I Like Thanksgiving

As I was cleaning out the girls' backpacks a couple of days ago, I found a treasure...one of Makenna's writing projects.  Here it is...(non edited version)

November 18, 2009
by Makenna

I love Thanksgiving!
becuse we have turky
We talk and eat.
and!  I think we
play games.  I do
not no.  I love
masht patatos it is
fun.
I like like like
like thanksgiving!
becuse we get
to eat
and it caindof
herts my ears
a lot becuse of the
talking!

Is that not a hoot???!!!  If anyone knows my family (including my extended fam), we are a very loud bunch.  We don't know how to do it any other way.  By nature, my family has been blessed with the "high decimals" gene.  We talk loud, we laugh loud, we scream loud, we cry loud, we ARE loud.  I'm sure over the years, we scared off many a visitor, including some missionaries whom we'd hosted in our home.  I vaguely remember one quiet missionary's anxious eyes (and probably ears) as we interacted with each other around the dinner table.  I don't think he quite knew how to handle the "Hyte Gang".  I don't remember him saying too much, if anything, that night, either.  Other missionaries and visitors held their own.  Not only did they accept us in all our quirky-ness, but also dished it out just as "loud", but they were few.  I remember being surprised when I realized that not all families were loud like us. I realized at that moment, that we kids might find a challenge in bringing a potential mate/accomplice into the family.  Would he embrace our "volume" and silliness?  Or would he run for the hills?  Interestingly enough, we often gauged the compatibility of our pairings with how well we thought they would adapt.  Darin passed the test.

Sometime after we got married, a funny Thanksgiving tradition started in the Hyte family, by accident.  It was 1998 (I think), when we were still living in Provo as D.I.N.K.'s (Double Income No Kids). We had finished eating the turkey feast and were finishing up the last minute clean-ups. when my sister Heidi and I planned an impromptu "Untalent Show", where each family member would be assigned an "untalent" to perform.  No one knew what "untalent" they would be asked to share until seconds before their turn (except for my sister and I who planned it).  We carefully hand selected each "untalent" for each person (including ourselves).  The "untalents" all had some connection to our own personal history.  For example, Holly was very well known for her "Jazz" class experience at BYU.  She thought she was signing up for "Big Band/Swing style" Jazz, not modern Jazz.  It was too late to drop the course by the time she discovered what she had gotten herself into.  She was stuck.  She borrowed my teal colored unitard and the rest is history.  Holly barely survived that semester.  She was paired with the least coordinated boy in the class, and was ultimately names "Most Improved Dancer" by her class.  Her "untalent" that night was to share with us some of her fancy "jazz" moves that she acquired.  It was hilarious. 

Heather combined two "untalents" - her half summersalts/half flips she would do while running around the outdoor track at the high school and her "Finger Math" lessons that she did with Sister Okermann in our ward.  She blended the two nicely in her performance. 

Michael, who is known for his off the cuff humor, was asked to do a stand-up comedy routine on the spot.  Luckily, he still remembered his humorous presentation that scored high marks on in his public speaking class at the "Y".  Classic stuff. 

Mom yodeled for us.  "I Miss My Swiss" is a beloved yodeling song that Mom often sang with a "gusto". 

Suzi danced to "Milly Vanilly" because we couldn't find the Michael Jackson CD.  She started her own MJ fan club when she was 10 years old.  

Heidi and I did a duet on the fiddle and piano respectively.  Heidi took only a couple years of violin and I never learned to play piano, so neither of us was "talented".  We started by playing a made up "Canon in D-ish" piece...then we switched instruments...our lovely classic turned into a blue grass "Turkey in the Straw" inspired number.  We were laughing so hard we could hardly finish our "untalent".  None of this had been given any forethought, even though we assigned ourselves the "untalent".  We didn't allow ourselves to think about it too much in order to keep in "raw".

I think Dave might have been on his mission, so he wasn't there that year.  Dad may have done his "crazy legs".  Think Jerry Lewis and you get an idea of how seriously funny my dad is when he walks across the room with his "crazy legs".  Darin must have done his mock "Riverdance" number.

We video taped the entire show and then watched it back.  We laughed harder the second time through.  So, the tradition of the Thanksgiving Untalent Show was born.  We have since done it four other times at least, filming each one for future laughs and posterity's sake.  Each has had a theme..."Around the World", "When I Grow Up", "Thanksgiving Idol", and "So You Think You Can Dance".  Each new show included performances from new family members (a.k.a  Brooklyn, Makenna, Dakota, and Oakley as they became old enough to entertain in their own cute ways, and sibs girlfriends/boyfriends).  I keep thinking that we could never top the last one, but every new show brings more loud laughter (the good kind) and unforgettable memories.

This is the first Thanksgiving that Darin and I will not be spending with any extended family; the first time in 14 years that we will do it all on our own.  All of my "out of town" sibs headed down to Vegas tonight for the Thanksgiving weekend.  We had planned to stay in Utah to spend it with Darin's brother and sister-in-law, but unforeseen health complications (on their side) will keep us apart.  The thought of cooking the entire Thanksgiving Feast alone is a little daunting, but I'll pull it together somehow.  I'm sure that it will be worth it.  I have much to be thankful for this year.  I won't take time to list them all now, but suffice it to say, I am one lucky lady.  We may not be eating around the table with my loud and lovingly obnoxious family, but I will be sharing it with the very people that are most important to me - even my own little family.  (Hey, maybe it will be a little quieter for Makenna.)  Ha!  As few in numbers as we may be, my family still can raise the volume.  They only know one level.  LOUD!  But it's a happy loud.

Here is hoping that you all have a happily LOUD Thanksgiving, full of laughter, fun and family.  Happy Day!