Birthday Thanksgiving Remembered

My best friend and husband had a big birthday the day before Thanksgiving this year. I have known him twenty years now, that's most of my adult life. I feel like since we've met, though we were "adults" we've grown up together. He's part of who I am and I like to think we've made each other better people. That we've pushed one another further than we would have gone on our own in directions we may not have gone without the other. He's adventurous, honest, tender, dedicated, almost as funny as I am, a great cook, a seeker of a better world, a musician and he's mine. 

We had a full Birthday Thanksgiving week of celebration and fussing dedicated to him. The week was filled with family, food and lots of love. Chris' family flew down from Canada and Oregon. My mother swept in from Boston (swept being the operative word). My boys have never (in their memory) had so much family at once in their own home. We usually have one or two guests at a time in our tiny space. We had five at once for the Birthday Thanksgiving. Lots of cooking and cleaning and talking and touring and getting to know Chris' family better. The boys really loved having everyone here. They hadn't spent much time with Uncle Paul who lavished them with gifts and goofed around enough with them to be "one of the boys".  Max is still playing his Native American Flute from Grandma Tania and is saving his money for a bigger, deeper sounding one for his next big purchase! They are both still drawing with their new, very special art supplies from Grandma Marylin. We all deeply appreciated everyone's time and presence here for the week.

Chris' birthday song, with a little help from Max.

Marilyn, Nana, Max and Coleman

Coleman, Grandma Tania, Paul and Max

Getting ready to be seated for the Thanksgiving dinner.

The Thanksgiving table.

Marilyn and Nana at the beach in Capitola.

One of many coffees enjoyed by one of us that week.

The apple pie Nana made for Max's harvest celebration at school.

Constance picking persimmons.