Thanksgiving at the Wells' Home!

Our home @ Thanksgiving!

Annie Gracie...my 2 yo granddaughter

This week, 20 years ago, we spent Thanksgiving Weekend moving into our newly built home.  We did much of the "grunt" work of our house ourselves due to finances.  Not the REAL labor mind you, but the minor, simple, time consuming stuff...painting, staining, etc.  With 3600 sq ft...that is a lot of painting & staining!!!  So on that weekend, my husbands family, all came from Atlanta, SC, and Richmond to help us move from the little house to the big one.  That was the beginning of "Thanksgiving in Warsaw" for my husbands Parents, Brothers & Sisters and their families.  They even laid our  brick walkway.  Just amazing folks.  They usually come starting on Tuesday evening and the last group leaves on Saturday. 

enjoying the football game

As a rule, I would cook the Thanksgiving meal, and sort of plan and guide the production of the other meals.  That remains the same.  This year, I pulled an all-nighter b/c the turkey was 22lbs and would tie up the oven too long and would compromise my "schedule".  So after everyone went to bed about 12mn...I began the BIG MEAL.  We traditionally have a huge country ham breakfast and the cooking needed to be somewhat at a stand-still for the 2:00pm Meal Time.  So it was the best way to handle it.

Cousins....chatting on a blanket

We've grown in numbers through the years.  This year, there were 32 of us.  Due to the fact that the children are no longer "little", it has gotten a bit much to "house" the whole group for that long of a period like we use to.  My son and his family and my daughter and her husband stayed with us.  But the others stay at a local motel right off I-40.  It is only 3-5 miles from our home...so it works.  They spend breakfast-to-bedtime with us.  We have a blast.

Chloe in pink...Caleb the maltese watching

32 PEOPLE!!!  Yes, it is crazy, but we laugh, talk bunches and yes...go a little crazy!  Did I mention all of our dogs too?  This year we were down in numbers.  We had our 2, then an additional 4.  Yeah...crazy.  And my NEW Shi Tzu/Pomeranian had to learn the crowd and she was a BARKER!  Oh well...we lived through it.

Dad giving THANKS

One of our favorite times, it just before our Thanksgiving meal, we go around the  room and state 1 thing we are thankful for.  Special time and special memories usually with a few tears shed along the way.  This year, DAD, just turned 88 years old, quoted scriptures about giving Thanks...it was very special...then we hold hands or wrap arms around each other and pray. 

The POOP BOWL in progress!

Thankfully, the rain held off a little and we ventured outside for several hours which helps with noise control and helps to maintain a little sanity while the 2nd cousins get a chance to play and work off some energy.  The older cousins always have a traditional "football" game...they call it the "Poop Bowl" b/c invariably someone steps in the left behinds of one of the dogs!  Gross...Sorry!  This year was an injury-free event.  Not always so fortunate...one dislocated shoulder required surgery in years past!!!  This Wells' crowd plays to win!!!

My Sweet Little Mother

Even with all the mayhem of it all...I couldn't help but think about MY family having their traditional Thanksgiving at my sisters house in Vale, NC...this was the first Thanksgiving without Mother.   I know they missed her so much.  Mother was the Matriarch of our family.  And she LOVED a family event.  In her heyday, she was an awesome cook.  We loved to eat at Mother's.  In fact, my Mother was known for her sage cornbread dressing. 

 

 

Beth...my sis

Every year, for 20 years, I have called her and gone over the recipe with her...never could get it right.  This year, I called my sister Beth  to go over the recipe and give me hints...she did & it turned out superb.  I missed hearing my Mother's encouragement to me on my preparation of her recipe......I appreciate Beth helping me on it. 

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving.  I did.  And I am Thankful. 

Watching the "Poop Bowl" Football game!

Alyssa...my 4 yo Granddaughter

lots of computer time for this group...