Our Big D Thanksgiving Visit -- *WARNING -- SO MUCH FOOD*

Last Tuesday, I left you for several days to visit my kinfolk in Texas.  I'm seriously incapable of blogging while on the road -- I gotta work on that.:)

Something that I've adopted from Harry is the airport beer before getting on a flight.  We do this traditionally, and I'm convinced that it's why our plane stays in the air until we've reached our destination.

(Not really, though.  It's just nice to blow off steam after the lines, the people, the baggage, and other stressors of traveling.)

For the first time in my life, I was on a 787.  I cannot explain to you the amount of surprise mixed with fear and a dash of intimidation I felt while boarding.  When I sat down, I realized there was a TV with a whole bunch of things for me to watch on it.

I can't tell if the look on my face helps or hinders my description, but here it is, for all the world to see.

"The Simpsons".  Yes.:)

We got in relatively late, and we pretty much hit the sack.  We slept in the next day (GLORY!), and head off to lunch after a while --------> BBQ.  My parents took us to Hutchins BBQ  an awesome little joint in McKinney.  If you're ever in the area, I STRONGLY suggest that you hit it up!

Oh and free ice cream, DELICIOUS peach cobbler, and banana pudding?  Yes.  Double-triple yes.

My Momma always loves doing new Christmas-y things each year (some years we go look at Christmas lights in some of the richest parts of Dallas in horse and carriage, or go to the Gaylord Texan for an ice show).  We were lucky to find the 12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum, right near my happy place, White Rock Lake.  The lights were GORGEOUS and I was a little jealous that someone gets paid to put them all up.  It's sort of one of my fave things to do around Christmastime.:)

My Mom just got her very first iPhone, and is seriously impressed with the picture quality she's getting.  Henceforth, she took pictures of everything.  And sometimes got a little artsy-fartsy.

There were 12 of these Victorian gazebos displaying each day from the tune.  They were absolutely stunning.

Also, the moon followed us wherever we went.  It was a pretty sight.

Turkey Trot'd the next day before eating a crapton of food.  It was SUPER humid, around 65*F, and windy....like really windy....like 'running into the wind for about two miles and hating life' windy.  I didn't expect my parents to be near the finish line (they really haven't seen me race!), but THERE THEY WERE.  I didn't know what to do, what with in my wind-blown state, so I struck a pose.

Medals are overrated, right?:)  10K in 53:39 --- not a PR, and I wasn't really shooting for one, definitely not in this weather.  I just wanted to eat.  Also, my Daddio had grabbed a couple of Nutella &GO!s for Harry and myself.  Forget the fact that he's raised me with all of the love in the world -- this is how I know he cares.:P

We got washed up and went right over to my Aunt's house, where my cousin and her husband's family were finishing up Thanksgiving Day lunch (we have lunch, not dinner).  Brynn, my cousin's baby, is my real life BFF.  Left picture shows this year, right picture shows us two years ago.

And apparently, she really liked my boots.  When your BFF asks to wear your boots, you can't say no.  At least, not to a three year-old.

Before we knew it...

THANKSGIVING LUNCH WAS SERVED.

I'll take some of that.

And that.

And that, and that.



And some of that.

My plate.  I'm really sad looking at this photo.  I want to go back in time to when I took it.

And a little later...

Some other must-have noms from the trip, because Harry and I were much more worried about getting these things into our face rather than running.

BREAKFAST TACOS.  A MUST.

SALT GRASS CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK AND SHINER BOCK BREAD.  must.

Some of the frou-frou foodies my Momma purchases. 

Although not a Texas foodie, fried-green tomatoes were a must

And more delicious BBQ for Harry's birthday (Saturday).  

And we took off with an airport beer...because yeah.  Shiner Bock was my very first beer (circa age 17), and has forever been my favorite.  As we say in Texas, "ain't nothin' finer than a Shiner".:)

I'm not one to take pictures out the plane window, but leaving without taking a picture of my big Texas Sky was out of the question.

Here's where I'll leave you today, friends.  I have some really fun posts coming up this week, and this one by far had the most pictures.  I hope you enjoyed looking at/scrolling through them!  Have a WONDERFUL MONDAY!


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Does your family eat Thanksgiving lunch or dinner?


When you visit home, what are your MUST HAVE foods?


Are your Christmas decorations and/or tree up yet?
-We're putting ours up with Sophs this weekend!


Who's running a fun race this month?
-Rudolph Ramble 8K here!  It's AWESOME fun!

My First Year in Chicago [Photos Galore!]

My very last fortune cookie message in San Antonio.  You can say that again, Universe!  

On this day last year, I packed up everything I owned, threw it into a U-Haul (which we aptly named "Holly", because we're weird and name our rental vehicles), and began my journey to becoming a Chicagoan.  Harry had flown down the night before to help me move up; I'm not sure what I would've done without him.  At this point in our relationship, we had seen each other once a month, for about five days at a time, for roughly five months.  We obviously hadn't been on a road trip longer than a couple of hours together, let alone ~25 hours in a 17' U-Haul and trailing my Jeep.

We drove from San Antonio straight to Dallas to crash with my parents.  It was on the way to the Chi, and I got to say bye to some of my kin.  I was thankful to get some good rest and a tummy full of good noms before leaving my state.  My Momma had packed us some Rudy's BBQ, snacks, and games for us to play during the trip.  She's awesome.  :)

 

We got up the next morning and hit the road.  We had covered a good chunk of the total distance by just going from SA to Dallas.  Hustling at a blazing-fast speed of 50 mph (MAX...with the gas pedal all the way to the floor; I'm shocked that the Kid didn't get calf cramps because of it) Harry and I got through Oklahoma and a bit of Missouri before having to stop for the night.

 

I'd like to keep this post completely positive, so I won't go into details regarding the motel we stayed in for the night in Cuba, Missouri.  :D  We had a couple of frosty beverages and relaxed for the evening.

We were up early the next day to hit the road.  I didn't take many pictures through the rest of Missouri.  *le shrug*  I did take about a thousand pictures once we hit the STL!

And one as we were entering my brand new state.

And one very special one when we got to the Chi!

Harry had a very special dinner in mind:  The best of both worlds for me!  Giordano's stuffed pizza and Shiner Bock.

Since this day, I have become even more enamored by this city and have fallen in love with every aspect of it.  Harry's family welcomed me with open arms and hearts, which made life even better.  Sophia and I have connected like two puzzle pieces, and that's one of the best feelings ever!

One of my most favorite things about this city is that there is ALWAYS something to do.  We are busy nearly every weekend, whether it's a race, an event, activities with Sophs, or just meandering.

Training plans went way more smoothly than I had thought.  This city is so runner and cyclist friendly (or at least more than San Antonio).  There is a 50-meter pool at the park a mile away from my house.  I MEAN WHAT?!

The summer brought cool temps and fun times!  We were outside all of the time.  

Fall came suddenly.

And so did winter!

One of the worst winters Chicago has ever seen!  I keep saying that it just wanted to show off.  :D

I got to see the "A Christmas Story" house in the Cleve, and Harry and I ran a 10K there.  FUNSIES!

More winter came...

Which meant more snuggling...

I celebrated my first Paczki Day!

Training still happened, but mostly indoors. 

The snow finally melted and we could run outside again (without fear of falling down).  

I've really made a real family here, and established friendships with some truly remarkable people.  And babies.

All in all, a pretty good frickin' year!

Here's to many more blessed years in this fantastic place, living a truly wonderful life!