Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Today is my absolute favorite day of the year. It is also the day I miss the US the most.

Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. As a chef, it's the most fun food to cook. As a food lover, it is definitely the most fun food to eat. But, Thanksgiving is more than the food. It's the one time of year that we all gather together just to be together. No presents are involved and no pretense. It's just an amazing day to be grateful for one another. This is why it's my favorite of holidays.

There is no equivalent to Thanksgiving here. It's a shame because with nothing to mark the time between Halloween and Christmas, they had Christmas stuff up in the beginning of October. I LOVE Christmas as well, all the decorating and beautiful lights. But, I feel like it's less special if it takes over all of November AND all of December. It's a once a year thing, and I like to make sure that it gets the attention it deserves and I find it hard to do that when I'm faced with it for several months. I like the building anticipation. I think it's more fun. But, that's just me and I totally understand those who like to have it around a while longer. It is a lot of work to get all those decorations up :)

Even though they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in London, there is no reason Evie and I can't bring our Thanksgiving traditions across the pond. So, since Evie's birthday is only a week away, were going to throw a Thanksgiving themed birthday party! Hopefully, this can become an annual tradition and we'll be able to bring this most wonderful of holidays to all our friends. Ian and I also hope to teach Evie that her birthday is her special day and that we are very thankful for her and that she should be thankful for her friends and family as well. Even though presents are great, they wouldn't be very much fun if you had no one around to help you celebrate! Oh and I also hope to teach the English what stuffing is. Adding grated carrots to a packet of mush does not a stuffing make, you'll see :)

Today also marks the 3rd anniversary of my time in London. I am happy to report that I now have indefinite leave to remain in the UK (kind of like having a green card in the US). So, be prepared for me to throw in the odd "u" where it doesn't belong and occasionally use an "s" instead of a "z". But I'm not calling a "z" a "zed", it's a letter, NOT A WORD!!

We are all excited to celebrate Evie's 1st birthday next week. I'm happy to report that she occasionally walks on her own, but she's just fine pushing her shopping cart or her wooden wagon. She loves her music station and most of all she loves opening and closing things (thank goodness for magnets). Evie has had a pretty low key Fall so far as I have been very busy at work and Ian has been studying a lot. But, starting this weekend, we're both ready to give Evie the best 1st birthday week ever.

So, We'll see some of you next weekend and the rest of you soon!!

Happy Thanksgiving from London!