A Wicked Awesome Thanksgiving Break

We had such a nice long Thanksgiving break this year.  On Tuesday, I drove to the movie theater right after work to meet up with these three to see Wicked:

Ellie, Eamon, Galinda, Elphaba, Maggie

The movie was 3 hours long (including previews) and would go through dinner, so we had to eat and I snuck my pastrami sub from Jersey Mike's into the theater and devoured it during the previews.  I just love a nice hot pastrami and wish I lived near an authentic Jewish New York deli.

Wicked was SO GOOD.  The rest of the family wants to see it when it comes out on some streaming service, and besides the scene in the beginning when Elphaba's mom steps out on her dad (I can just imagine innocent Declan asking "But why is she hugging that man that's not her husband?" so we will fast forward that part) the rest is great.  We've been listening to the music non-stop and can't wait for Part Two.  I have seen the play and read the book (I don't recommend the book) and the movie had a much more clear storyline and entertaining scenes and was cinematically beautiful and powerful.

On Thanksgiving morning, we woke up at 7am and ran our own family Turkey Trot:

Maggie was fretting that we would look like weirdos running together, but not to worry as we all run at different speeds and distances anywhere between 2.25 and 4 miles.  One of us walked the dog instead of running, which was a necessary task since she would be alone the rest of the day and it would be rainy all day.

Maggie and Brendan were running buddies

We got this text from Andrew, who had run in the school's Turkey Trot in Austria:

Andrew and Smiles

Then he played in a football game for two hours before dressing up in Austrian garb and having an American Thanksgiving with the faculty and staff.  I guess the mayor from the town was there too and there was music and dancing and so much merriment.

Pinkies up!

Back in America, we all showered and went to 9am Mass to start Thanksgiving Day off right.  We have so much to be thankful for including JP's 1st med school acceptance!!  He got into a new DO school opening in Maryland, close to Phil's side of the family and his girlfriend's family and one he was really hoping to get into.  He had the interview about two weeks ago and got the acceptance news this week which is a huge stress reliever.  He's not 100% sure this is where he will attend, but at least he has one option thus far.  I have to admit, I kinda feel like *I* got into medical school with how much I guided and supported him through the application process ;)

Thanksgiving was held at my sister, Holly's house this year and it was a lot of fun, though we were missing 13 kin:

The Costco matching sweaters were worn with pride

My plate, where no turkey was ingested

Playing The Catholic Card Game

"Resting his eyes"

Once back home again in the evening with a few cousins who slept over, we took out the trees and fluffed them in preparation for decorating the next day.  Then Phil made some delicious homemade cocoa and we watched Home Alone.

Living Room Tree

Our new Family Room Tree

Definition of cozy

Black Friday was spent trying to run off the Thanksgiving treats and then cleaning and decorating the house for Christmas!

On Saturday, our friend who now lives in Florida came to visit for lunch and it was a lovely time to catch up with him.  Then we went to Mass and played Ticket to Ride instead of cooking dinner because we were still full from lunch.  It was a long game though and people got the munchies so frozen pizza to the rescue!  

Andrew texted us on his feast day to remind us to start the St. Andrew Novena, so we stopped and prayed that together.  Fingers crossed this is the year that I remember to pray it every day through Christmas Eve!  Sunday was the first day of Advent and also a special girl's birthday but that is a post for another day.