A Warm Welcome

Happy Thanksgiving from Double E's Hobbit Hole!

 In my family, thanksgiving is kind of a big deal. For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has always been celebrated with my parents, two brothers, my aunt and uncle, and their three kids. Growing up, it was always guaranteed that the 10 of us would be there, usually with a few other people thrown in. (My dad would often find one or two people who were on their own over Thanksgiving and invite them over for coffee/dinner) As we all grew older and started dating, every once in a while there would a significant other at the table; we knew it was getting serious when you brought someone to the Thanksgiving weekend!
 Now that everyone is older, all married except me, and starting to have kids it's been harder to get everyone together. Over the last few years a few of us were out of the province, one out of the country and others on their honeymoon. This year was the first year in about the last 4 that everyone has been able to make it. With husbands, wives, significant others (my boyfriend is the only significant other.. yay for being the only unmarried cousin?) and grandchildren, the total count is up to 17, plus another one due any day now!
 It's always been crazy busy with people during the Thanksgiving weekend, but this year, it was extra crazy with everyone there! It's busy, crazy and full of people coming and going (not to mention crazy amounts of food and snacks!) but none of us would have it any other way. It has gotten to the point where we have to start sleeping at other places. When we were younger it was easier because we only needed 2 bedrooms, and 2 rooms with enough floor space for 3 air mattresses each. Now, however, we need 8 bedrooms and at least a couch or room for an air mattress. This being so, we have expanded to 1 house, 1 apartment and using another family member's house while they are out of town, just to have enough rooms/beds to sleep in!
 Thanksgiving is one of my favourite times of year, and I always get really excited to see everyone. To me, Thanksgiving is almost more of a big deal to have everyone together than Christmas. I love the changing colours on the trees, the cooling temperatures, and the weekend of games, food and fellowship this weekend always brings.
 I am thankful for so much, but I am most thankful to have a wonderful family who is able to put 16 adults and a 2yr old child into a 3 bedroom house for 4 days and still be able to stand each other at the end of it. In that household, and ours, even if you are not a family member by blood or marriage it is always a warm welcome to anyone that walks through the door.
                                                    -- EV

EB is away on her traditional Thanksgiving weekend family camping trip... so I'll get her to write more on the next post. hehe