Monday, November 30, 2009

A look back at a Virginia family Thanksgiving 2009

My sisters and I were together for Thanksgiving 2009 with our families and our parents. We all pitched in on Thanksgiving dinner ... homemade cranberry sauce, homemade baked macaroni and cheese, homemade stuffing, homemade gravy, homemade mashed potatoes ... we all enjoy cooking.

The youngest cousins were there ...

... as well as the teenage ones including Texas Niece.

The driveway filled as family arrived.

We played games ...

... and more games ...

... and even more games.

A Wednesday morning run to Ukrop's for last-minute items led to a relaxed stop for coffee and bagels at Cafe Caturra.

While we cleaned up in the kitchen ...

... we enticed brother-in-law Bill Aspinwall to join us with his guitar as we sang along to his Houston-style music. The Free Range Trout was in the house.

Bill and SWAC Son had dueling guitars in the family room ... Christmas carols, Coldplay, James Taylor....

The guys had a beer tasting after dinner, trying a variety of locally-brewed beers as they sat around the dining room table.

SWAC Niece opened birthday gifts and we celebrated her special day with the traditional Ukrop's chocolate-covered turkey cake.

There was a Christmas carol sing-along at the piano ...

... and then we helped decorate Mom's Christmas tree and set out this adorable snowman to greet visitors.

My grandmother's candle-lit wreath hangs on the mirror with the poinsettia welcoming visitors to the front hallway.

All too soon the week was over and the Aspinwall family's luggage including Bill's guitar was packed into the car to head to the airport. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and, though we packed as much as we could into the week, there was still more we wanted to do. It will have to wait until next time. Family ... it was a special time.

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
Thanksgiving 2009

No comments: