Thanks be to God for another memorable Thanksgiving. Our 2025 Turkey Day was spent joyfully engaging in some of our family’s favorite traditions. In hope that my kids can look back on this reflection decades down the road, here is a glimpse of this past Thursday…

Thanksgiving 2025 was an awesome day for my family.

Speaking of traditions, let’s start with the most fruitless one. Once again, I made the lame effort to justify my overeating by hitting Snap Fitness at 4 a.m. I went through a routine with anaerobic and aerobic components before busting out of that gym as quickly as possible because I had a parade to watch.

I found myself at Snap Fitness at the Ponderosa Village area at 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving. It was my pathetic attempt to make up for the calories I would eat later that day.

Upon my arrival back at home, I woke up Sloan and Beau and allowed them to come into our bedroom to watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. By the time the parade started at 5:30 a.m., they may or may not have finagled their way into our bed. We enjoyed our 3.5-hour tradition thoroughly as I took a liking to the high school band that performed a “Christmas Vacation” arrangement while Sidney gravitated toward the Broadway acts. However, the live performance of “Golden” definitely stole the show for Beau!

Beau watches the performance of “Golden” during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Once the parade concluded, we headed to River Park Square in downtown Spokane. Our ultimate destination within the mall was the AMC Theater. We caught the 10:30 a.m. showing of “Zootopia 2.” It was super cute and the experience was only amplified by the reclining seats and delicious popcorn.

Sloan and Beau settle in for “Zootopia 2” at the AMC Theaters in River Park Square. It was a cute movie!

After admiring the magical 50-foot tree in the atrium of River Park Square, we headed up north to my parents’ house. We were the first ones to arrive and passed an hour or so by watching the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game. Soon enough, my siblings and their families were over. My brother staged a Thanksgiving word scramble/picture riddle challenge for everyone to participate in that was super fun (congrats to my wife for winning!). Once the dust settled on that friendly competition, we ate the Thanksgiving meal. All I can say—and you just have to trust me because I am being 100% genuine—is that it was the best Thanksgiving feast I ever had.

Welcome to the Reser family Thanksgiving table! The meal was absolute perfection.

As is custom for the Resers, my family prefers to wait 1-2 hours after the meal before eating dessert. We spent that grace period chatting in the living room before converging on the different pies in the kitchen (apple, pumpkin, peanut butter). As per usual, I didn’t think twice and opted for pumpkin.

My slice of pumpkin pie—I went a little generous on the cool whip.

We then capitalized on the sugar high by playing a game of What Do You Meme? It was another competition won by my specific Reser family unit as Sloan came out on top. After some more socializing with our big group, we departed back to the Spokane Valley around 8:30 p.m.

Congrats to Sloan on winning our “What Do You Meme?” family game session.

By the time we arrived back at our house, we could not have felt more thankful. At the same time, I also felt guilt for how lucky our family is when so many others suffer. Please pray that my family finds an adequate way to give back in relation to the abundance of our blessings. Don’t Blink.

Past Thanksgiving Posts
Thanksgiving 2024
Thanksgiving 2023
Thanksgiving 2022
Thanksgiving 2021
Thankgiving 2019

It seems like five years is a good benchmark. This specific amount of time is seemingly a sweet spot. You can look back on something without fresh emotion influencing your evaluation nor the passage of too many days clouding it.

As I reflect on this Thanksgiving morning, I can’t help but think of the peak of the COVID pandemic five years ago. As the virus brought unimaginable negative impacts, many people weren’t in a celebratory mood. My blog post from November 25, 2020, titled “A Subdued Thanksgiving,” sums up the pulse of the country at that time. As people were told not to gather it goes without saying that Thanksgiving 2020 wasn’t a banner holiday for many.

So today a portion of my thankfulness is devoted to the fact that there isn’t a pandemic raging right now. People aren’t dying at a terrifying clip. We can freely gather with our families and eat, talk, and sing without restriction.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Seriously, just take a couple moments to reflect on what you were doing five years ago today. And then be thankful.

To end on a positive note, I want to share a Thanksgiving prayer my family has said for the past 7-8 years:

Good and gracious God. You do all things well. You make the sun and rain come, nurturing the earth, making it fertile and fruitful. Through Your gift of creation and the work of our hands, we reap an abundant harvest. We give You thanks for Your many gifts that sustain us; for health and home, dignified labor; for family, friends, neighbors, and those whom today we may still consider enemies. As we reflect in thanks this day, may we remember those who lack something we have. May our gratitude move us to love, serve, and give. Together we rejoice in Your gifts, and in Your abundant life! Amen.

Yep, when it comes to Thanksgiving 2025, I think it is pretty simple: rejoice and be thankful! Don’t Blink.

By my calculations, we have now supported our children through more than 10 sports seasons. Sloan has competed in a couple t-ball seasons and multiple soccer seasons. Beau has played t-ball, soccer, and basketball. All of these sports endeavors have been fun, fruitful, and developmental.

However, just like with everything, not all aspects of youth sports are enjoyable/convenient. It is easy to become cynical with practices that start seemingly before the work day ends, parents who treat the seasons like the major leagues, and games that drag on way longer than they should. But believe it or not, there is another youth sport staple that I might detest even more…

Picture Day.

Behind the scenes of Beau’s basketball team’s picture day. Not the best time to be a sports dad.

I almost feel like I rather be handed a speeding ticket than the picture brochure/envelope the coach hands me the practice before picture day. Besides a place for me to insert a check for overpriced photos, the brochure also represents a morning of wasted time and chaos.

Sloan and her teammate/friend/ Aminah posed for buddy photos during one particular picture day for T-ball. The photos always turn out cute but the process is usually a bit painful. 

I know I sound like a grumpy dad, but my wife and I value our weekends and evenings. Although watching our children compete is something we love to do, we prefer it doesn’t take up the whole day. Picture day requires that we show up early for our designated picture time, usually 30-45 minutes prior to the game. And then you have to show up early to your designated picture time so teams can get organized prior to the photographer taking over. Thus, picture day will always add at least an hour to that day’s sporting event.

Back to that brochure for a moment. Deciding on a package is always something my wife and I figure out in the car or a couple minutes before picture time at the site. Yep, probably not the smartest idea, especially when the options are as plentiful as menu items on a Cheesecake Factory menu but nowhere near as delicious.

Picture Day can give even the calmest folks an anxiety attack. If you have ever accompanied a child to the Spokane Youth Sports soccer picture day at the South Complex, you know exactly what I mean. Long lines, stressed photographers, huge crowds, and rowdy kids are enough to zap all energy from a team before they play their game and enough to rob parents of any sanity they thought they had. No joke, it is a s@#$ show.

Nothing is more of a cluster than picture day for soccer at the South Complex in Spokane. Beau and his soccer team might look like everything went smoothly but it was a goat rope.

And all of that is even before a single photo is snapped.

Once your team is finally at the front of the line you grimace as the photographer does his/her best to pose the kids. Then after that nightmare, you must worry about individual photos. Tucking jerseys in, making sure your child has a ball, and hoping they follow the photographer’s instructions all contribute to a certain level of stress.

Posing a child for an individual photo with a ball is one thing. Posing a child with a bat is an entirely different thing that requires a massive amount of patience.

After picture day is complete, I try to forget about it until the season is over and the photos once again come in late. I am sure the coach always enjoys meeting me and other parents at a local grocery store to pass out the picture packages that were supposed to be delivered a couple weeks prior.

And then after all that, what do we do with the photos? For our family, they end up residing in one of our junk drawers or junk bins. Although I will say that we have started ordering magnets and those usually end up on our refrigerator…so at least there is that.

Kudos to the photographers who brave the chaos so that they can make a living. Don’t Blink.

With the nights becoming shorter and colder, the warmth of one’s bed becomes a little more irresistible. The protection and heat provided will keep you pressing that snooze button on those freezing cold dark mornings.

But when closing your eyes for just a couple more minutes is not an option, it can be one of the hardest tasks to rip the band-aid off and jump out of bed.

On Friday, I had one of the best feelings ever…right after one of the worst. I woke up that morning to realize it was 4:05 a.m., well past the 3:30 a.m. time I usually on weekdays to head to the gym. What’s 35 minutes, you ask? Well, I usually plan my mornings right up to the minute with exercise, chores, getting the kids ready, taking them to school, and commuting to work. Even running five minutes off my schedule can throw everything off and put me in a cranky mood.

I was alarmed to wake up and realize that it was already 4:05 a.m.

But the schedule adjusting I would need to do because of my “sleeping in” wasn’t my only issue. I had to snap out of the best sleep I had in several weeks on probably the coldest morning we had so far this autumn in Spokane. I needed to kick off the covers, throw my workout clothes on, and venture out into the freezing, dark streets of Spokane Valley to get to the gym.

Then a realization hit me. The expletive I thought to myself changed to something else. The dread and disappointment vanished. My anguish literally transformed into laughter. Yes, laughter.

Sidney was understandably confused after waking up to her husband laughing and re-situated himself in bed. Knowing I needed to end the suspense, I looked at her and offered the reason for my amusement:

“It’s not Friday, it’s Saturday.”

Returning to sleep with gleeful relief was one of the best feelings I experienced all month. Don’t Blink.

Joy! We are just one week away from Thanksgiving. I hope you are feeling as excited as I am for the special holiday. Let’s jump right into my latest Thursday Rundown…

Turkey Bingo Season – It is that time of the year where Catholic parishes across the country offer turkey bingo events. Knights of Columbus councils stage Sunday afternoon bingo sessions where either turkeys or grocery store gift cards are on the line. My family is right in the middle of our turkey bingo circuit. This past Sunday we attended the event at the parish/school we attend—St. Mary. This upcoming Sunday we will attend the turkey bingo event hosted at my parents’ parish—St. Thomas More. Crossing our fingers that we have more luck where my mom and dad attend church because we came away empty handed last weekend.

Beau at the St Mary (Spokane Valley) Turkey bingo event this past Sunday.

Death By Lightning – For a U.S. President buff like myself, this offering by Netflix was right down my alley. Adding to the intrigue was that it focused on past Commander-In-Chiefs who are largely footnotes in past president history—James Garfield and Chester Arthur. Now factor in that one of my favorite actors, Michael Shannon, depicted Garfield and you can probably imagine I was all about “Death By Lightning.” I highly recommend watching it. If for nothing else, you will realize that sleaziness and corruption in politics was just as rampant in the 1880s as it is now.

“Death By Lightening” is great. I learned a lot about James Garfield and Chester Arthur.

Thanksgiving Lunch – What has become one of my favorite events at Eastern Washington University took place again today. One week before Thanksgiving each year, EWU stages the President’s Fall Recognition Luncheon. It is a time to recognize EWU employees who go above and beyond but it is also a time to feast. A hearty Thanksgiving lunch is provided and President McMahan herself serves the pumpkin pie. Just like with my first luncheon last year, I took the opportunity today to enjoy time with my team and realize how lucky I am to be an Eagle.

Today’s luncheon was delicious and very appreciated.

Thanksgiving Traditions – It was 10 years ago that I wrote about the Thanksgiving traditions I grew up with. A decade later, we are still honoring those traditions. What are they? Well, chiefly, we go to a movie and always serve lasagna with the turkey. But the most beloved tradition that my wife and I have instilled for our own little family is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade together every Thanksgiving morning.

You can’t have Thanksgiving without turkey.

EWU Football Game – This past Saturday, Sid and I went on a nice date. We rode the bus out to Cheney and attended the EWU vs. Northern Colorado football game. It was a perfect autumn afternoon as we watched the Eagles win while meeting some great supporters of Eastern Washington University. The best part could have been eating a bag of warm Cathy’s Cookies as we walked back to the bus.

Sid and I at the EWU football game on Nov. 15, 2025.

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If you are doing a turkey trot next week you might want to put in some training this weekend. If not, enjoy some football and start saving up that appetite. Don’t Blink.

It has been an insane week for me. Even with the day off (Veterans Day) on Tuesday, I am wrapped up in work. More on that in the future. But even a packed schedule can’t prevent me from writing a Thursday Rundown so let’s get to my latest five topics.

Tour of KSPS Studios – At Eastern Washington University, we partner with KSPS, the PBS member television station in Spokane. On Friday night, the station held an event for friends and supporters. Because I oversee EWU’s partnership with KSPS, I was invited to the event and had the honor of taking Sid with me. After the evening’s presentation, Sid and I were given a private tour of the station. The studios, control rooms, and editing bays were all impressive as we received a first-hand glimpse at what fuels “the machine.”

Sid looking around one of the control rooms during our KSPS tour.

Cherry On Top – About four years ago, I detailed how one Mexican restaurant can set itself apart from another. The answer? Well, it depends what blog post you read. In February 2021 I answered with chips. But in August 2021 I said free dessert. When we ate at Rancho Viejo on the South Hill this past weekend, it was the latter. In one of those rare occasions, at the end of our meal, the server brought us sopapillas topped with whipped cream and cherry sauce. After a rocky start, the complimentary sweet treat left us with a good taste in our mouths.

We were brought these sopapillas at the Rancho Viejo on the South Hill.

The Set Up – Downtown Spokane is a truly magical place during the holidays and River Park Square is a big reason for that. The mall is beautifully decorated with the focal point being a 50-foot tree that ascends throughout all five levels of the structure. On Veterans Day, we had the rare chance to see the actual construction of the tree as a crew worked to assemble its frame. It is a pretty involved process.

A crew works to build the infrastructure of the River Park Square Christmas tree.

Best Snack Mixes – On this day nine years ago, I wrote about snack mixes. I highlighted a couple that I enjoy but then I revealed the snack mix that changed my life. Called Rudolph’s Mix, you can only buy it at Target during the holidays and it is flat out indulgent. With chocolate & white chocolate-covered cereal pieces, graham bits, M&M’s, and peanut butter cups it truly is a mouth-watering experience. The best part? It tastes exactly like Christmas! Almost a decade later I still look forward to its release.

This is me holding our tub of Rudolph’s Mix in 2016. It is incredible.

Gangs of New York – While browsing Paramount+ the other night, I stumbled upon “Gangs of New York” and thought hey, I’ll watch that. I didn’t really know what the movie was about but after watching it I can say that the title describes it perfectly. But what the title doesn’t do is allude to how violent the film is. Dang, for a 2002 movie, I didn’t expect all the gore. But nonetheless, it was excellent. Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio give outstanding performances and I was surprised that Cameron Diaz had a significant role as well. “Gangs of New York” is a vintage Martin Scorsese production and if you like mid-19th century American history with a twist, you will like this film.

“Gangs of New York” was pretty entertaining…and violent.

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Big Friday for me tomorrow! Whether it is big or small for you, I hope your Friday leads you into an awesome weekend. Don’t Blink.