Turkey Day 2012!!! Gobble gobble gobble!!!

This morning I took Banjo out for a run around Seward Park.  It was my first run in a LONG time and felt good (and bad - hack hack).  I think Banjo appreciated the exercise.

This year we hosted Thanksgiving lunch at our house.  I cooked the bird on the ol' smoker for 4 hours, and it turned out quite tasty.  I also think it will make for some tasty turkey jook as well (one my new favorite Thanksgiving traditions - you put all of the turkey bones in a big pot of water and rice and cook it for many hours, creating a turkey-rice porridge - super tasty).  

Our guests included my family and Emily's family, minus Ruth and Clave, but plus Melvin.  Everyone brought something really good to share - my personal favorites were my mom's stuffing (as always) and  Jenilyn's butternut squash soup (I love a good soup).

After dinner we had some apple and pumpkin pie, along with a pumpkin roll that Emily and Abe made for Mei Li's one-month birthday yesterday.  After dessert we played a rousing game of Poverty - a Hoff Thanksgiving tradition.

 Abe wanted to be on Grandpa David's team for Poverty.  He's wearing his headphones because all the adults were being too loud with their incessant talking...

 ..and probably because he was getting really tired.  After playing cards with us for a bit, he wanted to hold Mei Li.  Then the immediately fell asleep hold her in his arms.  Super cute.

George and Abe getting some rest after a long Thanksgiving day.

One month old

You know what that means...photo shoot with Banjo!  Abe did not want any pictures taken without him, but I managed to sneak a few.

My mom made this sweater, and it's sized at 6 month.  It fits quite well at one month.

Working with dogs

When we drive places Abe likes me to tell him about things.  The other day he wanted me to tell him about semi trucks.  After I rattled off all I knew about semis, he asked why I didn't know very much about them, and I told him that people who drive semis would know more.  So, then he asked if I would tell him about my work.  So, as interesting as it is, I told him about my work, and about the Veterans and about how you should never smoke.  Then he asked me to tell him about the dogs.  It took me a long time, but I finally realized that the kid thought I was a Veterinarian, since I work with Veterans.

Fun with Curious George (Abe's preschool assignment)

George was a good little monkey and always very curious.  One day he went to Abe's house...

George helped Abe make cookies for our cookie exchange party.

 He watched Abe go to swimming lesson with Auntie Hannah (he couldn't go in because he didn't want to get his fur wet)

 George had fun at decorating cookies at the cookie party.

George with to see Brave at the Crest with Abe and grandma and grandpa.

Growing girl

 Here are some more recent pictures of Mei Li.

Dance party!

 Daddy has her in training.

Cute brother and sis.