the bludgeoned bird

What a good Thanksgiving! The brothers were all home and we all were able to celebrate with the Reusser Clan (Mom' side) in an extraordinary day of feasting, lounging, chatting, and smashing.

Our morning started around 7 and we were off and running by 8, literally. Well, at least Zac, Lew, and Sam were running. The rest of us were doing at least a 4.6.

Per the Telschow Tradition the whole family woke early on Thanksgiving morning and hustled four miles in before the bird was does cooking.  Dear Rachel joined us with Joshua and pup Atticus.  Stella loved having a walking buddy.

 This year was a very interesting year for the dynamic of the family.  Rachel and I helped more in the kitchen, each bringing a dish to share and helping to ready the buffet.  In the past it has been our aunties doing this.  It was also different because I was suddenly quite aware of the fact that there were no small children present.  This is quite strange because our family is so large, there are four cousins graduating with the bachelors degrees this spring, so imagine when there were all little and running around.  The two youngest cousins (present) were Shaun, 7, and Cara, 9, and naturally when it came time to hit the pinata (family tradition) they got to take a swing first.  Rachel and Joshua brought the pinata and reinforced it with wire mesh on the inside.  It was done so well that all the cousins got to take a swing at it from Shaun to Joanna (Rachel's oldest sister and the soon to be graduating Med Student).  Then we took the blind fold off and let the youngests bludgeon the bird until the candy came flying out.  At first everyone was a bit reserved about the pinata but as the bat began to fly the laughs began to intensify and everyone livened up and we had such a fun time.  When it was my turn to swing I could barely lift the bat because I was doubled over from laughing so hard.  In the end all the college students were diving and fighting not for the chocolate but for the tubes of toothpaste Rachel (ever the dental hygienist) had added with the candy.

And that is what I am so very thankful for.  I am thankful to know my cousins and to still be able to have a fun time with them while we enjoy our traditions.

***Food side note: Thanksgiving was a breeze as far as raw eating goes.  I brought a platter full of chopped veggies and chopped fruits.  The whole family found something to nosh on and I loved "giving permission" to the youngests to go ahead when they crept into the kitchen to snatch a few pieces before dinner started.  The fresh pineapple was a favorite.  I also did enjoy some delicious (cooked) pumpkin pie that my Aunt Cindy made sans dairy as well as a few bites of turkey and ham and mashed potatoes (pre-milk pureeing, thanks to Rachel).