Hello again, it's Donna with the latest edition of the Burns Family News. This will be rather lengthy as we were on the move last month.
I am a retired "stewardess". After 30 years with TWA, now owned by American Airlines, one of the retirement perks was unlimited pass travel for my family at much reduced rates. I take advantage of every opportunity. John has often accused me of having jet fuel in my veins.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving, John and I headed to LAX and boarded an AA 767 headed for JFK airport. On landing we rented a seven passenger minivan and drove from JFK thru Brooklyn, over the Verrazano Bridge, across Staten Island and then down to the Jersey shore, home of John's two sisters, Mary and Barbara. Mary, a retired nurse, has a friend who owns a 5 bedroom home right on the beach in Long Branch, NJ. and arranged for all of us to stay there for the Thanksgiving holidays. The size was fantastic as we had more family arriving the next day. Our son Sean, his wife Natalie and their daughter Hanalei (Princess of Canada) arrived from Winnipeg, Canada followed closely by our daughter Heather and husband Todd. All the flights were delayed, but we managed to get everyone to the Shore by Sunday night.
Monday morning was Dunkin Donuts, eggs and New Jersey Pork Roll, breakfast of champions! On Tuesday night John and Judith Froese, Natalie's Mom and Dad, arrived from Winnipeg followed by a Pizza Extravaganza with about 30 family members. Here is a photo of everyone with their "thin crust delights."
Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is John's sister Mary's famous seafood buffet augmented by husband Greg's fresh caught black fish, which is only available about this time of year. Needless to say it was a grand evening and we were able to officially welcome John and Judith Froese to the Burns family and the Jersey Shore.
Sean and Natalie managed time to take the ferry from nearby Atlantic Highlands into Manhattan to visit friends from college and check out the lights and decorations. While they were gone, Mary, John and I took Hanalei to a local farm and gift store boutique. Hanalei touched just about every decoration before deciding on a yellow school bus ornament for her Christmas tree at home. That night we were the baby sitters and John got to play with Hanalei for a few hours, read bed time stories and tuck her into bed.
Thursday was the big day. On the way to Thanksgiving dinner we drove to the Molly Pitcher Hotel in Red Bank, NJ hoping to get the perfect picture for our family Christmas card. The best we could get had Hanalei's head blocking Natalie's face, but it's still a good photo. From left to right-our daughter Heather Hazlett, our son Sean and his wife Natalie, Princess Hanalei, John and our son-in-law Todd Hazlett.
Thanksgiving dinner was celebrated at Jennifer and Mike Miller's home. Jen is Mary's daughter and her husband Mike is a NJ police officer. We were joined by John's other sister Barbara Borke and her significant other Chuck Jenkinson and Barbara's son Colin and his fianc�e Paulette. Natalie made Indian feather headbands to wear at dinner and Todd shared the first Pilgrim Thanksgiving story with our Canadian relatives.
Friday was the day we cleaned up and started getting ready for Saturday departure. That night we invited everyone for a farewell dinner at Tuzio's Restaurant, where John used to eat Sunday night dinner when he was a student at Monmouth College in Long Branch. Here is a photo of our party saying a sad but well fed farewell.
Saturday morning we said goodbye to Judith and John Froese, our daughter-in-law Natalie's Mom and Dad, as they were spending a short holiday in Manhattan before returning to Winnipeg. Sean, Natalie and H.L. (Hanalei) left for Newark airport and John, Heather, Todd and I left for JFK to return the big van and catch the last flight to LAX. We arrived safely and reached Dana Point about 2am and to all a good night!!
As always, the last photo is of our granddaughter Hanalei. Here she is picking out which play pearls to wear to the Thanksgiving dinner. She was, of course the center of attraction for the whole evening.
I hope you enjoy the story of our trip and our photos. I also hope that you and your loved ones had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.
From our family to yours, best wishes for a Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and a very Happy, Healthy New Year.