Thanksgiving part Tommy

I meant Thanksgiving part III, but new babies distract me. :) Our third celebration was the first of many more Saturdays-After-Thanksgiving with the Clark cousins and second cousins, who now number 5.79.

Without a doubt, nine-day-old Tommy monopolized our attention. And rightly so.
Tommy is the the firstborn of Kirk and Nadine, Ellie's godparents. Uncle Kirky and his dad, Uncle Pete, looked on as Ellie gently! acquainted herself with he who has dethroned her as youngest in the family. She cut him some slack, seeing as his reign will be short given the impending arrival of another cousin in a matter of weeks.
Andy might have felt a little rusty, but his Daddy skills kicked in. And yes, despite Tommy's awesome cuteness, we are positive our family is complete. ;)
There was even more to celebrate, including a visit from the Clarks of Nashville. Rebecca and Gavin, the most senior of the second-cousins, were very accommodating of Will and Elle. Uncle Earl and Aunt Allison, our impeccable hosts, provided extra entertainment for the kids, setting up an ingenious coloring space on the floor and Planet Earth videos.
Earl and Allison also provided us the most delectable of feasts: half a cow (the Clarks' words, not mine) for the many carnivores present, a delicious salad with pears and blue cheese, asparagus, au gratin potatoes... and the pièce de résistance, Earl's second-to-none flourless chocolate cake. Go knock on their door and beg for a piece right now (it was that good)!

While we are thankful Helga is no longer suffering, we miss her physical presence (she was surely there in spirit) dearly. How blessed we are to have known and loved her.