Thanksgiving 2014

 

Scott doesn't write family emails often, but when he does, they are always enjoyable. The invitation to Thanksgiving November of 2014 was no exception:

Family:

We have invited mom and dad to our home for Thanksgiving dinner. You and any of your families are also welcome to come. We aren't sure of the time yet but probably in the afternoon. Pilgrim, Indian or football attire is optional but welcome.

We regret that due to liability and health reasons, the previously contemplated "Turkey Bowl" will not take place this year.. However, we will provide a (totally optional) leaf raking activity prior to dinner for those who want to burn off some calories prior to or after feasting. We promise to have football playing on one TV with Pocahontas and Pocahontas 2, alternating on the other.

We understand you have other [less fun and attractive] relations that you have to keep happy and will certainly understand if you cannot attend. However, please let us know either way by November 19th. You can still show up on Thanksgiving but those who have not met the RSVP deadline may be eating frozen pizza.

Thankfully yours,

Scott and Amy

Shane's reply kept up the fun...

Dear Scott - We appreciate the offer, and after much deliberation, we would like to RSVP in the affirmative; at least until a better offer comes along. As it would be rude to come empty-handed, we will gladly bring three whiny children. We will also contribute to the caloric intake by bringing some dessert, namely two or three pies in any of the following varieties: Apple, Pumpkin, Peach-Blueberry, Cow, and Chart. A gluten-free dessert will also be provided, in the form of leftover Halloween Smarties ®. Best regards, Shane and family.

Shane and Alicia and their three kids DID attend, so I guess no better offers came along ;) Chris and Kim and the three youngest Westra kids also attended, so it was a pretty full Westra group gathering, and there were even photos taken to preserve the memory. Yeah! Mom wrote in an email afterward:

We had a delightful time at Scott and Amy's. Dinner was delicious! We all enjoyed visiting with family. The cousins had lots of fun together. Chris and Kim brought lots of bottles of Martinelli's sparkling cider--a Taylor tradition. Some of us went for a walk after dinner to try to make room for pie! Shane & Alicia made 4 different kinds of pie, plus a gluten-free chocolate cake, and some gingersnaps. We were too stuffed to do them justice, but will enjoy some leftovers today! Amy and clan had made homemade rolls and homemade cranberry sauce, plus all the other yummy foods! We appreciate their hosting the event--it is always a big undertaking! Shane & Alicia and kids headed off to Midway for an overnighter. That is their new Thanksgiving tradition. This is their 3rd year.

Chris wrote ...

Kim and I took Corin, Camden, and Cayson to Scott and Amy's house in Draper and were joined by Mom and Dad and Shane and Alicia and their family. We had a great meal and then just sat and visited, and the cousins had fun playing outside and all around the house. I got to wrestle with Calder - that boy laughs more than any kid I know. 

 

Dinners Out

(This post will be backdated to November 2014)

With Mom/Margie and Dad/LaMar's annual Christmas gift of "dinners out" with the kids, there were likely many times different families got together to chat and eat throughout 2014. Often when an outing was suggested by one couple, others were invited too. Come if you can. Pictures help preserve those gatherings into memory! Take pictures! More photos were found after this post originally went up (and out in email) so it has been updated.

McGraths in May

Here, it was October 30 - notice the skeleton shirt on Cooper. Red Robin ... Yum.

Yeah to Gray for thinking to grab a photo!

In addition to dinner, D&D were also bringing out Mom and Dad's new cell phone. Landon was working up that way, so he stopped on the way home from work (and then went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house afterward and help get the new phone connected to their home network). Jen couldn't make it, needing to get Callahan and Keaton to/from basketball, but Gray and the two little boys went out. Jen sent the game "Spot It" with them, and Mom said that was a good activity while waiting for food and for the cousins to interact.

There had been another Red Robin gathering in July (Shane&Alicia, Derek&Danielle, Mom&Dad and Jen ... the rest of the Blackhams were in Seattle). Originally no pictures were found, but then a photo popped up (see that post here). 

Not long after that, there was another "come one come all" call for Mom/Margie's birthday.

Mom and Dad had gone out Wednesday night to McGrath's with her siblings to celebrate her birthday. Thursday, Scott and Amy took the folks out to lunch. Friday was out to Blue Lemon (not so much Mom's birthday as Layla's sealing/blessing, see that picture below). So, Jen suggested Saturday. Wendy was in town, and Chris said he and Kim could come. 

Blue Lemon - November 2014

Westras I spy ... D&Ds family (obviously), LaMar, McKenna, Scott, Kim, Chris, Wendy, Mom, Shane and Alicia. Is that Amy next to Scott (behind Dad/Derek)?

Checking old emails and journal entries ... WHERE we went wasn't recorded. 

Asian Star seems to stick in my mind.