Every year, my mom packed up the van and drove her four daughters 12 hours to New Jersey to spend summer down the shore. The ride away from Michigan was always exciting, with us each of us guessing the exact minute we’d arrive at grandma’s door. The return trip, however, was nothing but tears and threats to report my parents to DYFS for making us leave. Just days after my high school graduation, I moved east and never looked back, that is, until my nephew was born.
We spent Christmas outside of Detroit, where my older sister is a pediatric resident, my brother-in-law is gearing for med school and my mom tends to the little rascal. If you had told me 15 years ago that I’d one day sob uncontrollably leaving Michigan, I’d have had you committed. But baby nephews change the world, and there I sat in the passenger seat for a 10 hour car ride back east threatening to call DYFS on my fiancé.
it’s good to be a two-year-old on Christmas
I mentioned in earlier posts that the holidays are all about the food for my family, and this delicious treat is the cats meow for us Hungarians. it’s called Hungarian nutroll, and, sorry, but I can’t give you the recipe!
my sister worked at least one 30-hour shift during our stay, and my brother-in-law often works the ER night shift. luckily, on our last night, they were both off so we took a trip into downtown Detroit for happy hour at Iron Chef Michael Symon’s Roast. I’ve never had egg on a burger, and I’m not one for meat on meat, but the bar tender said no substitutions and man am I glad he did.
at nearly two-and-a-half, this little guy is non-stop entertainment. we taught him to say “Oohh noo [insert anyone's name including the dog],” “you’re ridiculous,” “hey babe” and “I miss you.” and to my delight, I even got a goodbye kiss before we left. (yes, I’m wearing his goggles. I’m the crazy aunt who stops at nothing to get a belly laugh.)
by the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
