Unusual in that there were only 9 of us. This made for what my sister Susan called the "perfect" Thanksgiving and daughter Pam agreed. "It wasn't so crowded. I could actually sit and talk to Karen, without twenty other people wanting her attention."
Usually there is Karen and her Hubs Mark, Helene & Mike and baby, Susanna, Marcus and fiancee', Stephen and girlfriend, Maddie and boyfriend--and that is just the family--then there are Karen's in-laws, a raucous crowd of 8.
Yesterday: Karen and Mark. Maddie and Stephen. Susan, Chuck and her son Adam, Pammie and me.
I wasn't even tired from all the noise. Usually I'm worn out.
They had just finished the fireplace at the "new" end of their living room. Unlike most late 50 year old empty-nesters, who are ready to downsize, Karen and Mark are enlarging their house. They are adding family. A wedding last year and a new baby. A wedding in June. Perhaps an other wedding in 2020, which means more people added and more grand babies coming. Considering this family is nearly ALL together each and every weekend..............they do everything together--even after their kids get married......they need a bigger living room.
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Women in the kitchen
Men watching football
Susan, her son Adam and Chuck
Stephen, Karen, Mark, Maddie
It was lovely.