Thanksgiving 2012

Creative post title, right?  Well, I'm thankful for my unrelenting creativity, first and foremost.  Duh.

I am also thankful that Thanksgiving had an extended run this year.  Due to conflicting schedules on Thanksgiving day, Cindy and Wayne hosted their annual dinner on Wednesday to appease the majority.  We stuffed ourselves silly with appetizers, but somehow managed to eat platefuls of the main course.  Everyone brings their A-game on Thanksgiving in this family!

On Thanksgiving day Jeff, Avery and I hosted Papa, Grandma, GramCin and Grandpa Wayne at our house and served a non-traditional meal of bone-in rib roast, butternut squash pasta and roasted veggies.  Delicious, and second helpings were much deserved this day as my Dad and I ran the Oceanside Turkey Trot a few hours before.  It was my Dad's first race since he ran the hurdles in high school, so like 80 years ago.  Great job, Pops!  Avery and Jeff were on the sidelines cheering us on.  We told them not to get too comfy; we expect them out there by our side in a few years!

Here are some pics from the days of Thanksgiving...

This was actually taken the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  It was our "Manzi Christmas card picture day" with the whole family.  Look at these two models!

Avery and her Aunt Lindsay.  I LOVE this picture!

The A-team (minus Ryan & Jenna - NY and my mom - work).  We missed you guys!

Oceanside Turkey Trot finishers!

Cooking our feast in the kitchen... while making sure Avery doesn't fall off the counter.  This is her go-to spot.  She sits on there a lot and hasn't fallen off yet.  Knock on wood.

The day after Thanksgiving was another "holiday" if you ask Jeff...the PONGIT.  This is a day looked forward to by men across San Diego. A day for these grown men to dress outrageously silly/dorky/offensive, eat endless amounts of pizza and compete in a golf tournament to win an obnoxious trophy (read: bragging rights) all whilst drinking too much beer.

While Jeff enjoyed being 21 for a day, Avery and I spent the day with my parents.  Breakfast at the local diner, playground time and gingerbread making - we had ourselves quite the fun day!

She fits right in!

A milkshake treat that can't be beat.

A Mickey Mouse pancake to go along with her recent discovery that Disney is AWESOME!

Pretty gorgeous gingerbread man.  And pretty tasty.  That frosting is a.ddict.ive.

All in all, it was a great long weekend and the perfect kickoff to the holiday season!

FPT

Soooooo, you're telling me you hate donuts?

Chicago

Jeff and I fell in love.  Not with each other (that's already been done).  Not with Avery (that's already been done, too).  We fell in love with a little place called Chicago!   I don't know where it would fall on my list of favorite cities, but let's just say it is up there with Paris, Rome, San Francisco and Boston. What can I say?  I love bustling, exciting and cultural cities...and Chicago embodied all of this.

From the gorgeous weather to the upgraded suite (we were chosen as the guest of the day - no idea, but I'll take it), the trip was perfect and we look forward to going back!

Not even out of the airport yet and we're already crazy excited.

Night # 1 cocktails...I love my dirty martinis!

Creepy, but breathtaking John Hancock building...

Night on the town.  Hey, Mr. GQ, you're a handsome little devil.

Beautiful, peaceful park during a run.

We happened upon Jay Cutler doing an ESPN radio show on Michigan Avenue.  Goooo Bears Patriots!

If you're ever in Chicago by Wrigley you owe it to yourself to go to Luckys.

I was just as obsessed with my gargantuan veggie sandwich.  Hands down, one of our best meals in Chicago...maybe ever.  No joke.  The Simpsons don't kid about food.

French fries, amazing coleslaw and the best white bread ever.  All staples of every sandwich.  Thank you, Man vs. Food for turning us onto Luckys!

Private tour of Wrigley stadium.  Gooooo Cubs Red Sox!

The door leading to the field.  "Beat up" is a nice term.

They even let us play in the dugout.

Oh, you know.  The Bean.

Beautiful city views on our bike ride.

How could you not fall in love?!

Top of the John Hancock building.  Way too high for us.  One drink, one photo and we were out.

Architectural tour.  Worst part: the ugly Trump tower.  Best part: everything else.

Last night in town...booo hooo!

We missed Avery so much while in Chicago, but she was in great hands with both sets of grandparents.  They get a gold star x 1,000 for taking care of her while she fought flu #1 of the season.  (If anyone is keeping track we are currently on flu #3.   Flu #2 was last week's stomach "virus" that knocked down seven people in our family.  Awful, painfully awful.  This is going to be a loooong season.)

Despite fevers and such, I think she managed to have fun while we were gone.

Ralph's has the best toys.  =)

Mom and Dad who?

FPT

Avery meeting baby Cole.  I wish I had an explanation for her face, but I don't.  She's two and a little odd.

Ghosts, Goblins and Ladybugs - Oh My!

Three words. Sour.  Patch.  Kids.

As we all know, Avery loves sweets.  After Halloween 2012, we can add sour sweets to her obsession.  After trick or treating Jeff and Avery laid out all of her candy to sort through and pick a few to eat that night.  She kept telling us she wanted to eat Sour Patch Kids (eye catching packaging - bravo!).  We kept telling her she wouldn't like them.  On and on in typical toddler fashion.  Finally, Jeff gave in (I mean twist his arm if he had to eat them if she decided she didn't like them!).  To make a short story shorter...she is now Fan #1 of those tiny pieces of sour Heaven. 

Halloween was awesome.  Everyone had been getting her excited for Halloween, so by the time Halloween was here she was dancing around giddy with visions of candy, friends, candy, trick or treating, candy and costumes in her head.  Cindy spent the day with her and said she kept up the same enthusiasm ALL day.  Needless to say, we were out in the street, costume on, dancing around and ready to party with all the other neighborhood kids at 5:15 p.m., roughly 45 entertaining minutes before we started asking everyone for their treats.

Here are some pictures from Halloween 2012...

Ladybug, ladybug, look at you!

 

Everyone in the Halloween spirit?!

Blurry, sorry.  But, look at the littles...and note the second ladybug!

Time to start the real fun!

She said very sweetly "trick or treat," took one candy and said "thank you." Yes, of course, we had to prompt her - but, she caught on!

Can't get enough of this bug o' mine.

Happy Halloween!

Getting down to business and discussing their candy options.

In preparation for Halloween festivities we went to the pumpkin patch.  Jeff and I have been going to this same patch for four years now. It's local, fun, they have great pumpkins and sometimes puppies.  Yes, puppies.  Golden Retrievers, in fact. 

Avery and the Stone'ster.

I just like this one of Avery's hair...

Throw the toddler in the wagon for a photo.  Clearly, she'd rather eat hay.

A little bit country, this one.

This is the best we could do of the three kiddos.  Ha!

As you can see, fall has been great so far.   Oh wait, what's that Mother Nature?  It's going to be in the 80's again tomorrow?  Ugh.  At times like this (in November) I wish I lived in Colorado.

FPT

She pretty much hated the patch and was screaming to leave.  Poor kid.