The Almighty Thanksgiving Holiday!

This Thanksgiving we had my mom down for a visit. I was having so much fun, I forgot to get a ton of pics of the food/table setting (Hil, help me out on this one).

But there are some pictures to be shown. Before I display them, let me just say that this holiday is really Russ's big show. He is the chef in the family, and he should get most of the credit for the success of Thanksgiving. I tend to be a spectator and table-setter.

This year did not disappoint. Russ's cooking was delicious. The company was excellent. The traditions held strong. And in fact, that is where I will start: The Traditions.

Tradition: Thanksgiving morning exercise.

While Thanksgiving is wonderful, I always feel guilty about all the food. So a few years ago I started doing Turkey Trots on this day of deliciousness. This year I did the Gruene Turkey Trot with my mom:

Here's how I did:

I came in 106 out of 108 in my age group. 

But I finished!

The Food: An outside Thanksgiving.

This year we decided to eat Thanksgiving outside. We have some friends who eat outside every year. Russ is always incredibly jealous and wants to be like them- or at least eat Thanksgiving like them.

So this year we did!

Tradition: Toast (see the above pictures)

Every year I get Russ to make a toast, followed by each person saying something they're grateful for. Russ's toast was great, and I am always amazed at the things that people are grateful for. 

Tradition: Christmas set-up

Russ & I set up our Christmas decorations after we eat Thanksgiving. I like to do it this way for a few reasons. First, it gets your blood going a bit after eating so much. Second, you can be slow about it. I like to alternate between setting stuff up/playing games/eating pie/ watching the football game. Finally, I get to enjoy the Christmas decor a little bit longer.

Here's how the tree turned out:

Tradition: Fredricksburg Christmas Pyramid lighting

This tradition started last year. Basically we go to Fredricksburg to watch the annual lighting of the Christmas Pyramid. Yes, I said Pyramid. Google it. It's a German thing. This year was bigger than last year. And it included a performance of the Nutcracker!

Tradition: Black Friday Shopping

As I said earlier, Thanksgiving is really Russ's shining moment. And that extends beyond the food- it goes down to Black Friday Shopping. Russ knows how to do it right- without being part of the horde of people who trample over each other to get stuff. Russ is slick about it- strategic. He could write a book about it.

Again, this year he was at his best. He got the baby necessities for $150, boots for me, and a bunch of other stuff that is still being delivered. We are all stocked up on wedding gifts, white elephant gifts, and everything on our wish-lists... well pretty much everything.

Skyping with my brother, who is waiting in line for Black Friday.

 Lastly, Crafts.

With my mom in town we crafted and crafted until we were sick of it. We made this manger scene for my brother's family, we sewed tutus, we embroidered a quilt, and on and on. It was a great way to spend time together!!!

And if you're reading this and you feel tired after hearing about all we did, well you'll be pleased to know Russ and I were both sick the following weekend. We played too hard and paid the price the next few days! I think next year we'll slow it down!

Kicking off Christmas in Fredericksburg, Texas

Over Thanksgiving weekend we went to the tree and pyramid lighting in a the cute (and Mormon historical) town of Fredericksburg, Texas. This little German town is adorable! If you're looking for a good place to go to for a honeymoon or a weekend getaway- GO TO FREDERICKSBURG!

Alright, we started off at the Salt Lick, one of the best BBQ restaurants in Texas. It was delicious:

Then we headed to the F-burg. We did a little window shopping, in which I purchased Ms. Twinkle Toes. An ornament made just for me because I love ballet and hippos:

 Find it here.

Next  we grabbed some of the FREE hot chocolate and cookies. Yes, the city gave us free food! We found our spot to see both the tree and the pyramid. Now the pyramid. I bet you're wondering what a pyramid has to do with Christmas. But, as the mayor told us, the Christmas pyramid is a German tradition. And this pyramid was built in Germany and shipped to this town, so it is authentic.

So we find out spot, and the mayor begins thanking everybody who helped. We are then told that we will be singing two Christmas songs in German. 

My response: AWESOME!

So we sing "O Tannebaum" and "Still Nacht". There is something wonderful about singing a Christmas song with complete strangers while staring at a dark Christmas pyramid. I loved it. I loved doing it with Russ and his family. It will be a great memory for the years to come!

Finally it was time. We counted down and the tree and pyramid were lit up!

So for the Wilde family it's official! Christmas Season 2010 has begun!

Bats near Fredricksburg, at the Old Tunnel

No. 3 Burger in Texas

It appeared on the cover of Texas Monthly, like this:

After sitting on a hay bale in Fredricksburg (see previous post) we headed to the hills to Alamo Springs Cafe and ordered food from her:

We asked for the burger on the cover of the magazine and she brought us this:

This was my reaction:

That is my favorite picture.

But Russ wanted to take more pictures. So I pulled this face:

I downed this sweet burger in about 3 seconds. Texas Monthly was right- it is a great burger. I was so into it that this happened:

Some of the green chilies and cheese grease escaped to my skirt.

It was worth it.

Hay Bale Goal: Check

When we moved to Texas 3.5 years ago, I had this strange desire to get my picture taken on top of a hay bale. I haven't really had a chance to fulfill this goal... until last Friday. Russ and I spent the day in Fredricksburg and when we passed a bale of hay, I demanded we stop and get out so we could get a picture.