Thanksgiving in Wisconsin!

We've been having fun in the not-so-snowy north at Alice and Tom's house. Jen came up here over Veteran's Day, but I haven't been up here since before our wedding. Ouch! New features include outdoor accent lighting for the house (ooohh, ahhhh!).

We came into MKE on Wednesday night via Midwest Express. Grandma and Grandpa had already arrived a few days earlier and were at the house when we arrived. Jen and I are stying downstairs to let Grandma and Grandpa avoid climbing the stairs all the time.

On Thanksgiving day Tom's dad, brother, and cousin all came over for dinner. We'd been working all morning on the turkey, etc, and had a table full of food. I ate until I was about to explode [ref: Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life"]. The stuffing was a special kind that had cranberries in it. Tom and Alice had gone to see the cranberry bog a few weeks earlier so we had some great cranberry food :-)

After almost erupting, I ate desert. WE had cheesecaks, pecan pie and apple pie, plus numerous cookies and ice cream. After an hours-long food-induced coma in front of the fireplace, I asked Jen to shoot me if I ever tried to eat that much again. I've been losing a little bit of weight (like 5 lbs; due to my stomach shrinking in Europe and my increased activity being at the house all day), but I will be busting my belt if I eat like that more than once a year.

I missed seeing my family up in GA, but I got several nice phone calls to let us know we were remembered. My mom and dad left Thanksgiving dinner and jumped in the car to head to FL for some repainting at the Port Orange house. My brother Robbie and his girl friend Lindsey both work at Best Buy and will not be seen again until some time in January. (Seriously. If they take a day off, they're fired!).

All told, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are thankful to be able to travel about to see our extended families and spend holidays with people we love. These past few years have been whirlwinds of change and motion, but we always end up where we are supposed to be. I cannot wish for a better life than the one I have. We are truly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Thank you for the difference you make in our lives and in the world. You are noticed, counted, and appreciated.