extreme family time

Okay, so while everyone else was out shopping at 5 am or eating leftover turkey sandwiches with their family, mine... nope.

Yesterday all of my cousin's and I slept together all nice and toasty in a tent, in our backyard. Strange, yes, especially because their was plenty of nice comfortable, warm beds for everyone. But my cousin needed to test the sleeping bags for a magazine she works for (again, strange and random). The verdict? The sleeping bags were super warm and I slept like a baby, like a baby.

Today my family and a bit of extended family, so many of us, went out for a walk. It didn't turn out to be a walk though, it was a major hike. Two hours. But the weather was nice and conversation good. Also halfway through we stopped and looked at the ocean over a bluff. It was beautiful, clear, crisp. I've never been more grateful not to be shopping and involved with all that hustle and bustle. It was peaceful, lovely.

Tonight we are going to visit the other side of the family for amazing food and picture viewing. We'll all meet at my uncle's theater and see slideshows of family travels. We will see India, Estonia and Russia through my uncle's eyes and Switzerland through my mother's. It should be very interesting and I am counting on my aunt's cooking to fill my belly in the most wonderful of ways.