My Family's Food Mecca

I'd imagine most families have a certain restaurant they always frequent.


At least, mine does.


Our place is Cracker Barrel. 

That's where I spent a couple of hours last Sunday celebrating my Uncle Jamie (February 25) and Uncle John's (March 5) birthdays.


My family goes there for every birthday, wedding, funeral, or just because we're hungry. Okay not every. That might just be a slight exaggeration. 


Why Cracker Barrel? I think we're all fans of the home-cooked Southern foods and how much food they give you. I always have enough left over for a second meal. We also take home a ton biscuits when we leave. 


Also, there's probably that space issue. Cracker Barrel always has enough room to accommodate "Kennedy, party of 17." That, my friends, is not an exaggeration.


Where does your family congregate to eat? Do y'all have a specific place y'all always go?

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving comes with several traditions. This year I woke up super early (no idea why!) and showered! Then I got ready while I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

 I kept getting on my mom's nerves because every time they showed Macy's, I'd say, "I've been to the Macy's" or "I've stood in Herald Square." I can't help it! Every time I watch the parade, it makes me want to go back to New York City. Also, it makes me think of the time that my roomies were in the parade with the James Madison Marching Royal Dukes, back in 2008. That was definitely my favorite time watching the parade!

Anyway after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, my family always watches the dog show! We always root for the West Highland Terrier since that's what kind of dog Rascal is. The Westie came in third in the terrier group! I also learned that the dog show is pre-recorded. Who knew?


Then began the stress of Thanksgiving. This year we were having Thanksgiving at our house, which has it's advantages and disadvantages. Advantage: I don't have to go anywhere. Disadvantages: We have to clean the house in anticipation for our guests that never notice the vacuuming or dusting.


Other disadvantage is that our house is like Bangladesh in relation to population density. I think that's why my family is so close 0r gets annoyed with each other so easily. We practically sit on top of each other at family events.


Thanksgiving this year included my immediate family: Mom, Dad, Dani, Aspen, and Raina (Did you note that? Mom and Dad...that's a first since...well let's just say I don't remember the last time!). We were joined by Hollie, Dylan, Uncle Charles, Travis, Uncle Dale, Uncle Steve, Granny, and David. 


We had to sit in the 2 different rooms as well as setting up a table outside! But the food was great, the company was superb and I got to watch some good football!


Now for the fotos of my gringo Thanksgiving, most of which I took for my guatemalteca, Candace, because the day before Thanksgiving she was tweeting about not understanding cranberry sauce!

Cranberry Sauce right out of the can!

Sliced and ready to eat!

We had an assortment of food at our Thanksgiving! Let me tell you about! Turkey (of course), country ham (my personal preference), stuffing, mashed red potatoes, gravy, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, potato salad, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cake, coconut pie, and lots of sweet tea!

My plate!



The copious amount of sweet tea that is brought to a Southern Thanksgiving!



The cake my sister made!

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful! What kind of Thanksgiving traditions does your family have? What did you eat on Thanksgiving?

For my amusement...

I've been super busy lately and for once, it's been fun stuff and not work!

On Friday (the 17th), I went out to eat with my Uncle Dale and cousin Travis in Colonial Heights. We went to Ruby Tuesday's, which I hadn't eaten at in years I'm sure. The last time that immediately comes to mind is sophomore year with the suitemates.

Anyway, they mentioned that they were meeting Devon, Rich, and the kids at Busch Gardens the next day and talked me into joining them.

After Ruby Tuesday, I rushed back to Dinwiddie to Lindsay's birthday party, where I got to spend time with lots of people, whom I hadn't seen in awhile. I had a ton of fun and didn't get into bed until 4:30.

So I woke up at about 9ish with every intention that I wasn't going to make it to Busch Gardens. Then my uncle texted me to tell me that Travis had just woken so I could still make it! So on about 4 or 5 hours of sleep, I went to Busch Gardens.

I had a splendid time. I love hanging out with my cousins! I've been very lucky to get to see Devon, Rich, and the kids a lot lately, which makes me happy since they live almost in Charlottesville, which is a ways away and before that they lived in Oklahoma. Also Lucas and Meredith are two of the smartest, most well-behaved, adorable kids I've ever met!

At the end of the night, Travis and I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade our day tickets to fun cards, so that we can go as many times as we want to until September 5th.

After our long day, I stayed the night in Carson and we slept in! Then we headed to Colonial Heights three times in one day; first for lunch and shopping, second for shopping, and thirdly for dinner. All in all. it was a long fun-filled weekend.

Then on Tuesday, I headed back to Busch Gardens with Tori, Linz, and Elizabeth for a girls' day out! And we rode everything (just about everything); some things a couple of times! Elizabeth and I couldn't work up the courage to ride the Griffon! But in our defense, we did ride the Loch Ness 3 times!

That's what I've been up to lately! What have you been up to? Does anyone else have season passes to Busch Gardens?

Proud Big Cousin!

For those of you who know me irl, you know that I absolutely adore my cousins. And I have a ton of them!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending my little cousin, Dylan's preschool graduating! You know how emotional people get when they see their eighteen year olds in caps and gowns? Your heart will melt when you see these 4 and 5 year olds in their tiny cap and gowns!

Aren't you melting right now?!?!

Dylan's graduation was especially special because Dylan was born when I was about 17 1/2. He attended my high school graduation when he was an itty bitty thing! We took pictures of little 6 month old Dylan wearing my red DHS cap.

Me, Dylan, & Hollie at my high school graduation!

Three years later, he attended my sister, Dani's high school graduation. He was 3 and a half during her graduation and still didn't quite understand the point of graduation.

In fact, when we told him he had to say "Yay!" when they called Dani's name, he informed us that he wanted to say, "basketball" or "Paul Gasol" instead.

Dylan and Dani - He was tired!

Finally, Dylan made the long trip up to Harrisonburg to see me graduate from JMU (or the school with the big dog, as he calls it)! I have a photo of him (that took some convincing) in my purple JMU cap!

Future Duke?

His graduation ceremony was adorable. The kids recited a poem, sang, and danced!  And there were cupcakes aftwerward! Doesn't get much better than that!

Dylan & I!