Hello all!

This is Kalina, reporting in from Portland, Oregon.

I spent Thanksgiving at Rob and Laurie's house. Their home is one of those places that radiates light, warmth, and family, so even though I don't see them often, it feels like going home for the holidays. Their little boy Sam is getting more adorable with age. He's full of stories now, and over the course of the evening I was both a speedboat and a magic crocodile. He demonstrated yoga for us (he knows the poses by name) and since Laurie cooks with him often, he's good at improvising recipes. While we were there he developed a plan for "bread soup," which inexplicably had no bread in it, but is made of vanilla, chocolate, whipped cream, pumpkin seeds, and peppers. I'm in!!