Happy Thanksgiving 2014!

Next to Andrew's birthday, hosting my brother's family for Thanksgiving was easily the best part of November!  All 12 of us in our small home might have felt a little cramped at times, but I honestly didn't really even notice.  We just had so much fun together!

This was the first time most of their family had ever been to Oregon.  Unfortunately my sister-in-law, Jen, didn't have the best first impression: while exchanging her anniversary gift at Tiffany's in downtown Portland, the store was almost in a lockdown situation because of an angry man acting in a very threatening manner.  Jen and the other customers were quickly ushered in the back of the stores, and my brother had to pick her up around the corner.  Welcome to Portland, Hales family!

Fortunately,  Thanksgiving dawned mild and dry, so we drove up the Columbia River Gorge to do a little sight-seeing of the many beautiful views and waterfalls up there.  We even encountered a couple taking their goats for a walk.  Keep Portland Weird!

Dinner was delicious, and I think I've finally made a stuffing fan out of Brandon!  The highlight of the feast, however, might have been the four pies, though.  I've never really made a ton of pies before, but I do like eating them.  I made a shoo-fly pie, a German chocolate pie, a pumpkin swirl cheesecake with a gingersnap/graham cracker crust, and a traditional pumpkin pie.  Delish!  I didn't think it was really possible, but my brother just about polished off half the shoo-fly pie all on his own.  Thankfully not in one sitting.

On Friday, we drove out to the coast, hoping to see some tidal pools and to spend a few hours exploring the beach.  When we pulled up and climbed out of our vehicles, we were met with crazy wind gusts and some drizzling rain.  We stayed long enough to explore some of the areas that would have had some great tidal pools, but the sea foam was just collecting there because of the waves pounding the coast.  And lucky for us, the rain started pelting us just as we were heading back to the vans.  Needless to say, we were cold and wet.  So we went to Seaside where the kids could go to the fun beach shops, and we could hit up Seaside Candyman for their 171 flavors of saltwater taffy and spin the taffy wheel.  My brother even found my name on the wall of taffy wheel winners.  I'm famous!  We also warmed up sufficiently to enjoy their $1 ice cream cones.  So, while the day wasn't a total loss, I'm bummed that the unpredictable Oregon weather wasn't more cooperative.

Our Thanksgiving holiday went by way too quickly, but we sure enjoyed spending it with family.  It's so great seeing cousins becoming the best of friends!  Brandon and I enjoyed our late evenings talking with Jason and Jen, too!  

Happy Thanksgiving!