Though it’s been a week since the Thanksgiving party, the remainders were around for days afterward. The dishes sat in the sink, unwashed, til Wednesday night. Something sticky that spilled on the floor didn’t get cleaned until my ayi came on Thursday. A week later, my apartment still smells like booze. And, of course, the blog update remained unwritten until now, and my recent addiction to Ugly Betty (which began as a lesson plan and has now consumed my life every night since Tuesday. This post may or may not have been written in front of back-to-back-to-back-to-back etc. episodes. Oops.) hasn’t exactly expedited the writer’s block breakthrough.

TJ and Jean were the first to arrive.

I just can’t take these kids; they are too cute for me. Especially Jean. I’ve told TJ he’d better watch out—I love this girl.

Like people tend to do at parties, everyone else started trickling in with snacks, drinks and entrees. We all sat around snacking, chatting, and letting the alcohol sink in.

Notice the lights I put up? I’m like the Huzhou Martha Stewart, making things festive. More TJ and Jean cuteness.

Next to them are the cuteness of Jack and his wife Jojo. Notice the empty Doritos bags. Those evaporated like a puddle in the summer desert.

Once everyone came, it was time for dinner. I felt like a sub-par Martha Stewart because, though I had fifteen guests, I was only able to scare up thirteen chairs, which couldn’t even crowd around the tables. Thanksgiving on the scrounge.

We started off with a potato leek soup courtesy of Mike.

Not only did it taste good, but Mike even went for the presentation, with scallions, bacon bits, and toasted bread. Wow. I was definitely at risk of being out-Martha-ed.

There was way too much of my stuffing, of course. TJ made some fabulous spaghetti in Bolognese.

Mark’s wife, Lisa, made some roast pork rump.

Jojo made lovely chicken.

Paul and Annie brought the healthy food: broccoli and cauliflower in cheese sauce.

There were LOTS of dishes to wash after that. Yay.

Jack brought his guitar to serenade us all.

TJ sang along as we listened.

This is John. He leaned casually and coolly in the doorway a lot of the night.

I think he stayed there because it was closer to the heater.

Paul is a passionate talker.

And George will mug whatever camera points his way.

Paul, Annie, Susan. Cute family. So much cuteness.

Brandon was his trouble-maker self.

He rubbed off on Jojo.

Or maybe that was Jack’s fault?

And a little taiqi for digestion.

Before we had dessert, Brandon broke out the French toast he made.

I doubt the Pilgrims had French toast at the first Thanksgiving, but it’s a shame they didn’t. But there was real maple syrup at ours.

In my opinion, rousing success, especially now that everything’s cleaned up. My desserts went over well, too, and my Bourbon Pumpkin Pie elicited a theoretical marriage proposal from Paul. But I don’t know how Annie would feel about that.

Maybe I’d have to make her a pie too.