Thankful

Thanksgiving was pretty darn amazing this year. Ryan started off the day running the Turkey Trot while I headed over to Mom and Dad's.  Once I picked him up at the DART station, it was just us and my Mom and Dad for a little while, which was nice. After about an hour Laurel, Ryan's sister, showed up with her boyfriend, also conveniently named Ryan. It was a real fun day with my husband Ryan, Laurel's boyfriend Ryan and my dad Brian. Whew!

We sat, talked and noshed on our Graves family tradition appetizer lunch. After a couple of hours, my Aunt Mare and her boyfriend Bob came over. So, for an hour or so, it was quite the full house with eight of us. Although I wish they could have all stayed for dinner, Laurel and boyfriend Ryan headed off to her cousin's house and Bob left to visit with his daughter. That left me, Ryan, Mom, Dad and Mare to share a wonderful Thanksgiving meal together.

Octoberfest

As you can probably tell by the stupid hats, Bavarian Alpine Hats to be exact, Ryan and I had some fun at a local Octoberfest celebration. The celebration was filled with beer, German food and polka music. I had a brat, saurkraut, German potato salad, and black forest cake. Ryan had all of what I had and some purple cabbage and potatoes. The music was a bit hokey, but after a few beers, it got better.

Long live OktoBEERfest!

Loved the Turkey! Let's Do It Again Next Year!

This year was a year of firsts for Ryan and me, being that we are newlyweds, but I have to say this was our first real Thanksgiving as husband and wife and it was AMAZING! Ryan decided he wanted to cook the entire meal for me and my parents and it was the best food I have ever had. Not that my family can't cook, but Ryan is really the best cook I know. He made Turkey, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls, Cranberry Sauce and Gravy. All homemade and all so, so good! We spent all of Thanksgiving Day cooking and eating and then the day after Thanksgiving we went to the Eisman Center to see the Nutcracker ballet. This was the very best Thanksgiving I could have ever asked for. I can't wait to do it all again next year!