Thanksgiving and Traditions

We still didn't know where we were moving as Thanksgiving approached.  We had a lot to do to get ready to move, but decided to go to my parents just in case we ended up moving farther away from everyone.  Nicholas's family and Martin's family were both home.  Since Alex had taken the semester off, he was there as well.  Grandma was there as well, and Uncle Bob joined us for Thanksgiving dinner.

The day after Thankgiving, Natalie, Jennie, and I joined Loni for a free yoga session at the studio where she does yoga.  It was fun.  We got home in time to get cleaned up for our annual shopping trip with the Persauds.  When we were little we would also have Thanksgiving Day at Grandma Sharpe's house.  Grandma lived in an apartment in her nephew's house.  The day after Thanksgiving we would all load up in cars and go shopping and stop at a hotdog joint for lunch.  When I was in high school I would pitch a fit about the food choice.  It was not healthy and therefore it was uncool to eat at a hotdog place.  I would make my parents stop and let me order a sub from subway on the way.  Hotdogs are still not my first choice but after all these years, I've finally stopped fighting tradition.  I remember one year we went to the Persauds' with Grandma instead.  I was a senior and had just broken up with my boyfriend, Brian.  Grandma took Asha and I to a video rental store.  This was pre-cell phones, so the store had a phone in the middle so you could call if you had questions as to whay movie to get.  Asha decided it would be fun to call Brian since it was his b-day.  We were 8 hours away from Ohio but she carried on quite an elaborate prank call to him.  Wonder what the video store thought when they got that phone bill.  Ah, fun times! After we got older, the Thanksgiving trips started to dwindle and then stopped completely when Grandma died 9 years ago.  When my cousin, Asha moved to Pittsburg several years ago, the tradition was restarted.  The Persauds have Thanksgiving at Asha's house. The next morning they rent a passenger van, pile in, and drive to Cleveland for our shopping trip and hotdogs.

Leela's husband Sean, Aunt Judy, and Asha's son Kai

 Nicholas, Nicole, Natalie, Jared, Asha, Uncle Wayne, and Leela

 Leela, Asha, and I

 Bella, Lailani, Xandy, Katy, and Nicole (Anthony's girlfriend Sasha is in the background)

 

 

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we always head to Wilcox farm to find Mima and PopPop's Christmas tree.  We have been known to have 20+ people go to cut down one tree.  When we were little there was a little cut your own tree farm on Detriot Road.  It may have been owned by a Forthofer but I'm not sure.  The old man that owned it always gave us candy canes.  He eventually passed away and his son took over.  Then the land behind the farm was sold and turned into part of Avon Commons.  It took away from the atmosphere off the tree cutting to have stores in the back, but we continued our loyalty.  One year, we couldn't find a tree the right size so Jared and I decided to find a new place.  I found Wilcox Farm and fell in love.  Mom eventually caved in and switched and will admit she likes Wilcox.  The draback is that it is not a mile down the road, it is a 30 min drive to the country.  But, thats what happens when your little country town turns into a sprawling suburb.  You have to drive a ways to get the country feel.  Wilcox has a cute little giftshop an FREE hot chocolate.  It is actually great hot chocolate and the kids love this part.

Waiting for the tractor ride

Mima, Natalie, and Bella

Jennie, Kelten, and Martin

PopPop, Alex, and Terra



Weston, Xandy, and PopPop

Weston, Alex, and Katy

Natalie, Terra, and Jacob

Terra and Jared

The CHOSEN tree

Jacob crashing while snuggling Aunt Jennie

Aunt Terra with Kelten and Nicole

Bella and Nicole



Decorating Mima's tree

Nicole and Xandy



Katy and Nicole

Group cousin picture (too bad Austin and Mason were MIA)

The Maries- Joan Marie, Terra Marie, Alexandra Marie and Nicole Marie.  Too ba we didn't take the picture Friday so Asha Marie and Lailani Marie could have been in it.