Thanksgiving, Day 2

I've tried to write about our Thanksgiving at my mom's house numerous times, but I kept giving up because words simply can't do it justice. Sooo I'm just going to throw it all out there whether it makes sense or is entertaining or not.

In one word, our day was: Crazy.

15 minutes before we ate, the scene was this:

Small kitchen. Very small kitchen.
Adam is laying on the floor, head under the sink, body completely across the entire kitchen. This is because Adam broke the faucet earlier that afternoon. Mike "ran" to the store to buy a new one, since a working kitchen sink is crucial on Thanksgiving. I say "ran" because Black Friday kept him out much longer than it typically would.
Blah blah blah blah BLAH... gah why is this story so hard to write?
So while Adam fixed the sink, we were doing the following. All at once.
Mom making mashed potatoes, stuffing
Mike carving the turkey
Melissa making sweet potatoes, cranberries
Me making peas, green beans,
Me realizing I didn't heat our rolls.
Mom realizing we didn't have gravy yet.
Me realizing I hadn't started my dessert, which needed to cook while we ate dinner.

Um where were the kids during all of this? I literally have no memory of the kids. Yikes.

So yeah. Maybe it doesn't sound crazy. Or maybe it does. Whatever. I finally got it all down in words and I am officially DONE with this post.

Oh wait, one last thing. Here's one of the only pics I got that day. And I LOVE it.

Accents

I don't know why... but I have an, what some might call, "obsession" with british accents. I'm trying to acquire one (not to use permanently, of course, because that would just be weird). No, no... I only want it to be used for fun. Remember, what's fun for you is probably different from what's fun for me. You may have noticed this in previous posts. You probably did, actually.

Accents. Yes. I try to use them when we're at home, having normal conversations. "What, Addison? You want more juice? Of course, hang on just a minute, mommy will have your juice after she finishes the dishes. Oh, I forgot to tell you that we have plans to go have dinner with some friends tonight. Yes, won't that be fun!"

I like it! It's fun!!! Maybe we'll get to have a conversation while I'm speaking with a british accent. Wouldn't THAT be fun?!?!

Movies

Two movies in one weekend. What is this, 1998?

The first movie Mike and I saw was Shutter Island. Just a short little review: IT'S CRAZY. It messed with my head. IT'S CRAZY. I had no idea going in, what it was about. To be honest, I knew it had Leonardo DiCaprio and was directed by Martin Scorcese, so I figured it was a mob type crime drama. Maybe the fact that I was SO WRONG about this made the movie even crazier to me. I don't know. All I know is... wait for it... IT'S CRAZY.

On Saturday I went all by my lonesome to see Celine Dion's movie "Through the Eyes of the World". It is a 2 hour film that's sort of like having VIP access to her recent world tour. (Which we saw when it came to San Antonio). I am really disappointed in any of you who might be thinking while reading this "Wow, I didn't even know Sarah liked Celine Dion...". Don't you know me at all?!?! She's only my favorite person ever. No dramatics involved. (okay, maybe some dramatics involved). Anyhoodles, this movie was like a little slice of heaven.

First of all. Two hours at the movies BY MYSELF? Nice. Mom, I really am sorry you couldn't join me. I know you would have loved it. But don't feel bad about canceling, it was very nice to have some quiet time and alone time. Secondly, the movie's only soundrtack was Celine's songs. Awesome. Third, it reaffirmed that Celine is a generous, loving, sweet, funny, talented mother, wife and singer. She is AMAZING. I left the movie wanting to see it again. I seriously would have stayed to watch the next showing, if there was a next showing. It was only released for 2 weeks, and only once a day at Gateway during those 2 weeks. It's now GONE FOREVER!!!

Hoping that she will release it on DVD. Then it can be in constant rotation with "Celine Dion Live In Vegas", which rarely leaves the dvd player in our bedroom.

VIVA CELINE! :-)

Day Talent Show

Let's just say this first: The "theme" for our reunion was "Dazed and Confused". Maybe that will prepare you for the talent, or lack thereof, you are about to witness.

Adam made a strange voice somehow with his hand and his neck?

Abbie danced (her own choreographed routine!)

Susan read a poem

Addison danced. This is a spinning shot.
Above is a good DeM t-shirt shot (we had her in her jammies in anticipation of an immediate crash out in the car. And boy, were we right.)

Mike juggled. He started out with small balls then moved on to basketballs!!



Aislynn flipped with the help of her big sister, Devynn.



Grandma recited her ABC's. I don't think any of us had the heart to tell her that she had performed that same talent at our last reunion a few summers ago in Iowa.



My crazy sister (I say that adoringly!) doing the splits while 7 months pregnant.


Melissa's kids sang the instrumental theme song to Jurassic Park. It's the CUTEST. "Da da, Da, da. Dadadadadadada!"


And Brooklyn DANCED. Harder and with more seriousness than the rest of the dancers combined.



As you can see, the Day family talent is boundless :) And one of the only non-Days in attendance (my husband) probably won!! I have more to post, but it just might have to be tomorrow... we'll see. It is 4am after all.

DANCE PARTY!

You know I like to party when there is a dance floor and DJ. Add vodka to the mix, and I an LOVIN life.

Now, having said that, I don't think there are many pics of me dancing. My uncle took most of these pictures, and somehow, he seemed to think the kids and Grandma were more impressive. Whatever. You'll also notice the dance party started before sunset and carried well into the night.

Anyway. Here's Addison dancing with Uncle Frank.


Kelly breaking it down with her 10 year old son, Andrew.

Grandma and Frank. How HAPPY does she look?!

Addison and Uncle Adam

I'm pretty sure N'Synch's "Bye Bye Bye" was on. Why I'm not doing the same moves as everyone else, I'm not so sure. I probably was just the only one doing it right :)

Devynn and Melissa. My question is: who the heck was I so angry with? :)

Lots to post... where to start?

How bout with more water-slide, outside play. The next post will be professional pics, talent show and dance party.

Here is my Uncle Frank, the biggest kid in attendance, on the slide: )

My cousin Sherri's daughter, Aislynn, is COMPLETELY fearless little girl (just a few months older than Abbie)

Andrew, my mom's second cousin's son (I think I got that right!) was pretty brave as well.

Addison and Aislynn (Aislynn's about 10 months younger than playing in the after-rain puddles

Bath time in the troth lol

Addy playing with Uncle Frank- a kid magnet. He's the best. They are discussing moving down here, I SO hope they do. If for no other reason, but for Addison! (We would LOVE to have you here, too guys! We'd have such fun!!)

Here's Abbie showing off her beautiful dress

SO, you guys tell me... Is THIS what I look like when I talk?
Or is it more like THIS? Things I need to know!!

And, my favorite sidewalk art, courtesy of Devynn, my cousin Sherri's daughter

And now on to the professional photos, dance party (you KNOW I had some fun) and talent show!!

Day Family Reunion Part 1

Sunday marked the first day of our Day Family Reunion. All of Grandma's kids (and my mom's second cousin and all of her kids) traveled from all over the country (California, Florida, Nevada, Iowa and Kansas) to spend the week here for a fun family reunion!

My mother was the planner extraordinaire. She planned our reunion to a tee. We are using Melissa's in-laws event center (The Page House- the same place Mike and I were married!). When each guest arrived they received a gift bag with a reunion t-shirt, personal fan, cooling bandana, a bag of "austinuts" and a TX lotto ticket. We have an ongoing wii bowling tournament, the men are expecially loving this! They are also enjoying the new Tiger Woods golf game. While the men are inside playing video games...
The kids play outside on the COOLEST water slide ever!
This is Addy's newest, most frequent face. She wants to smile, but resists and ends up looking like this...
Posing poolside
Aislynn (my cousin Sherri's daughter) and Abigail
The kids also get to paint and draw on the huge cement area at the Page House. So fun!
So far, the reunion is going splendidly. :-) I will post more as the week goes on- we have lots more fun activities planned- including an amazing race style scavenger hunt, a talent show, a dj'd dance party, a trip to Sea World AND a 4th of July celebration! Whew!