Thanksgiving First

We decided since we already had our traditional turkey meal that we would do something festive or at least different. Colin heard of a small restaurant in Chinatown that specializes in Peking duck. He warned me that it was a SMALL restaurant and he was not exaggerating. The place had 3 booths, 3 small tables and 1 big table with hardly any room to move. Luckily, we were the only ones there for an early lunch.















The server brought out the roasted duck and encouraged Lauren to "kiss" the duck.




























Then they whisked the duck away and after a few knife work the first course was served: thinly sliced duck skin with some meat attached served with pancakes, scallions and hoisin sauce. We felt we were back in Hong Kong and Beijing.














Then they served the meat in a stir-fry dish and the third dish was a soup from the duck bones. It was great being in this small restaurant and marvelling how good the duck taste. We found out later that they planned to open at three in the afternoon but we called and opened early for us. After a great lunch we walked around the block for the bakery and bought some rice cakes, nut cakes, coconut cake and mooncake. Overall, this was a great Thanksgiving day and I was very thankful of being spared from cleaning duty. Definitely something to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving

No. The picture above is of this year not last year. We celebrated Thanksgiving last Saturday since Colin was scheduled to go on a business trip Friday after Thanksgiving. We wanted a week to enjoy the turkey and its lovely leftovers. So we have a leg up on a lot of people in consuming turkey.





We brined the turkey this year and found it flavorful and tender. Will definitely do it again next year.









Of course, Thanksgiving is not a holiday until this is on the table.







































..

Emma at Nine

Yes, oh, yes. Emma is now nine.

Some things have changed. Some have stayed the same.

Yes, she still likes pink.
Yes, she still likes things shiny and glittery.
Yes, she still likes Webkinz (especially shiny, pink and glittery).
Yes, she still is a ballerina (taking two classes per week).

But now...
She wears glasses.
She is taller (seemingly of arms and legs).
She is in third grade.
She loves Lord of the Ring movies and can quote lines from it and enact some of the scenes with Lauren.

And now she is no longer eight.

Yes, oh, yes. Emma is now nine.