Nicky's 1st Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving celebration began on Wednesday with a frustrating start for us all. I had a cold and laryngitis, Kris had to work 2 shifts in a row, my sister-in-law (Caroline) and her 2 kids (Brenden & Emily) got lost in Oklahoma while driving down from St Louis, and my parents and my Granny & Nana had to deal with the crazy traffic on the road from San Antonio. My voice finally joined us on Saturday and I'm happy to say that Caroline made it safe and sound! This was the first time Nicky had met them and they all got along really well. Other than the occasional "mine!", the visit was a success. We watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade, had a big turkey dinner on Friday (since Kris was working Thursday), played at the playground (where Nicky was assaulted by another little boy - the kid bit Nicky on the back & his mom had the nerve to tell me "he doesn't know how to bite", even thou there was evidence of the attack on Nicky's jacket!), we went to the Dickens of a Christmas festival in downtown McKinney, we looked at Christmas lights, and best of all Nicky met Santa for the first time! In Russia, the holiday we celebrate as Christmas here in the US is actually celebrated just after the new year, and Santa's counterpart is called Father Frost. Here are a few pictures of our fun and thankful holiday.

Parade WatchingWalking to the playground with Nana
Emily & Nicky at the playground
Brenden & Nicky at the playground
Helping Nana make stuffing
Nicky & Emily at Dickens Christmas
Emily, Nicky & Brenden dancing with lights
Nicky, Brenden & Santa
Nicky, Nana & Pop

Now that everyone has gone home, it's a little too quiet around here! It was so nice to have the family together for the holiday and we can't wait to spend many more together over the upcoming years. Thank you for coming to help us celebrate Nicky's 1st Thanksgiving! We miss you already!