I almost called this post "My Family is Growing" but then I thought everyone would think I was pregnant. I'm not pregnant. GOOD GOD NO. Today, I'm talking about cousins.
Not just cousins. Cousins-in-law. And step-cousins. And step-cousins-in-law. We've got them all and somewhere between cranberry chutney and my fourth glass of red wine, I realized Mazzy and Harlow have the big extended family I always dreamed of having when I was growing up.
For Thanksgiving, we went to Mike's cousins' house which I should probably start calling "my cousins" too. It's a slow process talking about a spouse's extended family as if they are your own, but every year they really do feel more and more like actual family. I also realize Mazzy makes no distinction between family members based on whether they are on mom or dad's side.
If I did have to make an obvious distinction, it would be that Mike's side of the family is very gifted musically. So gifted, that as part of their Thanksgiving tradition, everyone is required to perform for their pre-dinner "family talent show".
This is hilarious because Mike is the one member with no musical talent whatsoever and I, who might be described as somewhat talented in some circles, am lumped together with the person I happened to procreate with. Together, we are the butt of many jokes until everyone agrees we can sit the talent portion of the evening out, for the benefit of everyone involved.
In reality, if Mike ever reminded me about the talent requirement ahead of time, I might take the time to actually prepare something. Once upon a time, I could sing a tune pretty impressively. I have big plans of blowing their minds one day by belting out "Memories" from Cats or something equally ridiculous.
This year, in lieu of an "act", we let Harlow loose and she danced and clapped and waved her little arms in the air until she put on such a show, we were no longer required to get up there ourselves.
Mazzy took turns "playing" the piano, the ukele and the drums and I just grinned from ear to ear knowing this was something they would both be exposed to for the rest of their lives.
The following night, my mom and my stepdad threw their annual "Friday Thanksgiving", which is a Thanksgiving that ensures all four of their children (me, my sister and my two step brothers) will attend.
One of my step brothers has two kids (Maia, 4 and Hunter, 6) but they live out-of-state and we only see them once a year. It's always nice to see how well Maia and Hunter get along with Mazzy, but this year, they took it to a whole other level. The three of them are now at the age where they not only remember one another, they remember how much they love playing together too.
The whole ride to Grammy's house, Mazzy could not stop talking about how excited she was to see Maia and Hunter. Once there, the three of them joined at the hip and ran around the house like they play together every day of their lives. They had pillow fights, scavenged for hidden Chanukah presents and danced around in party hats they found in the basement.
It was a beautiful thing.
This was also the first year we had a kid's table. OH MY GOD, does this make things easier to control. It's like letting a state cede from the union and then they can do all the fucked up shit they please because the inhabitants no longer belong to your country of civilized eating and conversation holding.
After dinner, we all adjourned to the family room where we had a Chanukah present exchange, which was the closest my mom's house has ever resembled Christmas. With multiple grandparents and aunts and uncles and step siblings, etc. there were enough presents to make it look like someone robbed Santa.
Personally, I find it all over the top and don't think my increasingly whiny three-year-old deserves to be showered with toys, but maybe this is just the beginning of me being a messed-up mom. I'm not sure.
Regardless, it was fun watching them plow through gifts with the appreciation level of a cat getting kisses.
You never know what is going to go over big and on this occasion, it was not the Tinkerbell and Friends miniatures ("I don't want it!" – Maia) or the Cars Duplo Lego Set ("There's no Lightening McQueen!" – Mazzy), it was the extra large fleece Hello Kitty and Spiderman blankets. Do you know what kind of tents you can build with those things?
Seriously. How good looking are these kids???
My other favorite part of the night was when I asked Mazzy what she was thankful for.
She said, "booms" (that's what she calls getting tossed on the bed by her dad), "drawing with a pen" (I let her draw with a ballpoint recently and now crayons are dead to her) and "hugs from Mommy" (sniff).
I couldn't believe iPads and Netflix didn't bump me out of the running.
I'm sure if Mazzy had been more thoughtful about it, they would have.
As for Harlow, obviously I couldn't ask the question. Or I could have, but she wouldn't be able to answer. If she could, I bet she'd say…
"Milk, music and Mazzy."
Maybe, she'd even throw "Mommy" into the mix.
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I also want to mention our awesome view of the Thanksgiving Day Parade courtesy of ulive which is the online network that produces The Mommy Show. Mazzy and I braved the crowds to 46th Street and 6th Avenue for a corner office with plate glass windows, lots of bagels and views like this:
Mazzy's role at the parade was to inform other children that the larger-than-life Buzz Lightyear was not actually "the REAL Buzz Lightyear" as if "the REAL Buzz Lightyear" is a living breathing astronaut currently looking for his next space gig.
This is Mazzy showing her appreciation. I think.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! What did your kids say they were thankful for?
Love the parade pics, I miss living in the city and being able to watch it live!
We went out to eat since it was just me, my mother, and my twins. The girls were super polite to the server. They ate every bite of their shrimp and salad. They played quietly and even said no thank you to dessert. When I gave our server her 51% tip she got a little bit emotional and Jilly stood up and said, “Do you want a hug?” Perfect, right? Yeah, then we tried to leave. Jilly wanted to keep her fork. I explained we couldn’t because it belonged to the restaraunt. She threw the biggest, screaming fit I have ever seen in my life. My mother was standing there screaming, “What do I do? Can I pick her up?! Oh my god what do I doooooooooo!!!!!??” I could NOT stop laughing.
Love big families. My 7yo girl said all the right things: the food (top billing of course), that we’re all together, and mommy, daddy, brother, lovie and the dog. Couldn’t ask for more… well, maybe just that my 3 yo boy would have joined us at the table instead of playing in the living room the whole time. And NO, I was not about to force him to sit at the table. That was a battle I chose not to fight.
loved this!
I live in Canada, so we had our Thanksgiving a couple of months ago. However, it was kind of an unusual thanksgiving this year, and I forgot to ask. If I had asked, though, he’d probably say he’s thankful for Plants vs. Zombies, his little brother, and chocolate chips.
Considering that tip you should have kept the fork lol
Let’s see, my 9month old would probably have said thankful for boobies, and my son Elijah said he was thankful for mom n dad, sniff, sniff
That’s what my husband said! I was trying to get the point across that she can’t have everything she falls in love with for five minutes. But, she’s three. It’s a work in progress.
My son (who is 16) said he was thankful for his entire life because he has so much to be grateful for.
My daughter (who is 14 and wanted to come up with something different) said she’s thankful for all the things we take for granted – clean water, healthy food, shelter, love.
Either they really want good Christmas gifts this year or they are actually this awesome.
I’m going with ‘they’re awesome’.
And so are you.
My 5 year old girl said she was thankful for ‘Roosters’….because they wake up the sun
Daddy made dinner while I shopped and got Christmas done for the kids. Thank goodness as he was let go today. His position can be done by the owner, saving him money. I am thankful I got my boys their reasonably budgeted gifts but not much else now. I am so ticked off. It had nothing to do with his work, it was business. But couldn’t there be more notice so he could job search? Especially during the holidays.
Your post made me smile. My sons’ cousins are hoping to move this summer. ..they’ll be a day’s drive away which is closer. Finally they’ll get that cousin time. Nothing compares to cousin time. Thanks for the needed smile.
My two year old Diva Princess said she was thankful for pink. As in, the color. Also, carrots, corn, tomatoes, Mommy, Daddy, and Shelah (the World’s MOST amazing Nanny).