It all started a few weeks before Thanksgiving when David was giving a talk to a group of alumni and decided to take a picture of the audience. Then the next week, there was the massive soccer game between Melissa and Benjamin played with the Zolo blocks

Thanksgiving itself started with the obligatory picture of Suzanne and of my breakfast of zucchini carrot bread but that's getting ahead of the story. The story is about the holiday as illustrated by Benjamin's beautiful poster. I wore the neck warmer that Jane had made for me to get warm for the game and we displayed the holiday icons of Sarah's plate and the flower turkey. Benjamin was in a good mood and brought Norma into the next picture while Suzanne unpacked new (to us) cocktail napkins and Milt brought in the newspapers. Jane did her turkey imitations as we looked at other flowers and the nuts (for the sweet??) that were being saved for later. Sarah posed with her plate from 11 years ago and in the midst of an intense Snood game we found the missing chess piece as the lady walked by in the Macy's parade and Benjamin and I played a competitive game of crazy bones.

Soon after, people started to arrive for the football game. The Mulveys came first and then Els (with Jane) and Kaylen. Sarah and Claire did their pose on the new couch cover which matched Claire's sweater. John and Benjamin were playing PS2 in preparation for the big game when the Justs came with the all important pump and Oliver. We did the air filling ritual took a few team pictures and then one of the photographer before heading to the field for the game.

After some small practice it was game time for us and the sidelines crowd was cheering us on taking these wonderful pictures of the game in progress

and a tree and more game shots and then this twig with leaves. After a few excellent sideline people pictures of Sara and Suzanne and Milt, Suzanne and Benjamin the last touchdown was scored and this security guard told us we had to leave though he didn't give us the decency of looking at the camera. Back at home, we captured this picture of Sara and Lizzie Just and Kaylen and Adele Hagadorn before coming in to receive holiday greetings by phone.

The main event was the food. Or maybe it was the food preparation. In the kitchen as we worked, we had the con queso dip ready to go and mixed the potatoes with butter for eventual mashing (see below). To get things going, we made some cosmopolitans and admired the tented turkey that was resting and waiting to be cut as the gravy cooked. We were careful to not watch this pot so that it would eventually boil. The table was set and the pies were out as Benjamin danced too fast for the camera to see. The oranges were at the ready surely brought all the way from China. Back in the kitchen, the potatoes were being mashed. Meanwhile, Sarah was finishing up her page for the yearbook.

Back in the kitchen, the cooked brie was doing well as were the candied carrots and the mashed potatoes so that the mixer could be used to whip the cream.

Now it was time to serve the dinner. The shrimp cocktail was the star of a wonderful collection of hors d'ouvers in front of a fire that was starting to blaze.

The Mulveys arrived with beets, salad, stuffing, a squash casserole, and new desserts that John had made. As if this wasn't enough, they also brought sweet potatoes and macaroni and cheese. All of this made Benjamin do a repeat of his dance performance as the kitchen crew put the finishing touches on a buffet that looked good from both directions.

The food was ready. Benjamin led the line with this plate followed by Johnny who sat next to Benjamin. Sarah was happy to be sitting next to Claire and Lizzie flew by too fast to capture as Jane dug into her food and John kept carving the turkey. Norma had her plate of food as did Milt, John, Laurie, and Suzanne. This was my food and here is how I looked as the meat was brought out.

After a lot of eating, the pies were served along with the French dessert This all made Lizzie happier to have her picture taken especially when she could pose with Claire and we could all see the chocolate decadence cake. Another Thanksgiving well celebrated.