I'm Thankful for...Chaos. (and Wine)

Here’s the thing: Living 2,000 miles away from your sister totally sucks. But if you’re lucky enough to have a sibling like I do, then it sucks less. Last weekend, Manhattan Sister, her husband Uncle New York and my East Coast Parents all flew out here for an early Thanksgiving celebration. (Because let’s face it, it is WAY easier for them to drag their butts out here to South Dakota than it is for us to drag the butts of 6 children all the way back to Boston or New York City.)

From the moment they walked in the door, the giggling never stopped. All six kids attacked them and hung on for dear life. Within seconds they had created personal jokes: “Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he got runned over!” “Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he had CHEEEESE for dinner.” I’m fairly certain that even the creators of these “jokes” did not understand what was making them funny, but that didn’t stop them from rolling on the floor laughing every time they were repeated (ad nauseum).

The girls were learning a special song for their school holiday concert, which had lyrics about the season of winter: “It’s a glorious time of the year! It’s a wonderful season of cheer!” The timing of this new song fit perfectly with my sister’s arrival, so she helped the girls change the lyrics: “It’s glorious Aunt Melly’s here! It’s wonderful because she’s here!” This, of course, caused even more giggling, and the repetition of the new lyrics every four seconds for the whole weekend.

Gabby and my sister, setting the table for Thanksgiving, came up with a new way to celebrate, using the sparkly confetti I’d bought for the table.

This, of course, led to more giggling, and the unavoidable glitter-fight, which left me picking pieces of sparkly confetti out of my children’s hair, the chandeliers and my pants for the next several days.

Manhattan Sister also introduced my children to the wonderful concept of planking. They planked the couch, the coffee table, the pool table…and each other.

Thanks Manhattan Sister.

On the day of “Thanksgiving,” actually a random Saturday in November because that’s how we roll, my husband decided to take Uncle New York hunting for pheasants. (When in South Dakota….) They triumphantly returned, about six hours later, with two pheasants. East Coast Hippie Grandparents cringed as the children ran around the house with the feathers plucked from the dead birds. Manhattan Sister and I bit our tongues until the feathers ended up in the dinner table centerpiece. We drew the line.

During Thanksgiving preparations, my sister and I did some traditional things: Make sure we have “real” cranberry sauce (you know, the kind in the jar) in addition to mom’s “fancy” cranberry sauce. (you know, the kind with real cranberries in it). And some untraditional things: Like figure out how to fry stuffing. Hey! If you are in South Dakota, you fry the turkey! And if you’re frying the turkey, why not make mashed potato-stuffed stuffing balls and fry them up too! And while you’re at it, try frying the pie.

The turkey, stuffing and pie all tasted delicious, but the outside of the turkey didn’t look so good when it came out.

Gabby’s face fell when she entered the room to see it. “What happened to it?” she asked sadly. But it was delicious! Of course, anything fried in oil is delicious, and on this holiday, there’s no guilt about eating healthy.

But the funniest moments of our weekend, by far, were at the Thanksgiving table. I’m not sure exactly how to explain it, so I’ll try snippets of overheard conversation:

Me: Gabby, please don’t put the confetti in the butter.

Kid 1: I’m going to Canada.

Kid 2: Well I’m going to another country!

Kid 1: Canada IS another country!

Kid 2: Nuh-uh!

Etc…

Dinner is served. Everyone is chewing. There is silence. Suddenly:

Gabriella: Justin Bieber is my BOYFRIEND!

Kid 1: I’m thankful for my family

Manhattan Sister: I’m thankful for my family too.

Kid 2: I’m thankful that Christmas is coming

Kid 3: We gettin’ any presents on Fanksgiving?

Kid 4: No, dummy. No presents on Thanksgiving,

Kid 5: I’m thankful for presents!

Kid 6: Justin Bieber is my boyfriend!

Me: I’m thankful for wine.

Manhattan Sister: I take it back, I’m thankful for Bill frying stuff.

East Coast Dad: I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

Uncle New York: I think my eyes were bigger than my liver.

Levi: Eyes big! Tummy hurt.

Bill: Don’t throw up in here, it’s white carpet.

Then there was this:

And why, you ask, do I allow this kind of shenanigans at my Thanksgiving Dinner table? 2 reasons:

1. Because I am apparently not in control of the situation and if I didn’t laugh, I might die.

2. Because they had CHEEEEESE for dinner!

They only look normal...

Special thanks to East Coast Mom and Dad and Manhattan Sister and Brother-in-law for dragging their butts out here, for making us laugh all weekend and especially for helping the children learn the lyrics to the Aunt Melly Song, which has resulted in only two phone calls home from the school music teacher.

My husband "planking" after a big turkey dinner. Or maybe he's just sleeping on the floor.