A resounding thanks for today
I had the BEST day with my family! My oldest brother and his five daughters and six grandchildren and my youngest brother and his entire family were in town and we had the most awesome time together. My sister-in-law, Kim and I took the new great nieces, Abby Lane and Rease, out in their strollers and walked up and down the front porch, back and forth, a million times, because there are no sidewalks in Riverridge.
My brother deep fried a huge turkey with the most delicious rub on it – garlic, pepper, cumin and stuff he wouldn’t tell me. There were sweet potatoes, green beans, sinful potatoes (my nephew, Shane, makes these), challah, stuffed mirltons, oyster dressing, apple pie, pecan pie, sundried tomato and pesto torta, Merlot and Pinot Noir. Yum yum yum.
Then we braided everyone’s hair – I braided Justin’s hair, baby Sara braided baby Rachel’s hair, baby Rachel braided Sara’s hair. Then Nicole gave Sara a long back rub. Then she gave me one that sent shivers down my spine. Then I rubbed her hands and feet. And then rubbed David’s hands. Then baby Sara and baby Rachel punked out Justin’s hair with big spikes. Michael put Rylee’s hair up in pigtails. We’re a very touchy family and obviously should have opened up a family hair salon some years ago.
The BIGGEST and best news of the day is I learned my brother Rafael (along with his wife Kim and daughters, Nicole and Sara) is moving back to New Orleans after 10+ years of living in Atlanta – YIPPEEEEEE!!!!!! – so psyched.
I drove home right before the last bit of light leaked from the sky and saw the grey wall and the buttercup color on the kitchen wall and it looks fabulous!!
So a day of superlatives and gratitude that I belong to this very large tribe of people, family and friends, here in New Orleans that I love to pieces.