Hosting Thanksgiving

This year we hosted an Anderson thanksgiving dinner at our house.

The night before, grandma Anderson provided pizza and we 

got to mingle with Alexa and her fiance Joe.

Here is a picture of Kathy telling stories to the children after dinner.

Donny's sister, Kimala, and her children (Casey and Leanna) and grand baby (Riley)

surprised everyone by driving all the way from Seattle. 

They drove all night and arrived at 5:30am on thanksgiving day.

(Donny bought a guest bed for Holland's room and got it all set up just in time)

Here is a picture of the oldest Anderson grandchild (Leanna), 

the youngest Anderson grandchild (Benson), and the first Anderson great grandchild (Riley).

My kids couldn't get enough of Riley.  

When they said goodbye after three days, they were so sad to have him go.

Here is Holland holding Riley. She loved "mothering" him.

On Thanksgiving day, we all worked our tails off in the kitchen.

Myriam and Hunter spent the morning shining silverware, 

then Myriam made 5 apple pies from scratch. 

She was peeling and chopping apples forever!

(When her beautiful cousin, Marissa, came, she jumped in and helped her.)

Sadie made cute name cards, set all the tables, 

and then made 3 huge bowls of mashed potatoes.

As Donny would say, she has "the abundance mentality."

Holland and Packer each made a strawberry pretzel jello,

Donny cooked the turkey, and I made tons of rolls.

(Aunt Marla was in charge of salad and she went overboard-

she made 5 different kinds and they were all delicious.)

After all the cooking and cleaning, 

they are now more grateful for all the work they never noticed before.

The rest of our weekend was full of play and eating left-overs.

Bridgett and Meagan slept over. The girls decorated for Christmas, 

played dress ups, made up harp/violin duets, and played card games. 

The boys went shooting, put up Christmas lights and played neighborhood basketball.

We all played ultimate Frisbee, went hot-tubbing at grandma's, and watched BYU football.

3 cheers for family gatherings!!!

I am so grateful to have great in-laws.

They are so fun to talk and play with.