Thanksgiving 2010

We have so many things to be thankful for this year -- healthy and happy children; successes at work and at home; France!; my new car! But this Thanksgiving, choosing what I am most thankful for is easy: For the first time in a long time, my dad is happy. This summer he met a kind-hearted, energetic, beautiful woman named Linda Hinze, and this fall they got married. Linda has brought about many positive changes in my dad's life, but the biggest one, by far, is that he is truly happy to be alive and is enthusiastic about the future. Thank you, Linda, for bringing life back to my dad.


Brian and I hosted our first Thanksgiving this year. I like to set fancy tables every now and then, so I was thrilled to be able to use my mother's beautiful hand-embroidered table linens, my wedding china, and my grandmother's silver. No one could tell that all of this finery was laid over a utility table from Costco.


We were thrilled to have Linda's grandson, Bryce, join us for dinner.

Jeremy woke up at six this morning to smoke a turkey, after brining it for a day and a half. It was the most delicious turkey, of any kind, that I have ever tasted. My brother-in-law truly is a genius with a smoker. We didn't even get a picture of the turkey; it was devoured too quickly.

That left the side dishes and desserts to Linda and me. Here they are all laid on our usual dining table, which was much too small to accommodate our Thanksgiving party of eleven (hence the Costco utility table).


I had plenty of help with the desserts. Sarah had a slumber party with Amanda the night before Thanksgiving, and the two of them were my pastry chefs. They helped make a delicious pumpkin pie. Here, dad takes samples of all the desserts.


The kids of course had a great time being together all afternoon. Here are some shots of the fun.






This is what Elizabeth looks like when she says "Cheese."


Bryce leads a vehicle parade down the sidewalk.


What a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.