Eureka! It's Thanksgiving!

For the first time in 2 years we were able to head home for Thanksgiving. I am so thankful this year that Scott isn't working retail. Especially with how ridiculously early stores are opening. 

I'm thankful I'm working for myself.

Luckily I had Wednesday off and Scott, well, he can have off whenever he wants. We made it out of the city with no traffic and came home in time for dinner. 

I made that cake like 5 years ago in school (don't worry just the outside is real). I'm surprised my parents have still kept it even though its changing colors and covered in dust. Everytime we go to my parents house Scott always has to poke fun of my senior pictures. He's just jealous he didn't get to sit on a swing. 

My mom had just gotten the upgraded version of Scott's phone. She had no idea how to use it, so Scott had to show her how.

For the rest of the weekend I played the part of Geek Squad agent. Better than actually working at BBY.

We started the whoopie pies at home and then assembled them when we got here. 

It's kind of my thing now.

That night we stayed home and watched, per my mom's request, White Christmas. 

I swear I watched this last year with Brooke. I guess I must have dreamt that.

The next morning we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at breakfast. 

I had to make the roasted veggie dish I was bringing for dinner and my mom made her famous Aunt Gail's Salsa. 

After a while I got sick of the parade and sat in the living room. I needed a break before I had Lungwitz-Romenesko overload.

Dinner was pushed to 2:30 this year. Unlike everyone else who wanted to come later we still showed up around noon. My grandma was the only one at my Aunt Jill's house when we arrived. 

A few mintues later Chelsea and crew showed up. They couldn't stay for dinner, but wanted to stop by to say hello. 

She also wanted Scott to take some photos for their Christmas card. Here's an outtake.

If you want to see the rest, go here.

We walked around the tiny town for more shots. My uncle later quoted the population as, "not too many." 

It was a little too windy by the river.

I threw in some candid shots so we could use them on the blog.

Even though Brayden was bored with portraits he kept asking Scott to take his picture doing various things. 

I decided to make a gif for the holidays. It would be sweet if you could send a moving image on a paper card.

Pretty soon everyone arrived except for Brittany and Jeff. We ate snacks until they arrived. 

I made Aunt Jill take this photo. Sorry to break your heart, but it's totally posed.

Hayden and I had our usual talk. He's going to be a park ranger. I'm very jealous.

Even though we're all in our 20's and into our 30's we still sit at the kids table in another room. We joked that when we all have kids they will have their own table in another room. 

It's always tradition in our family that after dinner we go for a walk. It was so nice out today we didn't need any coats. Scott still needed extra warmth in his feet so he kept his slippers on. 

This is my aunts house. It's my favorite house other then Glensheen. It was built in the 1850's and they are only the fourth owners to live here. A lot of the original items are still here like the kitchen stove and some of the wallpaper. The right side was mostly for the servants and the front door on the right went into the original dining room.

I took one real picture.

And one for the impatient masses.

Scott thought the house was Instagram worthy. 

Some of the family checkin out my cousins truck. 

Since I met Scott I've turned into a worry wort. Look at me worried about Blake sitting on the edge of the bridge. 

My dad ended up catching up with us. 

Blake then told us his plans on how he was going to buy this building and become a lumber baron. 

There aren't that many trees around, so he'll have to ship them down from the cottage.

I think he changed his mind when he saw that the basement was flooded. 

I'd love to happen upon Eureka while camping.

Mr. Mike declared that this would be a perfect river boat. I concur.

We walked farther down another road until we realized there was nothing over there and turned around. 

Blake braved walking along the edge of the bridge again. 

Then my dad wanted to show us where they graffitied under the bridge last year. 

The sad thing is they are planning to tear this bridge down to build a new one. 

Then Blake discovered a pumpkin in the distance. 

I wish we had brought our kayaks.

Maybe one year we'll boat down the Fox all the way to Eureka.

He thought it would be a good idea to throw it off the bridge. 

And off it floated away. 

Back inside I looked through old photo albums with my grandparents. 

Since we won't be seeing my Aunt Jill at Christmas she gave us our gift early. We got another set of Fiesta Ware and crocheted slippers. 

After everyone else left we stayed behind and played Apples to Apples with my cousins, aunt,uncle and Blake. 

Then Scott got pulled over on our way home. Luckily we could play the out of state card and got off with a warning.

This was a pretty great Thanksgiving. Hurrah for self-employment.