Wait, You Mean Pilgrims Weren't Mormon?

Al and I stuffed our faces at his parent's house for Thanksgiving this year.


My favorite thing about Thanksgiving at my in-law's is the table. Isn't it beautiful?






When I grow up and actually have a dining room of my own, I'm gonna keep my table decorated just like this. All year long.


And of course when I grow up to be a big girl I will also have one of these and keep it decorated all year long:



But for now I'll just live vicariously through my sis-in-law. Aren't they adorable?



Al and I were the last ones to arrive, which of course was Alex's fault, not mine. He takes special showers ya know. So everything was pretty much ready to go by the time we arrived.


Here is my mom-in-law (or Damma, as Ava calls her) and her mom (Grandma Nancy) putting the salad together. We were so glad that Grandma Nancy was able to spend Thanksgiving with us.




And not just because she makes the best clam chowder, although that's a big plus. I don't know how this tradition started, but Alex's family always has clam chowder for their Thanksgiving appetizer. ALWAYS. I have no idea why.


Ok, now I've got myself all curious about it too.


Cris? Why do you always have clam chowder for Thanksgiving?


I'm pretty sure the pilgrims didn't have clam chowder at their dinner. Of course I'm horrible at history so I am really not the one to ask. However I have to say that there is one person who knows less about history than me, my lil sis. Which reminds me, you HAVE to hear this story!

_________________________________________________________________

*True Story*


We live in Utah. Utah has a holiday every 24th of July to celebrate the pioneers who traveled across the country to settle in Salt Lake City to create Mormon Land. My sweet sister Lindee thought that the pioneers and the pilgrims were the same thing.


That's right, she thought that pilgrims were mormons who traveled all the way to Utah to have their thanksgiving dinner with the Indians.


UTAH.


I'm pretty sure Joseph Smith was not a pilgrim.


And she didn't just think this when she was little. No, we found out about a year ago that she still believed this! Come on Lin, even I know the difference between pioneers and pilgrims. I am not lying people, this is a true story, and Lin will never hear the end of it.


I will never let her forget it.


Ever.


In fact, I will start my own family Thanksgiving tradition and tell that story to my children at the dinner table every year and we will all toast to my sister's stupidity.



Thanks Lin, I just love traditions!


_________________________________________________________________


*Okay, back to our 2009 Thanksgiving*


This is Colin, my huge 7 year old neph. I still can't believe he is SEVEN YEARS OLD. I love his toothless butt!




My Albert only has two brothers so I get to have two sisters in law. I definitely lucked out in the sister in law department. Good taste must run in the family.




Ava, being the only girl grandchild, is always the center of attention at all family get togethers. Can you blame us?






Her two older brothers, Jaxon and Colin, adore her. Here is Jaxon helping Ava dress up in her princess costumes. (She is such a girly girl, I love it!)





I love Jaxon, he is the funniest kid ever. He picked out the leg of the turkey for his thanksgiving feast and I noticed he was examining it when I went to take their picture.


He started picking off all the meat and then told me that he was just going to look at the bone. That's it. He just wanted to study the turkey bone for his dinner.


Oh man, he cracks us up!


Speaking of turkey, here is a shot of our feast.



The food and wine were delicious and after stuffing my face I took a nap.


Surprise. Surprise. Me napping. Again. It was awesome.


I will leave you now with a picture of Bert.



He likes to wear black shirts with off-black hats.


Ya can't help but love his ass.