Turkey (and Mac n Cheese!) Day

Thanksgiving this year, for the first year in as long as I can remember, was not at my mom's. It was at my Aunt Ilene's. And it was yummy (I actually ate some food because there was mac n cheese this year - thanks Aunt Sue!) and great and family-filled, but unfortunately, my great uncle was in the hospital, so it was less family filled than it should have been. From what I hear, he's doing better every day, so I'm giving thanks for that.

Josh and I had a great and exhausting trip up to Philly. I had been looking forward to a soft pretzel for weeks leading up this trip, and told Josh every day in the week before it, "5 days till soft pretzels," "4 days till soft pretzels," etc., you get the point. And then we get off the plane, and Jay's Pretzels stand is closed! What?! So Josh calms me down and says, don't worry, we'll get one on the way home. And my dad picks us up and we drive downtown to get my Aunt Susan from her hotel, stopping no less than 3 places on the way to get soft pretzels, including the Philly Soft Pretzel Factory, and guess what - apparently pretzels are not made on Thanksgiving! It was traumatic. I mean, I think the Pilgrims totally would have chowed down on soft pretzels had they existed then. Anyway, I ate my fair share of squishy dough the rest of the trip, so it's all okay. But I really think holidays are no reason for no pretzels.

Here's some pics!


Thanksgiving night drinks - Aunt Susan, Jayme, me at the Ritz downtown - cool hotel because it's a converted bank (notice the columns in the back)


Jay and Clay


Cool bar at the Ritz


View of City Hall


My little Natalie - okay, Heather's little Natalie




Heather, Lou, and Natalie


She likes to get the whole family involved in the dance parties


Friday night dinner at Aunt Stevie and Uncle Roy's (Aren't they cute?)


Yum - lots of food!


All the redheads! Sami, me, and Robbie