Early Thanksgiving with Uncle Dan!

On Saturday, we got up early to make a turkey (I had made a pumpkin chocolate chip cocoa cake the day before), stuffing and brussels sprouts for an early Thanksgiving with Uncle Dan, which is fast becoming a family tradition. We piled it all into the car and got there around 1:30, warmed everything back up and then ate lunch. I was so happy that everyone -- including Dan! -- asked for seconds. Afterward I took a quick power nap on the couch and then we all sat around and talked until around 5. It was a great, relaxed visit and we all had a really good time.

When we got home no one really felt like eating much. Anne and David went to Trader Joe's to get food for the plane, and when they came back Anne decided to stay at home while David, Drew, Rachel and I went to Lebanese Taverna. We still weren't hungry but decided to order appetizers (and I had two drinks; between editing and shepherding a long story into The Post, it had been a tiring week). David and I sat next to each other and had a long talk about cars, Pismo Beach, planes, etc. It was a very relaxed dinner. Then we drove home, put Rachel to bed, and then I went to bed soon after because I was exhausted (and a little hung over).

The next morning we all had a leisurely breakfast. Drew took Rachel to Hebrew school, Anne and David started packing up and I got ready to go to work. We all said our goodbyes -- they left just before Drew and Rachel got back -- and then Drew took Rachel to Ivy's for a playdate and drove me in to work. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful visit with Anne and David; Anne said that Rachel is now, along with her and David, a member of the "No Wuss Adventure Club" and Rachel said, "I want to go to Camp David and Anne!" which set everyone laughing. Soon enough, sweetie, we will send you there for a couple of days one summer -- while, as Drew points out, he and I will go to Camp Shakespeare (as in, the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore.)