How the Grinch sometimes steals Thanksgiving, too

No matter how, umm, substantial your fingers are, one can't live on digits alone.

 

That's why James was thrilled to experience his first Thanksgiving! A whole day ("Why not every day, Mother?") dedicated to giving thanks for socially acceptable overindulgence. Hooray!

 

But it wasn't all fun and food games. This year, the Grinch got to work early and decided to try to steal our Thanksgiving...  

 

Perhaps you caught mention of Elliott's throw-up bug and then Patrick's extended stay in the sick bed. Well! To be safe, I took them both to the doctor last Wednesday. Ta-da! Positive strep tests! We started antibiotics--the boys' FAVORITE...--and half our expected guest list (smartly) backed out.

 

Sigh! 

 

So, how about I address Thanksgiving PREP instead??

 

Let me start by saying: We love arts and crafts in this house. What some might call "a dining room" is our Art Room, and it usually looks something like this--

 

Now, as Thanksgiving approaches every year, the boys' elementary school asks the kids to help. Save the turkeys by disguising them! Patrick was proud as punch of his Superman--

 

Of course, with Dad working late and a baby to juggle, this project extended well onto the kitchen floor. (click to enlarge)

 

(If you know about Patrick's fine motor challenges, you understand how hard we worked on that gobbler!)

 

Poor Elliott is now apparently far too old to participate as a second grader, but here are his Kindergarten and first-grade efforts, which magically matched the kid's Halloween costume from the previous week. He's a creative genius, I tell ya!-- 

a chef, obviously

 

 

and (with a little more creative license) a robot

 

Anyway, no food was safe for long, and we did end up having a great meal! We tried like heck to be stingy with our germs, but we DO love to give our guests parting gifts... At this point, we are (I hope) on the mend, so please accept only these belated, yet no less happy, Thanksgiving wishes!