Thanksgiving 2007

Happy Thanksgiving (weekend). It's hard to believe that Sunday evening is already here. We've had some relaxing days and good times with family.

Thanksgiving Eve we met up with Holly's family and Grams and Papa for dinner at the new Cheesecake Factory. It was an early celebration for our niece (Happy Birthday today, AO!). Actually, we crashed the party, in a way...our plan was to leave the kids with the grandparents and go out for the evening ourselves, but a change of plans on their part led to a gracious invitation. Prepared for a long wait (1-2 hours is about standard at that place), we sat outside around the heaters and and talked while the kids ran around. After closer to 2 hours, we were seated (split-up, unfortunately). The food was very good, but I'm not sure worth the wait. At least the company was good.

It was past bedtime when we left the restaurant. We got the kids into their jammies and took them over to Gram's and Papa's house for the sleepover (Papa likes to make Swedish pancakes for his grandkids on Thanksgiving morning while they watch the Macy's Parade--the sleepover beforehand was our idea). After getting the kids settled in bed, we left and made the most of our kid-free evening by picking up Spiderman 3 at a Redbox to watch back home. We're pretty behind as far as movies go. This one was pretty good and despite the comic-book violence, had a decent message.

It was strange to go to bed and wake up without the kiddos around. I spent the morning making a fruit salad. TEC made us breakfast and we enjoyed watching some of the parade on TV ourselves. We learned later that the night at TEC's parents' house was not as pleasant...kids waking up during the night, etc. Poor Aunt Holly had to deal with more than her share...anyhow, we hope they all forgive us. At least the Swedish pancake breakfast was a success.

About noon, after reclaiming our parental responsibilities, of course, we headed out to Sandy to spend Thanksgiving with my family at Val and Ben's new house. Val and my mom did most of the prep work. I contributed the fruit salad, some asparagus, and then tried to be as helpful as I could in getting all the last minute things ready. The food was delicious...many of Grandma Tibbitts' recipes, without which it just doesn't seem like Thanksgiving--she was busy hosting 18 at her house in St. Anthony, ID this year. It was the first time my whole family has been together since we've lived here, so that was neat as well. My dad made the comment that he was most grateful that the day has come for his daughters to finally be settled into our homes (somehow the three of us decided to buy homes and move at the same time this fall--lots of fun!)

Friday morning we drove up to the cabin (TEC's grandparents' cabin up Weber Canyon near Oakley). That's a family tradition for the Cundicks. In fact, it was hard for TEC to agree to wait for Friday to drive up--he remembers, growing up, leaving late Thursday night after the Thanksgiving in-the-valley-family-time was over. We arrived in time for one of my favorite cabin breakfasts: eggs and bacon with biscuits and honey butter...just what you need after all that Thanksgiving eating, eh? Then it was all the usual--playing games, watching movies, more eating... The only strange part was not having any snow outside on which to go sledding. We had a great time, though. Gramie and Boba sure take good care of us up there.

I guess I better mention the game that went down at the stadium down south Saturday afternoon....There. I mentioned it.

We left the cabin Saturday evening so we could be back here for our Sunday duties. Most mentionable was RVC's talk in primary. She spoke about her great-great-great-great grandfather and how he learned to be grateful as a young boy crossing the plains with his family, even at those times that they had very little (I believe TEC's siblings all gave the "big bites and little sips" talk at one time growing up). She did a great job.

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend. We are most grateful to have had a wonderful time with both families without having to fly to Utah and stress about making sure we got to see everyone. Though we miss our friends in Texas, there are certainly good things about living here.