Thanksgiving Break

At my work place we traded Columbus day for the day after Thanksgiving meaning I get a four days off in a row. Initially I scheduled Wednesday off because I volunteered to cook the Thanksgiving feast; however, my cousin Sonya in Lakeland wanted everyone to come to her house. This worked out great because the plague hit my work and we were crippled by low attendance at work so taking Wednesday off would have been canceled anyway. (Really low, like only 32% of people one day.)Well, the plague hopped from work to friends and family because cousin Lea was too sick to drive over to Lakeland so thanksgiving dinner was moved to cousin Erica's which was OK by me because she only lives 10 minutes away. Sadly, Lea still wasn't up to joining us but Erica was able to invite her neighbor who lost his wife a couple years ago AND Aunt Mary joined us.

Aunt Mary & mom in front, cousins Sonya & Erica in back

 

Uncle Larry and cousin Lea's husband Don (Sonya & Erica's dad)

 

Gathering to say the blessing so we could eat! Erica's neighbor BJ, hubby Jerry, Uncle Larry, Erica's coworker Aaron and her sister Kelly, Sonya and her husband Tommy, Erica's daughter Sarah, and mom and Erica in the foreground with their backs to me.

 

We had a traditional thanksgiving feast of turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, dressing, deviled eggs, cranberries, desserts corn plus a tasty Indian rice dish brought by Erica's neighbor.

 

The next day mom and I cooked a turkey with the all the fixing again at my house so that we had leftovers. This has become a tradition to redo Thanksgiving if we go somewhere. Jerry loves cold turkey sandwiches and I love figuring out new leftover turkey recipes each year. We had one of Jerry's coworkers over since he's in retail and they and they had to work the Friday following thanksgiving.

Hope yours was great and spent with those important to you. 

Pirate Cruise

Today we celebrated my cousin Sarah's 6th birthday - it started with a pirate cruise from Clearwater Beach and ended at Erica's house for cupcakes and ice cream. I highly recommend this type of activity to anyone who want their kids to have loads of fun. The crew was fantastic and kept the kids very busy and entertained for two hours. They also made sure everyone stayed hydrated in the heat and sun by having water, soft drinks, and beer & wine easily available.

I went with Sarah, of course, her mother Erica, her grandmother Lea, and her Aunt Sonya (They are all my cousins) and Sarah's neighbor friend Gracey and her big brother Noah. Noah whipped me at Wii, by the way :(

There were many activities including water gun fights, a treasure hunt, face painting, pirate stories, musical chairs, and a dance party. The kids got beads, pirate hats, and "gold" coins. The music was awesome and really added to the festive feel. We departed with Reggea, and then songs matched the activities, and the dance party was a lot of disco - you just couldn't help tapping your foot or swaying your hips.

They also have special birthday parties where they provide Pirate cupcakes and dress up the birthday family in pirate costumes. I believe it was a good value with lots of entertainment for the dollar. The kids stayed engaged the entire trip. Highly recommend.

By the way, they asked me where they could see "real" pirates and I told them off the coast of Somalia ;)

New Year 2011

Today we gathered at cousin Erica's house to eat black-eyed peas and exchange Christmas gifts.
Cousin Erica who let her daughter Sarah dress her today and that's why she has 4 pins and 2 necklaces on :)

Cousin Sonya helps Sarah with her Hello Kitty gumball machine

Cousin Lea with MIL Marge.

Jerry, who had a relaxing time watching football and eating.

Mom with Don, Cousin Lea's hubby.

Sarah with a pink ukelele that some of you might recognize.

Tommy, Cousin Sonya's hubby.

After the kitchen was cleaned and all the wrapping paper mess was cleaned up, Sonya, Sarah, and I went to Putt Putt Golf.

This is Sarah doing the happy dance after a hole-in-one!

Admission to miniature gold includes a soft serve cone from their ice-cream store.

It starts out all nice and neat but then..............you get this!

Finally, Sarah trying to plant a chocolate kiss on Sonya! lol

Christmas Day Photos

A pictorial of our day with little text.........................

Cousin Sonya, Cousin Sarah, and my Daisey with her new pink Wubba.

The whole gang opening gifts.

My mom

Mom, Sarah, Sonya (obscured) Cousin Erica with Daisey on lap, and Marge

Daisey sure liked Sonya

The unwrapping mess!

Sonya & I assembled Sarah's tent for her in my living room, LOL

Cousin Lea and my mom

Eddie finally found Sonya's lap. He is usually all over Erica because she is the one who lives nearby and he is most familiar with her.

All Jerry's Christmas photos for years has included the garbage bag. He likes to put the wrapping paper on there just as it is pulled off the present.

Daisey with her prinme rib bone

Eddie is excited because his still has lots of meat on it.

Eddie not sure how to open this one and save the bow, LOL

Me likey!

Oh yea!

Thank you Santa Paws - I needed a new Wubba because Roxy ate my last one.

I don't care if it is an after Halloween toy clearance, I LOVE this new toy and am going to carry it with me where I go!