The Third (and final...for this year) Thanksgiving

Ding. Round Three.  The third Thanksgiving.  I promise this is the last one, for this year.  You're probably tired of reading about it.  Trust me, it was more exhausting to attend.

For Yatooma/Geha/Mitzel Tanksgiving (no, that's not spelled wrong), we decided to have a little staycation at THE Dorm.  Our little family was thrilled to return to our old stompin' grounds, and Greg was even kind enough to let us have the master bedroom.  My mom really wanted to make Thanksgiving exciting this year.  She planned a whole slew of events to be packed into a two day time frame.  The winner of the weekend festivities would be awarded with the first ever Yatooma/Geha Tanksgiving Cup.

The first event, Gingerbread Houses.

We let Isla stay up to help.

She loved it and was extremely helpful with the creativity portion.

 its all in the details

 Greg and Chandler, Mom and Auntie and Wuzzle were all on a team.  THE Dorm.

 The Cottage a/k/a Jeff Yatooma family

 Daddy's House of Girls 

a/k/a Norman Yatooma Family

 The Chateau - a/k/a Chris Yatooma Family

 A close up of our cozy little bungalow

Gingerbread Row - probably the closest we'll come to the whole family living on the same street

 Our house is the second from the left.  

Dave didn't want to use the plastic base that came with the set.  He felt that would be "too easy."  Ok, I'm building a house with frosting, candy and a 2 year old, buddy.  We need all the help we can get.

We also had an organic, self-sustaining farm in our backyard.

The Cottage won the independent vote and Daddy's House of Girls won the popular vote.

 The Cottage

 We didn't really eat it.  In fact, I wouldn't recommend for anyone to eat one of those things.

The frosting was gross.  But it sure looked cute.

 Team Dorm.

 We played a few mean games of Bananagrams, watched some Guy on a Buffalo and then hit the sack.
The next morning, we had a pajama fashion show.  Some got really into it.

Elaine wasn't wearing pjs, but looked cute anyway.

All the little girls did crazy hair with balloons

 Greg and Chan went maize and blue

 The Queen Mum went all out

 ...but the winner

was pretty stinkin' cute.

Congrats Mel, Timmy and Julianna.

The accessories I tell you!

 After the Michigan vs. Ohio State game, we played a game of Turkey ball that Dave invented.  I know.  He's awesome.  The kids played for a while with Dave and loved it.

I didn't get any pictures of the adults playing.  Its probably better.  There's still a few kinks in the game to be worked out.

At the end of it all a winner had to be named.  The categories ranged from timeliness to participation, from most thankful to cutest and tiniest, from Extreme Christmas to, well...you get the picture.

And so, the committee voted.

And...

We won.

It was a close race.  A huge thanks to Mom for your creativity and generosity.  A huge huge thanks to Greg and Chan for making four hundred omelets and hosting 30 overnight guests.  But the biggest thanks of all to Jesus, for giving us so much for which to be grateful.  Happy Thanksgiving.