Thanksgiving Weekend

My sister, Alanna, came up to visit over the long holiday weekend. It was the first time in a very long time that we'd gotten to just relax and enjoy one another's company.  She flew up on Wednesday. Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving.   I was running around like a mad woman flustered about trying to get the huge meal put together, so that part wasn't exactly relaxing.  Thankfully, I wasn't alone; Rebekah and her husband were also there with us.   Alanna played with the girls and Rebekah did the lion's share of the cooking.  She'd already prepared all of her side dishes the day before, so they only had to go in the oven; the only pre-cooking  I'd done was to make my pie (pumpkin) and my cornbread for the stuffing. We tag-teamed the turkey that morning, and once it was in the oven, we started in on the other stuff.  I kept needing to leave the kitchen to change diapers, feed babies and run to the store.  Twice.  And did I mention that I made yeast rolls from scratch??  That was certainly interesting.

Everything worked out well, though, and our Thanksgiving dinner was delicious.  We stuffed ourselves silly, watched a movie, and then topped off with pie.  In addition to the pumpkin that I'd made, Rebekah brought a chocolate bourbon pecan pie that was to die for.  I almost did, I ate so much. 

Friday Alanna and I braved the crowds and spent the day shopping. Saturday we went to Colonial Williamsburg and had dinner at one of their authentic colonial taverns. (We'd wanted to do the tours, but we got too late a start.)

On Sunday, Alanna taught me to make sushi.

And on Monday she had to go home.  I was sad to see her go, but so very, very happy that she got to come up and see me.