Gobble until you WoBbLe!

 Yoda was thankful for geese, dogs, chickens and 3 headed dragons.

We had not 1, but 3 thanksgiving feasts!  Luckily not all on the same day.

The first feast was with our ward family (my congregation at church).

 The 2nd dinner was at the Higgins Household (and yes they were on the same day).  Amy is one of my favorite people ever. She was one of the first people I met in Longmeadow.  It was totally meant to be.  She is my running buddy aka therapist.  I adore her!  We had a delightful meal and great company with some friends from our town.

Our 3rd and final feast was in Grafton, MA with the Campbells and the Gibsons.  Looking at the feast you may wonder if we were at Martha Stewarts Thanksgiving dinner, pretty sure ours was better.  Aimee is another one of my very favorite people.  I know I just said that about Amy Higgins.  (Don't even get me started with all the amazing Amys that I know, 2 amazing Amy SIL's).  Aimee and I met at a RAGNAR race.  Matt warned me that I would love her, man was he right!  We laughed,cried, stuffed our faces, slept over at their house AND THEN...she gave me one of the best massages I have ever had!  We are so grateful for our bounteous blessings and for yoga pants (I needed them, believe me!)  Note to self: Don't double the roll recipe when you need to drive across the state.  I promise you will regret it!

 I love Coopers rendition of the first Thanksgiving.

Even more RICH!

Grandma and Papa Rich came to visit!  This was an extra special treat for my kids because they have not seen each other for almost 3 years.  Ed and Morrissa are two of the most amazing people I have ever met.  I adore both of them.  Their examples teach me what it means to work hard, serve others, and follow the Savior.  They are so in love with each other.  They both have the talent of making you feel amazing when you are with them.  I really feel like my mom stuck around until Morrissa was there to take care of me.  It is such a blessing to be a part of the Rich family.  Thanks for a great visit Grandma and Papa Rich.  We can't wait until you come back!

LEAF me alone!!

New England is the most amazing place in the fall.  People come from all over to "Leaf Peep".  Each year I feel like I am living in a painting with the amazing reds, golds, oranges, and browns.  The colors are truly magical for a few weeks.  Then those celestial leaves start to fall.  They fall until you feel like you may be in HELL with an eternal rake in your hand as torment.  I am not exaggerating with you here folks, the amount of leaves in incomprehensible.  Most people hire a company to come suck their neatly raked piles from the curb.  It is most gratifying to see those leaves disappear.  Then, like a sick joke, you look out the window only to realize that there are more leaves then before and you repeat the process again and again!  Rocky stood in our pile trying to sell the lovely leaves...not one customer!  Our saint of a neighbor let us borrow his industrial strength leaf blower that caused hurricane force winds.  Pretty sure I want one for Mothers Day.  Now the trees are naked and stark looking.  I will enjoy the fact that nothing is falling from them for a bit and then the lovely leaves will trick me again in the spring as the beauty overtakes me.  It is a vicious cycle.

Washington DC

 Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  We listened to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow on the way down.

 The Horseman Restaurant: great memories from terrible food.

 Subway Surfers

 Parking lot picnic

 Epic fail of a family picture

Aunt Sarah hung out with us while we were looking for Matt and Seth at the Marine Core Marathon.  We never found them but had a great time with Sarah.  Seeing the vast number of runners reminded me that it was no coincidence that we ran into Matt during the Boston Marathon.  A great reminder of how blessed we are.

The big finishers.  So proud of these 2. Let me remind you that Matt ran Hartford just 2 weeks prior. He is one determined man.  I love that about him!

 Seth took us to Ben's Chili Bowl.  So fun to watch him devour these delectables.

 Hanging with family.  Thank you Eric and Cathleen for being so hospitable.  So fun.

Dream Big Buddy...

 Kerspat!  You never know what will fall from the sky near the airport.

 Air and Space Museum at the Dulles Airport. 

Cafe Rio is on the East Coast!!  Only a 7 hour drive from our house!  They never dissapoint.