Flashback Friday

The men in the family were getting more use out of our family's matching denim shirts at Thanksgiving 1997 in Chicago.

The Rest of Thanksgiving, At Home and Abroad

While the rest of us were in Denver for Thanksgiving weekend, Rosie and her parents visited the Polish city of Wrocław. They went to a Christmas market and generally enjoyed getting to see a new part of the country.

When Rosie got home she took the first step in her new career as an overalls model.

Meanwhile in Denver, Freddie schooled Aunt Mary on how to change a diaper.

We went to see the Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo.

We went out for breakfast and Lauren joined us.

More from breakfast.

Lloyd shopped for a new bike, which raised the age-old question: nature or nuture?

Freddie was glued to the TV while the Packers were on. See above re: nature or nuture?

And then it was time for one more breakfast, this time with all the Kidds, before heading home.

We had a fun time in Denver for Thanksgiving weekend. It was great to have Mary and Andy there. We missed not seeing Peter and Jessa but soon enough they will be here for an early Christmas visit, and the bonus on top of that bonus is that John and Troy will be here too. 



 

Freddie's First Thanksgiving

Freddie got to meet lots of people for his first Thanksgiving. There was a lot to be thankful for, including this happy and content little guy.

The first new person Freddie met was his Great Grandma Harrison. They quickly became good buddies.

Freddie also got to meet his Aunt Mary and Uncle Andy. He was excited to learn that they're having a baby so in just a few months he won't be the youngest cousin for long.

Freddie's mom and dad hosted 12 adults for Thanksgiving. Here's the Harrison faction, thanks to photographer Lauren. 

Here's Lauren with Esther's friend, Linda, and some other familiar faces.

Freddie's Grandma Esther had a hurt back, which we all felt bad about. But she was a trooper and stayed for all of dinner. Two of Freddie's neighbors and their son were also at dinner.

Freddie's dad prepared a beautiful and delicious meal. Next year Freddie will get to partake in all the Thanksgiving deliciousness.

Flashback Friday

Here are the Harrisons being silly on Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago in 2006. This was before the iPhone was invented, so we needed a photogrrapher. Her name was Mary.

Thanksgiving Wrapup

It was a lovely Thanksgiving Day in Denver with John and Troy and Lloyd, as well as Troy's mom Esther and our niece Lauren.

Sirius gets the award for most patient pup. Even though Lloyd tosses a lot of food his way, he still gets poked and prodded more than a senior dog should have to bear.

On our last night in Denver we went to the Zoo to see their holiday lights.

It was colorful and beautiful and cold.

Elsewhere, Peter and Jessa and Rosie spent their Thanksgiving in Gettysburg.

Here's the Pennsylvania cutie-pie at home.

Meanwhile in Baltimore, Aunt Mary concluded her Thanksgiving weekend by whipping up a crossback apron for herself. She's a very new sewer and it's definitely not a pattern for beginners. (I've made a bunch of the same apron.)  This mom is impressed and proud! 

Flashback Friday

Our Thanksgiving table ten years ago in St. Louis: all five Harrisons plus Troy and her mom and dad. 
 

Philadelphia Thanksgiving

 We spent our first ever Thanksgiving in Philadelphia (as seen in the distance) with Peter and Jessa and Mary and Andy. 

Peter and Jessa put together some delicious food. This was the Thanksgiving appetizer spread.

These two were being silly, but there was nothing silly about the food. Everything was so yummy.

Here is the chef in his space. The Thanksgiving menu centered around a glazed ham. In the foreground is the apple galette that Peter made for dessert.

Our hosts. 

Dinner is served!

Everybody humored me by passing the phone around the table.

We all felt very thankful as Lloyd had been born the day before and Peter and Jessa's baby is practically around the corner. I have more pictures from our time in Philly, but I'll save them for another post. 

Flashback Friday

This was Thanksgiving 2013. It was the first of four very happy Thanksgivings we spent at our house in St. Louis. It's hard to believe we were only there for four years because it seems like so much longer. Anyway, this particular year we had Thanksgiving with all of our kids and the Bediks. Lloyd and Esther were still living in St. Louis, and of course John and Troy lived there as well. This was in the pre-Jessa, pre-Andy era. This Thanksgiving was the perfect way to start life in our new house. At this point we weren't even living in the house yet as we were doing some construction on the second floor, but we got the downstairs ready in time for the holiday. Tomorrow we leave for our Thanksgiving in Philadelphia with Peter and Jessa and Mary and Andy. We'll miss John and Troy, but they are in Denver awaiting the birth of their baby, due on December 2 but likely to be induced to arrive a bit earlier than that. We are all on the edge of our seats. Much to be thankful for.

 

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving will be remembered as being the year we could get together with family and friends after not being able to do so last year. Brad and I went to Barry and Wendy's house in Phoenix where three Harrison brothers, two of their wives, and Brad's mom and dad spent the day together. It wasn't a full contingent but it was significantly fuller than last year's contingent.

We were treated to a table filled with beautiful food and surrounded by some of the best people.

Chuck carved the turkey with an assist from Barry.

From this nuclear family the only one missing is Boyd, but he and Karen had a fun day with their kids and grandkids in Utah.

On the weekend, Mary and Andy put up their first ever Christmas tree and Tikka kept warm in a blanket. They spent their Thanksgiving with Andy's parents and the extended Phelps family.

Meanwhile in Denver, John and Troy cheered the Milwaukee Bucks on to victory over the Denver Nuggets. They were at home for Thanksgiving, celebrating with Troy's mom Esther.

Peter and Jessa spent Thanksgiving in New Jersey at a family gathering with their good friends from college. They were in Gettysburg over weekend with Jessa's mom and her brothers and their families. This is the newest Boehner, little Willow James, who seems quite comfortable with her soon-to-be Uncle Peter.