Our Thanksgiving

 Hey, Mom!

Lynn says that Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday and I can sure see why. Food, food, FOOD!! She laughed and said, "You're such a Lab!" at my reaction, and then told me she liked the holiday because it was a day of being thankful and full of family and friends (although she did admit that she likes the food, too.)

I found that I really enjoyed the family part of the day, too. Some of her grandchildren were with us, and they were so much fun to play with.

Me in my goofy legs akimbo pose with Julie (age 5) on the left and Kate (age 3) on the right. They are rubbing my belly. More, please, girls!

Kids also are a great source of food. They drop things on the floor and carpet from the table, and I did my duty and helped with clean up. In fact, as you can see from this photo, I decided it would be best if I just sat wherever the kids were eating - can't have our floors get dirty, you know!

Pepper under the table while Ian (age 5) eats a marshmallow that was supposed to go on the gingerbread house he was making. Julie is repurposing a KitKat bar by eating it, too.

No need to lick your fingers, girls! I volunteer! Yep, hanging out under the table near the kids really has its perks.

Molly and I are becoming better and better friends. She even let me nap with her in the kitchen Thanksgiving afternoon. (Shy as she is, she also hangs around the vicinity of the kitchen when the kids are eating.) I have my antler right next to me in case she decides she'd like to play with me.

Lynn caught a snap of Craig giving me one of his famous ear rubs. Oh, how I love those!

Julie is a real animal lover and very gentle with me. I even let her hold my paw and inspect it. She doesn't have a dog so she'd never seen a paw up close. I just stretched out and let her look. Later, I offered her my rope tug, hoping that she would play with me. I was very careful to not pull too hard since she was so small. Lynn and Craig told me that I was a good girl and that they were very proud of me.

There was one family member that I especially loved - Lynn and Craig's youngest son, Cole. Whatever the reason, we had an instant connection, enough so that at the end of their visit, Lynn laughingly told him, "Remember, she's my dog and you can't take her home!"

Cole would lie on the floor and I considered that an invitation.

 I'd lay across him, lean my head on his chest, and he would put his arms around me in a hug.

 Or, I'd tuck my nose into his elbow 

 and drift off to sleep, all warm and cuddly.

I'd even mimic him and roll over onto my back, just like him, still snuggled in his elbow and against his side, and we'd nap together. (Lynn says, "That's another goofy pose, Pepper!")

I'd stretch out by his head and put my head across his shoulder and down onto his chest. (I think my ear tickled his face when I did that.)

I tell you, that Cole sure is great. I wish he would move in with us, but Lynn says that he is all grown up and has his own life and family to care for. Oh well, he said he would be back for a visit.

Thanksgiving turned out to be a terrific day with lots of food and family fun. I got a lot of attention, and not as much turkey as I might have liked, but that's okay - there were leftovers and I had some of those the next day.

As Lynn told me, Thanksgiving is a day for being thankful. I hope you know that I am thankful for the year I spent with you as your guide, and that I love you very much.

Kisses across the miles,
Pepper