Saturday, November 24, 2007

Grandma was Catholic
























And that's why we have to rent a town hall for Thanksgiving. We had the Ohio Davis-Finney's with us this year, other than them it was just us Wisconsin and Illinois locals -- not even all of us at that.

I love having a large extended family. When I was young, I thought I wanted to have ten kids of my own, but then I grew up and realized I am not made of the stuff it takes to raise a large family. I wish I were, I'd adopt a boat load, or be a foster mom, but there's no way. I think about it on the days my sanity is pushed to it's limits by just the three kids -- if there was one more person chinkin away at my armour, I'd be eating from a tray in some institution for sure.

My kids get the big family benefit anyway. My family is really good at looking past flaws and loving what is good about each other. It's kind of like an army of speaking dogs, always happy to see each other and thinking each other is the shiz-niz. And we all have the same weird-meter installed, so everyone always laughs in just the right places and everyone has ten conversations going on at once -- we all follow along one another's broken thoughts and spark off of each others wavelenghts, etc.

I can't tell you what that does for the soul. On the lesser days this world has to offer -- I have fans, lots and lots of them.

They are the reasons why I'm so well adjusted despite an insanely screwed up childhood (or maybe the reasons I think I'm well adjusted -- I'll take it either way).

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13 Comments:

Blogger TTQ said...

How cool. I think there is a law prohibiting all my family from gathering at once. And if there isn't there should be.

Honey's family everybody goes..

6:30 PM  
Blogger xxxx said...

WOW! That looks like a great time!

6:54 PM  
Blogger blog author said...

wow, i'm totally overwhelmed just looking at the photos. my dad's side of the family is like that. for my grandfather's 80th birthday party, there were around 200 family members there. wow.

11:07 AM  
Blogger kay said...

what great pictures!! looks like a lovely family.

really enjoyed the power rangers in the pies!!

7:02 AM  
Blogger Cecily R said...

Heh. I feel you. My grandmother is Mormon (me too). We procreate like nobody's business.

Love that so many of you came together for the holiday. That is so great. Oh, and the Power Ranger pies are EXCELLENT. I might actually eat those pumpkin pies. :)

5:13 PM  
Blogger Matchbox Mom said...

Holy smokes! looks like you had a great Thanksgiving...no wonder you need to rent a hall!!! Goodness sakes!
You're too cute! I hope you're enjoying getting ready for Christmas.!!!

5:53 PM  
Blogger crystal said...

I love this post! Your description of the family dynamic is classic. This was a feel-good post...thanks :)

1:54 AM  
Blogger Barrie said...

I love the photos! And those pies with Power Rangers? Wow! Looks like a really great time was had by all.

12:18 PM  
Blogger AutoSysGene said...

That's a lot of family. I would need to ask people in off the street to come up with that many people.
I was also curious about the power rangers in the pies...is that a funny in your family?

4:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is that Alberto Gonzales with his arm around some kid?

5:13 PM  
Blogger kim said...

not quite that old of a guy, and much much cooler. Look closer at the photo, that's his child --looks just like him, clone.

He is one of my Dave's -- this is the game developer, comic book writing Dave.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975663.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

If you can't cut and paste that link, just google "Dave Rodriguez Starkweather" to learn more about the man, the myth, the legend.

11:26 AM  
Blogger Cecily R said...

I didn't even notice your label for this one til now. I love LOVE it!

5:52 AM  
Blogger Liane Spicer said...

I miss those big family gatherings. Since my great gran died it just hasn't been the same.

12:03 AM  

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