Thanksgiving 2023

This year we got to host Thanksgiving at our house. It's been at my brother's house the last several years but he let me do it this year. We had 35 people and a lot of great food and it turned out really well.

We started the day with a Bergeson Fun Run 5K:Thanks to Caroline and Everett who organized it! We ran/scootered/walked about 5 kilometers out on the canal trail. Then we had breakfast. They brought bagels and cream cheese. I made some oatmeal and made a smoothie after the run to go with the bagels. It was fun and delicious.

About noon, guests started trickling in, showing up with their contributions. We smoked a turkey, roasted a turkey, and warmed up a spiral-sliced ham and made some gravy. People brought mashed potatoes, stuffing, dressing, fruit salad, green salad, rolls, olives, green bean casserole, mac 'n cheese, and lots of different kinds of pie. We had English Walnut Pecan Chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, butternut squash pie, Oreo pie, apple pie, French Silk pie, lemon icebox pie, and Key lime pie. And I probably forgot one or two.

Dinner started about 1:30 after my father read the traditional editorial from the Wall Street Journal, we all said something we were thankful for, and we prayed.

Then we ate lots of food followed by games afterwards and the new Disney movie for the teenagers. Scott took the little boys out to the trampoline and jumped quite a while in the cold. In the evening some people went ice skating at Peaks for free thanks to the perk of being related to Michelle. It was all a fun time.

Katie was very busy with the scissors and stapler making crowns and badges for us. I got a little badge that said, "Best Oma Ever!"

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Our Cousin Drew

This last week, my brother and his wife lost a very precious son, just 13 years old. He collapsed while running with a cross-country team and passed away before he could be revived. Everyone that knew Drew is broken-hearted at this loss. He was the happiest, most agreeable kid we knew. I remember him being at my house without anyone close to his age to hang out with, so he found our Duplo blocks and started building even though it is a toy that boys his age don't usually enjoy. He was so content. He didn't complain that I ever remember. His mother always called him the perfect child. He will leave a big hole in not only his immediate family but our extended family as well. Here is a poem my aunt shared that seems fitting: Leave Taking How I would have liked to wave goodbye and watch until you turned and smiled and disappeared on the horizon. You who taught me to dance and let me teach you, who laughed at my stories and winked at me when I was sad. I can just see you trav

Remembering Drew

This weekend we celebrated Drew's life. On Thursday night, we gathered as an extended family and had a dinner then sat in a big circle and talked about our memories of him. I took some notes and here is what people said. Grandpa (Gary Hansen): The last time we saw Drew was last week on the 4th. I remember all the cousins on the trampoline, bouncing up and down and playing basketball. Grandma (Susan Hansen): I asked Drew to come over last winter to teach my Activity Day boys how to make origami stars. He was very patient in working with them even though they were pretty clueless. Eventually they all went home happily with their stars. Paula: This last winter we invited Bruce and Michelle over for dinner and we didn't have anyone his age for him to hang out with. I remember that Drew found the Duplo blocks on his own and played with them all by himself, quite cheerfully entertaining himself. I asked him if he wanted to play with a different toy--maybe something more sophistica

Drew's Funeral

Yesterday was the viewing for Drew and then today was the funeral. There were a LOT of people at the viewing. Bruce and Michelle greeted people for almost four hours yesterday and then again this morning before the funeral. Bruce said that if weren't for Drew's death, it would be the best week of his life with so much love being shown to them. Friday actually began with a family run in Drew's honor. We started at a church by the new Lindon temple and ran to Bruce and Michelle's house with breakfast following. Friday night was the viewing. There was a very nice display of all things Drew. This was one of the pictures displayed and I recognized someone I know: We stood in line and the paramedics who worked on Drew stood in line behind us so we got to talk to them. Here's a fun fact: They cover both Orem and Vineyard but Vineyard gets a lot more 911 calls than Orem per capita. It's a younger population and they are quicker to call. They said it's hard when the

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