Happy thanksgiving to one and all!

Ah, thanksgiving. A wonderful time of year! Well, two wonderful times. The Canadian version (that recently took place) and the American version (that has yet to happen). What does thanksgiving make you feel? What memories are connected to this wonderful time of year for you? And what is your favourite thing to eat? (Obviously, the latter is the most important question of all)....

This year, I spent thanksgiving with my wonderful family at the KOA in Lynden, WA. My parents love it there, the people that own it are warm and friendly, and we always have a chance to spend time with my awesome cousins Lori, Angelo, and Nikki, and our newer friends, the Morehouse clan. It's such a fun time! Not only do we have an opportunity to go outlet shopping, but there are some serious good times to be had. The KOA is a great campground that is always really clean and where the people are always friendly, they have themed parties and movie nights all summer long, and there is a super cool pool that has specific hours where it's ONLY for adults. Amazing! It's good fun! We had a great dinner this year; the KOA ladies roasted FIVE DELICIOUS turkeys to share with all of the guests, and we were asked to bring something to contribute. I, of course, brought delicious chocolate spice cupcakes....and they were a hit! I will post the pictures of the cupcakes up once they finish downloading, and will put up the recipes for both the cupcake and the buttercream! Moist chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg spice buttercream....they were really, really good. Mom and dad made their classic "ai-oyo" which is super-"Canades" for pasta (most commonly, spaghetti) with an aglio (garlic) and olio (olive oil) sauce. They also thrown in little bits of anchovies and hot peperoncino flakes....I think they are famous at the KOA for making their aioyo. Just ask Lor! Or 319.....but I digress!!!!!

See here for more information on this delicious pasta dish: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglio_e_Olio

Thanksgiving......is situated in the most beautiful of the 4 seasons...where the leaves start to turn orange and bright red....where the air is cool and you can start to see your breath. I, for one, am thankful for roasted sweet potatoes. They are one of my favorite things. My husband will argue that the best thing about thanksgiving is the fact that you can make turkey sandwiches the next day. I might argue that that's the SECOND best thing about thanksgiving. Cold cranberry sauce and chunky slices of turkey on thick white toast. Man. oh. Man. I think I know why "Sunday roast" is so popular in the UK now....thanksgiving every sunday? Yes please!

What are you thankful for? I'm thankful for every opportunity I have to grow. I love learning, I love learning about different cultures and languages and learning about people and friendships and flowers and bugs and I LOVE learning about food! I take every day as a learning experience, and in my 24.75 years of life, I have learned to learn well. I am thankful for these opportunities to grow as a person, to grow in wisdom, and to grow in my places in my own life, and my place in the life of others. I am thankful for my wonderful husband, for without him, sometimes I wonder where I would be! He's a wise soul....who always seems to know better than myself, and for his love and his wisdom, and for his unconditional, unwavering support, I am eternally grateful. I am grateful for his wonderful family, my mother and father-in-law, my "sis" Emma, and my "bro" Ian and their wonderful families...and of course, the kooky Moretti bunch (and all of it's extensions.....@Bruni familia, @Panetti familia....etc....etc.....etc......). I come from a crazy brood, and you know only recently in life did I realize that the reason why they are so crazy is because they just all love each other so damn much. We also love to scream. We're Italian, and it's pretty much the only way we know how to communicate! I am grateful for my mother, for my father, and for all the sacrifices they make, and for their patience and love, and for my brother, and all the siblings I've known and loved all my life from all the countries in the world. I am particularly grateful for our new puppy Sir Digby Chicken Caesar Sutlow (bonus points to people who know where that name comes from!), who just turned 1 year old on the 14th of October!!! He brings us such joy!! 

I'm grateful for my Shalaney-bug, and for all that she inspires me to do in my life! She is the girl who always makes me smile. She will never break my heart <3. I am grateful for my dear friend Brennen, for my raptor pals (who I don't see all that often, but who still have a special place in my heart) and for all of my wonderful mentor-friends.....those of you who have been instrumental in supporting me through my educational path...and those of you who always steer me in the right direction. I am grateful for all of my friends....for the position they allow me into their lives, and for the confidence they show by having me by them in moments of trial and tribulation, and in moments of love and joy. 

(She's going to kill me for posting that picture of us but it reminds me of SUCH good times!)

Every day in life is a classroom, and a chance to learn something new. I'm working on a wonderful cake for my dear friends' son's 1st birthday, and can't wait to work with a new recipe! I'm learning every day, things about my family, things about my friends, and every day gives me the chance to be grateful for one more thing. 

Happy belated thanksgiving to all my wonderful Canadian followers and friends, and a preemptive happy thanksgiving to all of my American pals. Eat, drink, and be merry! 

xo

Jessica