melted smoosh

it's been a week since we celebrated our first major (American) holiday in Rome. it was bittersweet, being away from family and knowing that we'd have to let go of some of our own family traditions. usually, i spend the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving poring over my recipe binder and cookbooks, perusing new recipes from my favourite cooking blogs, and sketching out a timeline to make sure every dish gets a turn in the oven at the correct temperature and that the turkey is done on time. in fact, i came across last year's timeline in my recipe binder a few days before Thanksgiving and immediately felt a pang. Thanksgiving 2017. i almost cried when i saw this picture. i miss our dining room, and that tablecloth that we bought on our honeymoon, and my china, and most importantly, the people at the table!  but, knowing that our Thanksgiving would look a little different this year, we decided to throw ourselves headlong into the celebration. this included eating Than

dearest Greta Kathleen, today you are five. i sort of can't believe it ... but at the same time, i watch you play elaborate games of make-believe with Cecilia, or zoom around the seminary parking lot on your scooter, or bring up some obscure conversation we had months ago, and i know you're really, truly growing up. wearing your dirndl to Thanksgiving dinner  this year has been full of changes for you, some good, some sad. our beloved Kaiser died on the evening of your birthday last year, and you still mention that you miss how it tickled when he would lick your hand. you often ask if you can have or do certain things when "we go back to Pixburgh" (such as making strawberry pancakes or riding your bike). i know you miss your friends back home, and your daycare, and our house with all your toys (living without 90% of our stuff has been freeing for me, but you don't see it the same way). that being said, you love playing in the hose on our terrace, and giv