Twice this year I've had groups of people that I love under my parents roof. In August, the aunts and uncles converged in Virginia for my parents' anniversary. And for Thanksgiving? The Arizona crew. Yep, they all came out and did DC and tried to do everything I've ever wanted to do with them if only we had the time and the house and the city. Of course, there's that cooking for twelve thing (2 parents + me + nine) that gets in the way of some of that. But we still managed to hit the Smithsonian:
visit a few other landmarks (there are three kids in front of the fountain, if you look closely):
and make pies and EAT.
Those are oak leaves on that crust. You can't tell? The pie-making was interesting, to say the least; and I claim that it's because Mom taught a pie-making class a few days before we arrived. If that's not going to jinx the dream of perfect pies, what will? But the cherry, pumpkin, apple, and buttermilk pies all tasted great. I chose not to take a picture of the crust we threw out.
Tomorrow - the doll stuff.