The Blanch Herd: Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks

This year, we had two fantastic and filling Thanksgiving celebrations. Lately, the Blanchard clan has opted for a Sunday-before-Thanksgiving feast, with the Elwoods gathering on Thursday. This year, we were excited to have Gregg's brother, Ryan, in the state at Thanksgiving time (something that hasn't happened for quite a few years - at least longer than the six years I've been in the family), but he could only be here from Thanksgiving on through the weekend. So, we had Thanksgiving on Thursday with the Elwoods, as originally scheduled. And then we had Blanchard Thanksgiving on Friday. (And then we ate full-on Thanksgiving dinner leftovers for two more days.) It was delicious and wonderful and so fun to be all together with the ones we love most.

In a fashion completely opposite of what I usually do (at least on a day-to-day basis, but, curiously enough totally true-to-form when I get together with family), I did not take a single picture from Thursday on. (I know. I mean, did you see that October Round-Up post? I typically take way. too. many. photos.) But, I was able to snag a couple that my mom and sister posted. And then a bunch that Gregg's mom, Kim, posted. So, there is some photographic evidence of our holiday to share here.

Thursday
We woke up early (Sam's fault) and headed to Logan where we helped my mom make rolls and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Then, migrated a bit further north to my Elwood Grandparents' house. There we finished food preparations and wandered to the park for a little game of "TOM" (think PIG, but Thanksgiving-ified). Back to Grandma's for our feast and football-watching and game-playing and people-visiting. Then came pie. And then came new jammies for the kidlets. And then we drove home. Good day.

So this was really from Tuesday, aka Pretzel
Turkey Day. Heather and Grace came
down to play and we made (attempted anyway)
these little treats to share with all the families
as place settings for Thanksgiving dinners.

And this was really from Wednesday, aka
Cheesecake Day. Sam was my helper for the
second one of the day, and he got to taste his first
beater.

It was a hit!

bonus video!

"he likes to sing while he works"

(alternate title "a rather uneventful minute and a half, but one

that a momma can't help but love")

(update 1/11/2021 - I am going through making updates to links that may be missing

and I can't find this one anymore and I have no idea what it is about! I'm so sad!)

The TOM gang, in all their basketball glory.

A little after-dinner serenade from these
hooligans.

Heather made pie - and lots of it. This sheet cake apple pie,
a peach pie, a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie shortbread crust bar
thing. I added a reese's chocolate pb cheesecake to the mix.
Basically we were all rolling home in a sugar coma.

Jammies and babies. Best combo ever.

Saying our goodbyes to the family.

Friday
Up early again (thanks a lot, Sam!). This time we packed up our goodies and headed South to Gregg's parents' house. We spent the morning munching cheeseball and other cheesy dips and catching up with out of state siblings (Laurel and Bret and kids came in from Colorado to join the fun, too!). Then we feasted again. Afternoon happenings included naps, walks, and dress-ups. Back to the kitchen table for pie, followed by a family stroll on the golf course with Aggie the dog. And then it was time to go home yet again.

Enthusiastic greeting for Uncle Ryan. He gives this to everyone,
so don't think Ryan had special treatment.

Visiting.

A bunch of cheeseballs by the cheeseball.

Super hero paparazzi Cohen snaps one of Uncle Gregg.

Perusing the family scrapbooks. Plus bunny ears. Why not?

This one cracks me up - all that food and Sam
in the corner by himself.

Let's eat!

She's discovered the thrill of Grandma's dress-up
box.

All the family together.

Stories before we hit the road.

Fill 'im up!

Saturday
Up early again (are you noticing a trend?) and on the road back to SoJo for another day of family fun. (Gotta pack it in while everyone is in the same state!) On the docket for today was a yummy lunch at Bruges Waffles and Frites (we needed the recently returned-from-Brussels Ryan to decipher the authentic eats on the menu, etc.) and a tour of Scott's school (Corner Canyon High in Draper). Gregg and Ryan headed for the mountains to check out the resorts' opening day (they didn't ski but they did ride the tram at Snowbird) while the rest of us headed back to home-base for naps and/or a little R&R. Then Grandma brought out the gingerbread house and the cousins had a blast decorating it up to perfection. Dinner was a serve-yourself leftovers buffet before heading over to Heather and Scott's place for an early combined birthday celebration for Heather and Ryan (since we were all together, why not, right?) We chowed on cheesecake and visited and enjoyed their Christmas tree. And then it was back into jammies and back into the car and back home to bed once again. A fun-and-food-filled weekend had come to an end.