Thanksgiving. The best of all holidays. Here are some pictures of the holiday week Keoni, Aidan and I, later John, too, were in Tucson with Betsy, Eliana and lots of our friends and many, many of Betsy's kin.

The pix are a little out of chronology because I am still sort of sleepy from the travel. But you get the idea. For a little while I thought the iPhone was taking better snaps than the little camera, but the results have proved me wrong. I should be Monday cybering for a new, good camera, but it'll wait until sane focus returns. (Unintended there.)

Parking lots were lakes in Tucson. The rain broke a long, long dry spell and puny summer rains.

Ten minutes of play at Himmel Park was worth every penny of a $10 Target purchase for a soccer ball for Aidan and his friend Wali. Bonus soccer was when Aidan got to play with more of his buddies at Sonoran Science Academy where he went to elementary in Tucson. Two afternoons in a row!

Hey! a basket with the soccer ball.

Surprise! Here is John coming on the scene.

Sonoran Science Academy after school soccer.

Deliberative moment deciding who's on which team.

Janie and Carol at our first stop looking for geo caches. They taught us many of the ropes to be successful at it. Aidan and I had a great time with them and enjoyed their great breakfast, too.

Some weather pictures…

Early light,

Boy, did the desert smell good that first day!

Cousin Eliana played her first TPYO concert. Keoni joined in the second half of the concert. That boy loves music. Alas, my pictures don't reveal their presence unless you know the tops of their heads…

But here they are at Betsy's Thanksgiving dinner for her extended family…

Part of the Talent Show for dinner.

One of the fun things this family does besides meeting every year at a member's hometown is a talent show before eating. On that agenda: several family members agreed to take turns reading a few sentences of Lincoln's Gettysburg address until it was complete. Listening to it out loud this 150th year of its existence was a highlight.

A recitation by one of the youngest members…

And, some more family photos…a couple of these are from Betsy who passed them along…

Aidan and Betsy,

Eliana is on the left…help me with names!

Cuzzins...

Aidan, me, Keoni, Betsy. Thanks, for sending along to me.

John looking rested and relaxed. Ah, the wonders of Bocce ball playing.

Time to go home after a great breakfast provided by Betsy.

At Tucson International Airport.

Aidan's picture of leaving Dallas-Ft. Worth…

Today, it is back to laundry and some help outside as Wendy and I winterize flower beds.