Turkey Stuffer Tradition

Thursday morning we kept the annual Thanksgiving morning tradition alive and all of the Springfield Toftdahls and Southworths ran or walked in the 5k Turkey Stuffer. The course starts and ends at Lively Park Swim Center - just a couple miles from Sean and I's place. We signed up at almost the last minute - just the day before - and had decided we would all participate. So at 8:30am the start gun went off and we were on our way!

Ethan at the start of the race - finishing his breakfast. And yes, it was very cold!! Of course, the well-trained local runners finished the race before we finished the first mile! But it was nice that everyone participated - Ethan was nicely bundled up in his stroller and we walked the whole course. Along the way we saw several familiar faces, including:

- my kindergarten teacher - Mrs. Nowak

- (I think I saw) my 7th grade teacher - Mrs. Chapman

- my HS swim coach and Calculus teacher - Mrs. Barley

- friends from church - Sis. Boman, Sis. Batey

- my good friend, Heather pushing her little girl, Kaitlyn in her stroller - and Heather's mom, dad and sister

- my auntie Kay, but only at the finish line - she finished a ways ahead of us!

The group, minus my dad who was taking the picture.

After the race, we continued our tradition by having our annual post-race breakfast at good, ol' Mickey D's! I know, so healthy!!

Then it was back home to finish the Mississippi Mud brownies we were bringing for the Thanksgiving feast and get ready to go.

We had Thanksgiving dinner in Glide, OR (near Roseburg) at the high school! My uncle Gale (mom's older bro) and aunt Sue are both teachers there at the high school. Gale teaches music and Sue is a math teacher. Their three boys and their wives and kids were also there, along with their youngest, Heather. So we had 5 grandkids there (and one due any day!) Also my uncle Gary and his wife Linda. Lost track?!?

- Uncle Gale, Aunt Sue and Heather

- Nick & Christi + their girls, Reagan and Alice

- John & Stephanie + their little boy, Jackson (Baron should be here soon!)

- Jeff & Shalene + their baby girl, Summer

- Uncle Gary and wife, Linda

- My mom, dad, Christine and Elisabeth

- Sean, Ethan and I
Total: 22 people including 5 under the age of 3

They had decided that it would be a little easier to have Thanksgiving dinner at the high school since there would be so many of us - especially with the young kids. It worked out great! We dished up buffet style and when the kids were bored, they just ran around in the gym. Also, my uncle set up Guitar Hero: World Tour on the projection screen and everyone took turns playing one of the guitars or the drums. I passed on my turn and opted to hold Nick & Christi's super cute, super smiley 6-month old, Alice. She was adorable and fell asleep in my arms. Sometimes I really miss those days, so it was nice to get a 'baby fix'! We had a great time chatting with everyone, playing Bingo (it's tradition!) and of course, eating yummy food! I was very happy that the brownies turned out quite good, but I mostly saved room for some marionberry pie - yummy! Here's some pics from the rest of the day:

"Tia" giving Ethan some Cherry 7-Up. Tsk, tsk.

Playing some Guitar Hero - Jeff, Heather, Christine and Christi (on drums).

Ethan playing his own 'guitar hero' in uncle Gale's band room.

More percussion in the band room.