Rocky Mountain Wachters: Thanksgiving/Turkey Bowl 2012

We were joined by our wonderful friends the Boones for our Thanksgiving feast this year. The food was wonderful and the company was fabulous (as were the Bloody Mary's). The one negative of the day...Matt had to go to bed with a mini bout of flu. Things have been so crazy with work, the cabin, etc. I think the poor guy just ran himself ragged! He has been able to enjoy many meals of leftovers since and has had some time to rest.

Oh little turkey...we love you roasting in our oven!

The Boones and the FOOD!

Sweet little "Mimo"

The "Kids'" Table

We were all happy that he was feeling good Thanksgiving morning for the 1st annual Colorado version of the 29th annual Paolucci Bowl. Matt described it this way in his email invitation:

About 30 years ago, my Dad and Mr. Paolucci (another dad from Wheaton, Illinois) decided it would be fun to get out of the house on Thanksgiving morning with all their sons to play a friendly game of touch football (partly to get out of the kitchen). We all arrived at the field for a game, every year for 28 years until they decided it had run its course about 4 years ago (sad Thanksgiving). The game started out with a bunch of little kids all getting a “carry” or a pitch out and ended up as many grown men pulling hammy’s (one dude was so serious, he tore his ACL). The one constant though was every new “kid” coming into the game and having a play designed especially for them, maybe a pitch with dad leading through the hole or, Uncle Jim passing to his nephew or something like that. After the game, all the men would go back to the Paolucci’s for bagels and bloody marys. In the 28 years we were never home later than the second half kickoff of the Lions game. It ended up being a great start and a fantastic addition to our Thanksgiving holiday. Why the story?

Well, is anyone interested in continuing this tradition? For the 28 years, girls were welcome, but never played in the Paolucci bowl. Since I have been blessed with two girls who are dying to play, I vote we make it gender neutral and even bring in all the wives (when this started in 1977 it was a different time and the women were cooking).

So, Matt, the girls and I joined about 9 other families for a fun game of touch football! It was a fun morning and hopefully the first of many!