This Thanksgiving we headed north to spend a week with my family. Normally this wouldn't be possible, of course, as local children get only two days out of school for Thanksgiving, but homeschooling gives us the option of taking school on the road. Our two were only too happy to do this.
Picture by Lindsey.
We planned to spend a few days with my grandmother this summer, but we just weren't able to make the trip. She spends Thanksgiving with my parents as well, which made this holiday a double blessing. We were able to spend time with her and an aunt as well as my sister and parents.
When I was a kid, I might not have thought too much of this. We lived in the same town as most of my grandparents and all of my great-grandparents, and we saw them often. (Voting is still occurring for my great-Grandma's Biscuits if you'd like to help!)
My kids don't have that luxury, however.
They have only two great-grandmothers left, and both live in Pennsylvania. We try to get there at least once a year, but this year it just didn't work out. We talk about them both often, yet it's not the same as spending quality time with them.
Being able to watch my kids interacting with my nana, whom I spend weeks with during the summers years ago, made this a special week. Not to discount the fun shopping excursions with my mom, daily visits with my sister - whose crazy work schedule keeps her hopping - or that a family week together is just plain great, but watching my kids with Nana is special.
My absolute favorite part of the week was when we played Thanksgiving Bingo. It was a free game that I printed online, and it included some really cute clip art - things like Pilgrims juggling. I took along enough boards for everyone to play, except that I forgot the prize M&Ms.
My sister came to the rescue with a hidden batch of whoopie pies - my favorite! - and the competition became brutal as everyone wanted to win those chocolate treats.
Everyone laughed together and tried to figure out the funny pictures until we had all won dessert.
I loved hearing everyone laugh as they waited for the perfect combination of Thanksgiving symbols to be called. I liked watching Nana play extra boards, trying to up her odds at a whoopie pie. I loved seeing my parents nudge my kids towards called items on their boards that they were missing, and I loved eating my whoopie pie prize.
I saved those boards and the game pieces. I hope we can play again next Thanksgiving. I wonder who's going to make the whoopie pies?
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