Mari's note: Sammy and Ilna, I'm so thankful every single day for you being in my life. REALMcRollers and readers I am thankful for your loyalty and love.

Thankful for my lifelong friends who are my family, for my family, and for every minute with my beautiful MacKenzie.

Cheers to Papa R for the consommé scene!

Ilna's note: I'm so grateful for my family and for my friends who are like family. This year has been beyond stressful for everyone, so I've found it more important than ever to keep reminding myself of everything I have to be thankful for, today and everyday.

Sammy's note: I am so, so grateful for Mari and Ilna's friendship and for the support of all our lovely readers

Group Effort

"... now?" Angie peered into the mixing bowl, then up at her mother.

"Yes, we can put the milk in now." She helped the three year old lift the measuring cup and pour it into the mashed potatoes. "And then we mix it up."

She placed her hands over her daughter's tiny ones and flipped the mixmaster on. "And we keep our fingers away from the bowl when it's on so we don't get a boo boo."

Angie clasped her hands under her chin. "So we don't get a boo boo," she repeated and Steve dropped a kiss on her head as he passed behind them to put a green bean casserole in the oven.

"Good job, baby girl." He smiled at her serious expression - the one he'd seen on Catherine's face when she was concentrating or learning a new skill.

"DJ, I make da p'tatoes wif Mommy," she told her brother and pointed.

"Yum! Me and Daddy did the green beans and I'm gonna help Grandma with the cranberry sauce."

Elizabeth popped her head in from the dining room, where she was setting the table with Grace and Casey. "Steve, we need a few last minute items…" she began and Catherine chuckled. They always did. "Can you boys grab Joseph and take a ride to Jirou's?"

As if on cue, Joseph entered from the deck with Cammie and Smokey. "They're all exercised and visited the head," he said with a wink at DJ.

"That means they both pooped and peed, right, Grandpa?" The seven year old laughed.

"Aye, aye, recruit McGarrett." He smiled broadly with a grin for his daughter. "Are we making the last minute run for provisions?" He stole an olive from the salad on the counter and Elizabeth laughed.

"Just let me grab the list from Mom." She ducked back into the dining room and returned with a sheet of paper which she passed to her husband.

When Aaron entered from putting several items into the deck refrigerator, DJ said, "We're goin' to Mr. Jirou's for provisions. That's navy-talk for supplies. Wanna come, Uncle Aaron?"

"I'm in." He ruffled his nephew's hair and grinned at Catherine. "Family tradition, right?"

"One hundred percent," Steve agreed. "Okay, let's get Operation: Last Minute Supplies underway. Need anything else?" he asked Catherine.

She shook her head no but, "Spwinkles! Get all da spwinkles, Daddy!" rang out from Angie, making everyone laugh as the three men and DJ headed for the door.

Foodland

As he put an extra packet of marshmallows into the cart, DJ looked up at his father. "What's next, Daddy?"

"Grandpa and Uncle Aaron are at the deli counter finishing up so we just need to get beef consommé." He turned the cart into the aisle with broth and stock. "Should be in here," he said as he scanned the packages.

DJ's brow knitted, concentrating on the word. "I think I know that one. I got it with Grandma Ang before …"

"It's made from beef stock," Steve said, and swept his eyes over the area again. "It should be right here with the other stocks."

"Consommé ..." DJ's brow furrowed further as he tried to remember seeing it before. Suddenly he pointed. "Daddy, look! Is that it?"

There, all the way on the top shelf of the soup can dispenser section was a collection of red cans reading Consommé.

"That's it, buddy." Steve grinned. "It's in a strange place, how'd you spot it way up there?"

"I thought the name was cool when I was here with Grandma Ang this one time and I remembered it was way up high. Grandpa was getting ice cream so Grandma Ang asked a tall guy to help get it." DJ smiled. "But you're tall so you can reach."

Steve lifted him up to the shelf to grab the item. "And now so can you."

DJ snagged the Consommé and placed it in the cart. "Teamwork, right?"

Steve held up a hand to high five his son. "Teamwork. And we're all set. Let's find Grandpa and Uncle Aaron and get back to Thanksgiving."

"Oh my." Deb's hand flew to her chest as she and Mary watched a video of Angie's private gymnastics lesson on Catherine's phone. "I'm not sure my nerves would be able to take watching that in person."

Catherine chuckled. "Steve won't admit it but he has his eyes closed half the time."

"Makes me glad that Joan's interests are a little more … earthbound." Mary held her breath as her beloved niece once again hurled herself into the air with unabashed glee.

"When she first started private lessons I think she just loved the idea of flipping through the air," Catherine said. "But as weeks go by she's really starting to concentrate on the things her coaches are telling her about form and landing."

"Our little gymnast," Deb said proudly.

They all looked up as Angie and Joan rushed into the kitchen, each holding one of Gabby's hands.

"The bad guys are chasing us. We have to hide!" Joan announced.

"How about under the table?" Deb suggested.

Gabby barked a laugh. "I think I'd rather let the bad guys get me."

"What're you watching?" Joan asked.

"We're watching videos of Angie's gymnastics lessons," Mary replied as Joan nudged her way closer so she could see the screen.

Angie threw her arms in the air. "I fwip!"

Deb kissed her cheek. "You certainly do."

"On-wy at da gym." The disappointment was obvious on her face. "No fwips at home."

Mary snorted. "At least not until Daddy builds a full gym in the backyard."

Danny turned with Angie on his lap when the group arrived from the store. The little girl waved and said, "I makin' da cawwots wif Unca Danno, see?"

Steve grinned and took an item from the first bag he placed down. "Here you go, for later. Don't open them now, please."

Catherine shook her head with a knowing smile while Carrie laughed at Steve buying Angie's request.

"Spwinkles! Tank you, Daddy!" She reached to take the container and wrapped a little arm around his neck when he kissed her cheek.

"Look at that face," Carrie said to Joseph. "You'll forever be opening doors with a smile just like your mommy."

Kissing the cheek of the happy three year old who was stirring butter into the carrots, Danny looked at Carrie. "And in the rare cases that doesn't work, she can always use a grenade like her father." As he chuckled at his own joke, Angie held up both hands, spoon and all. "Gwenade. Boom!"

Barking a laugh at Steve's smirk, Danny tickled her tummy. "Never change, sweetheart, you're gonna give him such a run for his money."

"Grandma Ang!" Joan said excitedly. "While the turkey is cooking we have a game for you!"

"For me?" Ang said as Joseph helped settle her in an armchair.

Joan, DJ, Angie, Grace, Jacob, and Kaitlyn gathered around her.

"Tell her, Angie," DJ encouraged, barely containing his own excited smile.

"I's T'anksgibing Bingo!" Angie announced, throwing both arms into the air.

"What?" Ang asked, surprised.

"Look," DJ said, handing her a homemade card. "We put Thanksgiving things like a turkey and a pie and a leaf and a football and a … a …" He pointed to one of the pictures. "What's that one again?"

"Cornucopia," Grace told him.

"Yeah. Cornucopia," he repeated carefully.

"And then we put in the things we're thankful for in other squares," Kaitlyn continued.

DJ nodded eagerly. "Yeah, we put 'Family,' and 'Home,' and–"

" 'Cookies,' " Ang read, laughing. "I wonder who's thankful for cookies."

"I love cookies!" Angie announced seriously, as if it was big news.

Ang reached over to tickle her namesake's tummy. "And I love this idea so much."

"Grace, can you explain the rest?" Joan asked.

"Sure, Joan," Grace said and then looked back at Grandma Ang. "We all made our own bingo cards with what we're thankful for." She grinned. "Though a lot of the words are the same because … well, we're family. Anyway, we made some cards with just the pictures filled in for anyone else who wants to make their own, and we thought you could make the calling cards and then we'll really see how many things are the same."

"What do you say, Grandma Ang?" Jacob asked, as they looked at her hopefully.

She smiled brightly. "I say get me a pen. That's the best Thanksgiving idea since roast turkey."

….

TBC tomorrow!