Thanksgiving With MY PEOPLE

All of my siblings and my dad gathered up at my brother's house for Turkey Day this year.  It was great fun and we all stayed together at Matt and Misty's house.  In this picture from left to right is Brigitta, Matt, Chip and me.  Chip lives in D.C. and Matt is in the Northwest, so our times of getting together are getting few and far between.

Grandpa led a Thanksgiving sing-in.  Grandpa brought his hymnals from home to assure that such an activity would take place.  Please pay no attention to the fact that Clark is playing his game-boy behind the hymnal.  As long as he doesn't try that trick at church.

I don't want to give any of Matt's turkey secrets away, but.... okay, twist my arm... I'll tell.
He marinated the blessed bird in a garbage bag overnight in a "solution" of apple juice, salt, honey, and brown sugar.  Then the next day, at the appointed hour, the bird was injected with a freshly mixed solution of apple juice and salt.  Cooked bacon was stuffed inside the bird and draped across the top.  Every hour or so there was a fresh injection.

And the feast was magnificent!  Perhaps the finest gravy I have ever had. EVER.  We want Matt to bottle it and put a smiling picture of his bald head labeled, "Matthew's Own".  This was gravy worthy of drinking straight--never mind about putting it on food-- just grab a goblet and enjoy!

George and Grandpa Cannon.  I believe my dad was quite delighted to have a fresh crowd to discuss/argue politics with.  It did get a little heated at times, and it is possible that names, such as, moron might have been used in describing another's viewpoint.
During one such exchange, Elinor tells my dad, "Can you please make your children stop fighting?"

My dad told her that we weren't fighting, just discussing.  He said we'd know if it was a fight if we were mad at each other when it was over.  We were not mad when it was over, so it wasn't a fight.  Nonetheless, we're not big arguers/debaters at our house, so I think it was a bit shocking for the kids to see grown-ups getting a little heated.  

 

Game time was a favorite of the weekend.  The game we are playing here is called Masterpiece.  They don't make this game anymore, but it was our family's favorite when we were kids.  It's all about collecting artwork and auctioning it off and buying it and there are forgeries involved and such.  We love it.  We also played Bang.  If anyone in Utah has this game and is looking for a game night-- CALL US!  We loved it.  

Takara and Faith got along quite well.  Brigham and Cannon did not get along so well.   There was senseless violence involved, but fortunately, both sets of parents handled things very well (I think), and there were no lasting scars--emotional or physical.  We couldn't get a picture of them together-- too risky.