Stratfords' Thanksgiving Weekend Together

Multiple Photos Alert!

With so many cameras snapping away, I have lots of shots of our fun and games (I got some of others' pics, too), and I always have a hard time choosing the pics, so here goes.

Friday, most of the guys played golf at Sunbrook, while some of the girls went Black Friday shopping.  The only pics taken were of Josh, because he needed to turn in a pic of him golfing to his school golf team. 

Friday night we had a great Italian lasagne meal planned by Missy and we all helped, then we were in for a treat with our annual Cousin Talent Show.

Anna, Sarah and Becca sang and performed, "Sisters, Sisters"and . . .

. . . Blakey danced and sang to, "The Greatest Love."

Each cousin took a turn performing.  We had many fine piano solos, great dancing, gymnastics, and singing.

Christmas duet by Ryan and Pete.

Jared read parts from a Sci-fi book he is writing.

Pete played a Manheim Steamroller arrangement of, "Silent Night."

Syd sang a great rendition of, "Don't Rain On My Parade."

Josh played a gorgeous Christmas solo.

Crank up the music! The grand finale of the talent show was rock out Cousin-Dancing!

Then it was time for Santa to visit the grandkids!

Santa peeled each bill off a pad.

Whew!  With 23 grandkids, Santa (and his wallet) got a workout!

Grandma got some Season's love, too!

Missy made a Bingo game using the faces of the cousins.  The kids loved it!

I sent Roger down to take some pics of the slumber party after lights out.

Stacy fell asleep cuddling with Jake.

Roger and I have noticed that since the techy world has taken over, the noise level of family gatherings is considerably down!

Whenever the kids come stay with us in St. George, they clean our house before they leave, leaving it better than it was before they came! A threat from their mom that works like a charm, if they won't quiet down and go to sleep, stop fighting with their siblings, etc. is to assign them so many large tiles on our floor to clean. It is so cute seeing them count off the tiles, down on their hands and knees, scrubbing and polishing each tile for inspection.  The floor never had it so good! Just one more bonus from their visits for us!

Cleaning the stairway

We can't have Thanksgiving without the Turkey Bowl!

Saturday morning we headed to the bowling lanes.  We didn't get very many pics, but that is our repeating Champ, Rick bowling below.  He and Jodie seem to win every year!

The kids have the bumpers put up and they love it!

Here are the final scores.  My clunker hand came through for me better than usual! None of us bowl more than once a year, so we just have fun seeing who is on that day.  

We all went back home for a sloppy Joe, potato salad, Mexican layer dip and chips lunch. 

Missy/Jedd and family were the first to leave to go half way to Malad and stay with Jedd's folks.

By that evening, everyone had left for home but Ryan, Emily and family, who went with us to church next morning, then they left for Mesa.

In Blake's words, our Thanksgiving weekend was,
"S-o-o-o-o nice, and s-o-o-o-o special!"