Our first Thanksgiving.

This year was the first that Nate and I have spent Thanksgiving together. Since we are going home for two weeks in December, it didn't make sense to travel to Texas. So, we invited other folks who couldn't make it home for the holiday. This was good for two reasons: 1. it gave us a chance to get to know some cool peeps in Nate's program. 2. It kept me from spending all day crying about how we weren't stuffing our faces with our families, who I miss so much.

We borrowed a big table and a couple of chairs from the church where my office is. We grabbed a couple more chairs from the lobby of our building. And we asked one couple to bring their own plates because we just didn't have enough!

I baked brie for an appetizer and two pumpkin pies with homemade whipped cream. Nate made the turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and some deviled eggs (isn't he dreamy?). His brined turkey was completely delicious. Many around the table proclaimed it the best they had ever had.

Some of our lovely guests waiting to eat.

The whole crew around the table for dinner. Nate and I sat at the heads of the table, which was accidental, but kind of funny now that I think about it. I guess we're the Lord and Lady of our sweet little apartment.

There was lots of laughter and good conversation.

And, a bit of dancing, of course.

All of our guests are folks that Nate has met through his MAPSS program.

This is Tyler and Marina from Maine. They are getting married in August. Tyler studies Russian history and Marina has a journalism degree, but is working at a mediterranean restaurant while she looks for a job in her field.

This is Jonathan from New Jersey. I'm not sure what he studies, but I do know that he makes killer mac and cheese.

Here are Marcie and Josh from Albuquerque, who you met in a previous post. Josh also studies Eastern Europe. Marcie will start a nanny job in January. She is tops for Chicago tips. For example, she told me that the Chicago public library will let residents check out museum passes for free. So good to know! She's also an amazing cook. As true New Mexicans, they brought mashed potatoes with green chiles. Yum!

Mischa celebrated her first ever Thanksgiving with us. She is from the Czech Republic and studies the migration of Vietnamese people into Czechoslovakia. I am proud to say that my pumpkin pie was the first she had ever tasted.

Last, but not least, Charlie, who has become Nate's Chicago bestie. Charlie is funny and sarcastic and completely unpretentious, so you can see why he and Nate became fast friends. He is from Seattle and studies American history, with a focus on prisons during the progressive era. Here he is at the end of the night trying to steal our cats.

As you can see, we had a pretty good crew. Everyone agreed that we need to get together more often. Unfortunately, Nate and I didn't get a picture together, but here's a not-so-flattering shot of me finishing off the brie.

And here's a blurry one of Nate getting everyone's attention with a flute solo.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Xoxo.