Endless days on the road equate to many family dinners missed. In the past two years, we have been unable to give proper thanks over turkey, exchange gifts at Christmas, or hunt for Easter eggs in the spring. And so, in an act of desperation (brought on largely by turkey withdrawal), we have created our own holiday within my family.
We just celebrated the second annual…ThanksChrEaster!
The centerpiece as created by my sister - includes representation of all the "regular" holidays.
It’s a little less about giving thanks, exchanging gifts, and hunting for easter eggs – ThanksChrEaster is really about eatin’, boozin’, and card playin’.
You might be able to tell that Pete was a little excited for some turkey (and that he started boozin’ early).
We might have said some “thanks” before we started digging in (I don’t remember). I think I was too busy wiping away the drool. It had been a loooong time since the last ThanksChrEaster. The beauty of it is that it is a floating holiday, scheduled to meet the traveler’s needs. Last year it was on a random Tuesday in August!
Homemade buns, asparagus, stuffing, turkey, potatoes, gravy and cabbage rolls! We forgot the salad in the fridge until part way through the dinner. No matter, there was no room on our plates anyways.
ThanksChrEaster dessert consisted of apple pie and ice cream.
Before the traditional card playin’ started, there was some traditional passing-out-from-the-turkey. (Sorry Chris!)
And finally, a rousing family tournament of Bohnanza (locally known around the table as “Beans”). Pete and I were easily defeated, not having the ability to practice the game while on the road. Although, now that we found out an iPod version exists, everyone is in biiiiiiggggg trouble next ThanksChrEaster.
After having eaten our weight in turkey and determining the family Beans champion, the second annual ThanksChrEaster came to a sad close. We are already looking forward to the next celebration of our holiday, whenever that may be.
2:49 pm
Pete… drinking early?!! I knew I liked him! (could still drink you under the table though #fightingwords)
Awesome impromptu holiday. With a wife that comes from a big family, breakfast Saturdays at our house would regularly be 20 people, and that was small. So I really can appreciate all of the fun that is a big get together. Glad to see you guys are having a great time with it!
11:34 pm
#bringitonhamlin
LOVE big family get togethers like that – it used to be Sunday dinners when I was growing up (and when the Oilers were in the playoffs, which was A LOT!)
3:33 pm
You forgot to mention the ThanksChrEaster yoga session!
11:34 pm
The pictures weren’t so flattering for the yoga session!!
4:06 pm
That’s awesome!!….looks super yummy. Love the centrepiece, nice job Teri!
xo
11:35 pm
That center piece was pretty stellar, using the kids toys! It was SO yummy. Especially the stuffing. Made with bacon.
6:07 pm
This sounds awesome! I think I may have to talk my family into doing this since I haven’t been home for the holidays for 2 years! I know there would be some UNO card playin going on.
11:36 pm
I think that even if we were to ever be living close to our family again – we would STILL keep up with ThanksChrEaster. It’s another good excuse for turkey!
7:14 pm
Adorable. Although, I didn’t see any green bean casserole, which – IMHO – is what the holidays are all about!
11:37 pm
Green bean casserole? That sounds, like, healthy. That has no place on the ThanksChrEaster table.
2:26 am
Green bean casserole is healthy – until you pile on an inch thick of fried string onions on top of it, plus some on the side
Looks like a fun family gathering. Made me homesick a bit. Anyway, we played Bohnanza when CSing in Quito. Tons of fun!!!!
3:32 pm
That must be an Americano tradition, green beans never make an appearance at our holiday dinners!
Bohnanza in Quito!? I wanted to pack up the cards to take with us this time, but they take up a lot of room!
3:45 am
“ThanksChrEaster is really about eatin’, boozin’, and card playin’.”
Hahah, just like normal holidays! I can get behind this tradition.
3:33 pm
‘Tis true! All of our holidays typically ended up in the same fashion – but now we just have to cram it all into one day!
4:09 am
ThanksChrEaster – I love it. Honestly celebrating the three big holidays seems like too much. By the time Easter’s around I don’t want to eat any more turkey. ThanksChrEaster this year it is.
3:34 pm
Oh, I’d eat allll the turkey if given the opportunity! But, this is all we can do now given we aren’t here often!
2:55 pm
Asparagus and stuffing? That’s an evil combination. Yet perfect too. Now I’m drooling as well.
3:34 pm
Not to mention that my sister makes the BEST stuffing – loaded with juicy bacon. Sooooo good….
6:23 pm
Did you also get to hunt for easter eggs in your Christmas stockings? Looks like a blast…
8:14 pm
No time for all of that! Food. Booze. Cards. That’s all.
7:09 pm
When our friend was heading off to Kuwait for a year, we celebrated every holiday he was going to miss all on the same day- It was awesome! Holiday celebrations are great… no matter when you do it!
8:14 pm
Exactly! As long as a big turkey dinner gets worked in every once in awhile…it’s all good!
10:05 pm
Happy ThankChrEaster! Was there gift exchange session? We usually had a big pile of souvenir from the last city we visited before going home. You know, when you don’t have to haul it across the continent.
2:44 pm
Happy ThanksChrEaster to you too! There was no gift exchange, we didn’t bring much home this time. Well, except for rum. So I guess we did “open” that to indulge…
8:16 pm
That is soooo cute — and such a good idea!
3:24 am
Thanks Abby! We get creative when it comes to enjoying turkey…
7:46 am
Great post, you have a close family to celebrate all holidays together
9:50 pm
Haha – love this! That’s wonderful – the food looks delicious =)
5:00 pm
Cheers Andrea. We have a meeting with Hallmark next week, (not really
3:29 am
ThanksChEaster?! That’s hilarious! A great idea, too. I need to start one of these with my family!
5:05 pm
Do it!! Spread the word of this fabulous new holiday
1:28 am
My close friends and I actually had a similar celebration after years of not seeing each other during important holidays. Actually, it was more like a “Festivus,” where we also voiced grievances throughout the party. A total riot! No pressure of the holidays and just fun with close friends. It was a great idea and I’m glad you both did something similar with your family.
10:32 pm
Festivus! Yes, too funny. We are really happy that our family has jumped on board of our thankschreaster spirit. It really is about spending time with loved ones and indulging in Turkey dinner. Oh and of course trampolining.
10:07 pm
was Pete wearing tin foil on his head in that picture? haha