Trips Galore

Trip Stateside

I embarked the familiar route from Sydney -> Washington with two overly stuffed suitcases. After being in transit for nearly 24hrs, I arrived at home and headed straight for the fridge. Chicken meatballs with a capsicum/tomato sauce on bowties, followed by (my favourite Kashi) cereal with milk.

thankyou

Believe it or not, I was prepared to hop into the car for another five hours the next day! We drove up to New Jersey to see the extended family and celebrate Thanksgiving. My NJ cousins hold a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration every year, deep frying turkeys, roasting beef ribs, mashing potatoes, baking macaroni and cheese, stirring soup...

The Deep Fried Turkey and Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Pancetta

Virginia Honey Baked Ham

I love being here for Thanksgiving; for the food, yes, but more for the chance to see my extended family and their kids! They are countless and crazy and clever. Pandemonium.

Extended Family. Puppy's name is Enzo. 

The meal was preceded by plenty of playing - and I don't just mean the kid kind. Adults who visited Moose Hall were thoroughly entertained.

Pool, Pong, Poker and Mahjong. Spot the Moose!

My Choice of Entertainment

This year, I have been blessed in so many different ways, and I am so grateful! All my personal accomplishments pale next to those of my brothers, though. Dave, Mark and Phil are all property owners now. The best news of all? Kerri (my sister-in-law) is expecting…Dad and I have already made bets on whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

Congratulations Phil&Kerri!

And to conclude- we drove home, and I got a blurry photograph. It's artsy, representing how dazed we all were due to the large meal, beautiful wines, and tiredness. Just kidding, it's blurry because I don't know what I'm doing.

Hazy Ride Home

And I conclude:  what a wonderful way to start off my time in the States. Thank God for Family!