With Great Love: Thanksgiving with the Sellars

Thanksgiving Day with my Stud Muffin

Let me just tell you- as we made the four-hour drive from the City to Utica, I could barely believe that we were in the same state! New York City was nice to visit, but much too fast-paced for someone like me. Where Adrian is from is so small and so calm, it was just what my nerves needed to recover from a very long (but very exciting) weekend. I don't think I have ever seen so many trees in my life! These weren't just any trees, either. These trees were so tall and so thick, even missing all their leaves it was hard to see through them. I can only imagine how lovely that drive would be in the fall.

I'm not sure why there was ever any doubt in my mind about Thanksgiving. Luckily for me, his family was even more welcoming, warm, funny, and inviting than I could have ever imagined.

We did so much in our five days upstate that I can hardly believe we were only there for five days! He took me around and showed me so many things I am having a hard time remembering it all! I DO remember how much we ate (my pants won't let me forget it, either). I will say one thing about the people of New York...they sure now how to do food right! We ate...and ate....and ate....and ate some more! Most of what we ate were things I hadn't heard of because they were "Utica Originals". Boy I'll tell you....the food in and of itself was worth the trip! We got to eat at all of Adrian's favorite places so he could eat all of his favorite food and drink all of his favorite beer that we are lacking in Utah.

One night Adrian and I drove out to Syracuse to walk around the Carousel Mall and meet my cute cousin Sherra for dinner. I haven't seen her kids since they were babies, so it was great to see them. They are all just too cute! Afterwards we went out to a pub to meet up with another one of his friends. We spent a lot of time visiting with Adrian's friends from High school, and I wish I had more pictures of him with them. Of COURSE they were wonderful - why else would he hang out with them?

My most favorite place we visited was his family's cabin. Adrian and his dad spent a lot of time there together and I know how much it means to him, so I loved that he shared that place with me. It was so tranquil and beautiful in the snow. The front yard to the cabin goes right out to the lake that had frozen over and it damn near took my breath away to see. I'm excited to go back there when it's warm.

Anyway - Wednesday was when most of his family started showing up. They were all SO sweet I can't even stand it! By Thursday night the house went from holding Carol, Adrian and myself to Carol, Adrian, me, his cousin Beth, his Sister Becca, his brother-in-law Ed, and his 3-year-old nephew Owen. It was SO nice to have a house full of giggles and love and sunshine.

On Black Friday we took an adventure around Oriskany and Utica, visited his Grandmother, and ended up meeting his family at the Utica Brewery. We took a tour of the Brewery and ended up at the gift shop where Adrian was like a little kid on Christmas. After the tour we all headed out for some cousin time and ate at one of Adrian's favorite restaurants, where he was finally able to get the wings and pizza he had been dreaming about since we boarded our flight in Salt Lake.

Since we left Saturday afternoon, I am glad that we ended our trip the way we did.
Here are the pictures of our adventures. Despite my best efforts, they are in no particular order: