Thanksgiving Break

Here are some highlights of our Thanksgiving break:
1. My sister Hayley coming to stay with us. She's so awesome. We just love her!
2. Finding out my parents sent Hayley with an activity fund, which we spent on some really fun stuff we that we might not have done without the help. (Thank you!!)
3. Pikes Place Market (again). But this time it was much more lively. And yes, we did devour a dozen more mini donuts in about 30 seconds flat.
4. View from the top of the Columbia Center. It's twice as tall as the Space Needle and 1/3 the cost.

5. Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with a very excited 2-year-old. When Santa Claus came, Lainy yelled "Santa! Santa! Bring presents for everyone!" Too cute.
6. Spending Thanksgiving dinner with the family of one of Brad's med school friends. They were so kind! Dinner was delicious, and I was very grateful that I didn't have to cook a whole Thanksgiving dinner by myself.
7. Playing rock stars at the Experience Music Project (a museum) Friday morning. Brad was lead guitarist and singer, Lainy and I played the drums, and Hayley was on the keyboard. It was hilarious. Way better than Rockband (as we were playing real instruments in front of a huge screen of screaming fans who had apparently been sleeping on sidewalks for two days in order to see our show).

8. Salty's restaurant for lunch. Yum. The restaurant was decorated for the Holidays in huge six foot, handpainted nutcrackers. Lainy loved them (almost as much as her french fries and Brad's mango smoothie).

9. Watching Hayley and Brad trying to eat crab legs - complete with having to crack the shell to pull the meat out. It was messy, but it sure smelled good!
10. White chocolate mousse cake. It was heavenly. It might be worth the trip to Seattle if anyone's interested...

11. Taking a ferry boat to Vashon Island. I've been wanting to go on a ferry ride since we got here, and it didn't disappoint.
12. Seeing this in real life:

To fully appreciate how much this meant to us, you'll have to go read a Christmas book called "Red Ranger Came Calling". Seriously. Go read it. You'll be glad you did.
13. Shopping with my sister in interesting new stores only to discover once again (for like the hundredth time) that GAP clothes just fit our body type the best. Good thing they were having a sale...
14. Seeing the crazy UW Husky and WSU Cougar fans gather at Husky stadium for the highly contentious Apple Cup football game. (And the fact that UW won 30-0)
15. Sleeping after playing hard all weekend!

A short note to my sis: I love you! Thank you for doing my dishes, for your input on how to make my garland (it turned out cute!), for not noticing (or not commenting) when the 2-year-old was acting up and her mother was frustrated, for carrying Lainy down three flights of stairs every time we left the house, and for being so darn fun to have around. We miss you already.

A short note to my parents: Thank you for sending Hayley here. I still miss you though. Love you!

A short note to the rest of my family spread across Idaho, Virginia, and DC: I wish we could have been with you all for Thanksgiving! We miss you and love you! A lot!