Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving.  We made a big turkey dinner for Bob, Susan, Jesse and McKenzie.

This time last year Bob made us Thanksgiving dinner because our house was broken and we were living in the hotel.  Jenni and Ryan were with us too.  It was special because it reminded us that we did not lose the most important things in life.

Mom told Nick, "A lot has changed in a year, we have a lot to be thankful for.  We lost a lot of things in the storm, but everything we lost can be replaced. What a gift that we can celebrate Thanksgiving with our family again in our renovated home."

Rock 'n' Roll T-Shirts

Today Nick and mom shopped for food to make for Thanksgiving dinner.  When we came home we made molasses cookies so we can serve them for dessert.  Mom took this picture of Nick putting the cookies on the cooling rack. 

Nick was wearing his Beatles Let it Be t-shirt.

A few weeks ago mom took this picture of Nick wearing a Bob Dylan t-shirt.

Mom said, "you look so good in Rock 'n' Roll t-shirts!"

Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Nick likes mom to make chicken dinner on Sunday.  But today mom decided we would do something different, mom told Nick, "tonight we will eat meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner, and Nick will help with the cooking."

Mom took out the recipe and Nick mixed up the meatloaf ingredients.  Then we put it in the oven.

Next mom showed Nick how to peel potatoes.  Nick was very good at this. 

Mom said, "I don't like peeling potatoes, you will be my helper from now on."

After the potatoes were cooked we put them in the mixing bowl with butter and milk. 

When mom took this picture Nick was too fast with the butter!

Then we sat down to eat, and Nick ate his whole dinner and asked for more. 

Mom said, "thanks for helping in the kitchen, it was fun to cook something new together."

Baskin Robbins

Nick misses his summer ice cream shop on the West End, but they are closed for the season.  Tonight dad agreed to take Nick to Baskin Robbins.

Nick was happy, he got his cotton candy ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

And he spent some time with the ladies behind the counter, they were happy to see him.  They said, "hey Nick, welcome back, where have you been!"

One Year After Hurricane Sandy

October 29 was one year since the storm that broke our house and our town.  We had to live in hotels, grandma and grandpa's house, and an apartment.  In June our house was fixed and we moved back home, but this has been a long year of our family and our town. 

On Tuesday night we went to a ceremony outside City Hall.
 

Each family got a candle and lantern.



We listened to speakers who talked about how far the town has come, and they reminded us about families who have not come home yet.



We put our lanterns in the fountain to remember their struggle and light the way home for them.

Then we all walked to the new boardwalk.
Mom and dad told Nick we are fortunate to be home.