Thanksgiving, 2021: An Isenbarger Family Christmas

 Thanksgiving Day is over and my house is still standing. Which isn't just hyperbole; when you have twenty-seven people for dinner, the entire house gets put to use. 

We overflowed from the dining room (far back)

and into the living room. (That's my sewing table under that tablecloth.) And with eight pony pals under the age of 8,

we set up a third table for the kids in the kitchen, too. 

We eat Thanksgiving dinner around 1:00 and that leaves plenty of time for activities afterward. (Although first we clean up so there is space for those activities.)

A family tradition is for Craig and me to give each grandchild a Christmas ornament on Thanksgiving, but this year we extended that and gave a gift to everyone - the adult women got Christmas tea towels that I embroidered and the adult men got holiday sweets. 

We celebrated Sarah's birthday

and Jessica helped us make a handprint table runner to commemorate being together.

Since all my siblings had joined us, we took advantage of the that to snap a few shots.

Enjoying our extended dog family was a wonderful part of the day, too. (That's Craig and Blue, one of Sarah's dogs.)

We played lots of games together - this is me playing Rudolph Bingo with the Pony Pals.

Ever wondered just how many Pony Pals will fit into one bathtub? Yeah, neither had I. 

But we found out when daughters-in-loves Vanessa and Emily invited all the grands to join them in the master bathroom, turn the lights off, and get some energy out with a dance party. (The answer to my question is 8.)

What a fun time they had! (I joined in a bit, too.) 

The festivities went on into the evening and gradually everyone began wearing out. But I have to say that it was one of the best Thanksgivings I can remember.