Gobble Gobble

This post comes late, but better late than never (i never really fully agreed with that saying although i hope it is true in this case). We have been abandoned by our families so we found ourselves alone in new york for the holidays. Seeing how this could not be, we packed the car and headed west, to West Lafatette that is. Dusty, Janeece and Karl call Indiana home, and since they are the closest family, we invited ourselves over for the holiday.

Lafayette Indiana: here are some first impressions. 1) It is a dang long ways away from Ithaca, New York. about 11 hours. 2) They have a plethorea of chain restaurants, which again is a long ways from Ithaca. 3) It is so warm, it was in the 60's the night we arrived. 4) My brother lives there with a really nice home.

Our second day in Lafayette changed some of my first impressions. 1) no change, 2) the mexican restaurant we went to was not chain but was rico and gave me mucha comida. 3) It is so freezing cold here. Something happened and the temperature dropped to below zero, and it began to rain. Not a little drizzle but a guatamalan torrentail down pour. 4) I like homes that don't leak, and Dusty's home does not leak and i like that.

The best part of the trip was spending time with Dusty, Janeece and Karl. We were hoping that now that Karl and McKay are older they would play well together. That was not the case at first, then they saw they could have fun together. Karl pushed and McKay steered their little car and crashed it into things. That was fun, so was loading the tent with Karl's stuffed animals.

Seeing how it was so cold, we still went outside to play and enjoy that awesome park by Dusty's house. For those not familiar with Lafayette, I am told all Subaru Outbacks are manufactured here, and this awesome park/zoo/pond was funded by Lafayett's local Subaru corporation. It was so cold, how cold was it you ask, well McKay's drool froze!!!

We took the kids for a walk at a park near campus (we never really saw campus) and the kids were not too excited. Karl demanded to be carried and McKay only kept quiet as we load the wagon with goldfish and cheerios.

The important thing about Thanksgiving is giving thanks. Such as being grateful for those moments when as a parent you can teach your kid how to properly put you finger in a pitted olive and enjoy them like little kids should. I am jealous that Dusty had such a moment, McKay does not like olives (too much like his dad).

We each had our own favorite parts of the trip, staying up late and talking, watching the kids (mostly McKay) tantrum over who gets to play with the Cars brand car, the delicious Turkey dinner made by Janeece and Shari, Pie till you die (with strangers), the "frozen" turkey bowl, and many more. For McKay, his highlight was going to the mall and driving Scoop. He is such a safe driver that Pilchard the cat came along. Bob the Builder....Bob Bob!

Alas it was time to go, but McKay didn't want to leave his cousin. So he convinced Karl to jump in the car and take a road trip. Lucky for us they can't reach the pedals. We said our goodbyes then made our way across Indiana, through Ohio, touch and go with Pennsylvania, then endure New York as we arrived safely home.