Thanksgiving 2009

We had visitors this year! YAY!

My parents and my sister Deb and her husband Dave came up to visit us this Thanksgiving and it was wonderful! My parents stayed for 10 days and Deb and Dave for 3.5. We had so much fun and Gwen got a lot of needed Grandparent time. My parents watched Gwen for about 9 of the 10 days they were there so Jason could finish his work and so we could go take my sister and Dave around the town. It was nice having time alone with another couple (especially since it was my sis!) but what was even nicer was seeing Gwen grow from such a small time of interaction with others. She loved it and actually cried when my mom and dad didn't get back in the car at the airport. It really breaks our hearts. We will move back sometime, but not yet. My parents on the other hand keep saying they will move out here, LOL!!

We did all the touristy things like Macy's Parade, Macy's windows, Rockefeller Center / Tree, Bus Tour, Ground Zero, South Street Seaport, The Rockettes, Central Park Strawberry Fields, Perry Street (for my sister who is a HUGE Sex in the City fan...)and of course hit up some bars and good food :)

Gwen really loved the parade and all the balloons. I wish we would have gotten closer, but we arrived so late because of a train mishap that we were about 100 feet into a side street across from Central Park West. We didn't get to see any of the bands or floats, but the Balloons were amazing (although oddly enough seemed to have a lot to do with Balls...right everyone?!?! hehe) and my sister and I decided we are going to invent the Pocket Bleachers :) (copyrighted so back off, lol)
Here are some of my favorites of Gwen oogling over the balloons!



Snoopy looks like he is going to be crushed between Jason and Gwenie!



Of course Gwen needed her own balloon, we love Nemo!





Jason and myself cooked Thanksgiving dinner for everyone too! Dave helped with the gravy because I did't have any patience for gravy this year, lol. Deb helped me make her baked sweet potatoes since last year she never told me to drain them and I ended up making what I like to call, vomit soup. I will say, this year the baked yams ended up being my favorite thing! It was a wonderful meal and such a relief that we actually have a dining room table now, that 20lb turkey would have made the card table buckle, LOL! I did end up making Turkey Noodle Potato Soup with some of the left overs and we STILL had turkey left!



My mom took some pics of the decorations and of the food making and the final product so I will post them as soon as I get them. Can't wait till Xmas now, we miss everyone!