We were delighted to spend our favorite holiday in Dayton, Ohio with my sister, her husband, and their new baby boy Zigmund.  It was so fun to see Charlotte meet her new cousin.  She didn’t quite know what to do with him but she was very sweet and called him “baby Ziggy”.  I also loved seeing my older sister take to her new role as a mother.  She’s a natural… even though she dropped me as a baby (I won’t ever tell baby Ziggy).

It was our first trip to Ohio and we wanted to soak it all in.  My sister lives in an adorable neighborhood with rolling hills and big, mature trees – the kind that leave big piles of leaves on the lawn :-).  We didn’t leave the neighborhood for three days.  We just cooked, talked, went on walks, played with the kids, and enjoyed spending time together.

There were a few more firsts on this trip.  It was our first vegetarian Thanksgiving which was quite good.  We loved the nut loaf with gravy my sister’s husband made and will definitely repeat the recipe.  We also had twice baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, brussels sprouts, and rolls – all vegetarian with some being vegan.  And, I have to report, I made my first apple pie.  The crowd was pleased, so they said.

Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday for many reasons, mostly because we get to slow down and think about what we’re grateful for.  We’re especially grateful for moments like these with family.  Thank you to Kamie, Mike, and baby Zigmund for a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to next year and some new recipes to add to the tradition.