well... 

... then ran out of space on the camera's memory card.


Bummer, dude.

Thanksgiving is my favorite of all the holidays.  Family is easy to take advantage of.  But when you only see them once a year, you have to savor those memories.  These are some of my treasures.  I am thankful.

FIN.