Thanksgiving Report:

Fourteen were at Mom's table on Thursday. This was down from the 25 of last year, but you know how it goes. The Boyne bunch had planned to come, but their furnace died and the new one can't be installed until next week so they had to stay home and feed the wood-burner. That probably turned out for the best, as the northwest side of the state got hit with a blizzard. Boo-boo and crew were with us last year, but this year it's the "other side's" turn to have Thanksgiving with them. And last year my cousin Charlie and his family shared Thanksgiving for the first time since we were all kids and went to our grandparents for his Christmas.

We hadn't expected niece #1, who lives in Ann Arbor (yes, it's true, but she doesn't go to school there) to make it through the weather, but she arrived first. You should have seen Mom glow. The good news for me: her power had gone off, so she didn't bring her brussel sprouts. (Thought of you, bryn *smile*, especially as her name is bryn also.)

The reduced numbers meant that our youngest participant was 18. They're growing up so fast. Niece number #1, whose husband is in IRAQ, had the best news. He'll be home home by December 22, barring any complications, and things look good as their replacements are already in place. Yay! And there was a lot of "baby talk" between nieces one and two. I think the race may be on!

So next year, who knows? We may be up to 27!