Story by Nicole “You sure get an early start,” the park ranger commented as Jason rolled down the driver’s side window. It was 6:40 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning, and we had just pulled up at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Visitor Center. The lone park ranger, after we assured him that we were…

חנוכה Story by Nicole We were planning on a second, Hanukkah-themed Thanksgiving on Friday evening, but Jason, Christina, Maia, and I all went to the National Mall during the day. It was clear and very cold. We took the metro to the Smithsonian stop and detrained to visit the museums. A stoplight blocks the sun…

This series of photos depicts the process of making challah on Thanksgiving day, 2013. Maia and Marc discuss logistics for kneading the challah. (Photo/Jason Rafal) Marc shapes the challah dough while Maia looks on. (Photo/Jason Rafal) Everyone participates in the six-strand challah braiding activity. (Photo/Jason Rafal) After much discussion, the challah takes shape. (Photo/Jason Rafal)…

Story by Nicole Thanksgiving 2013 took place in Falls Church, Virginia, after the severed promise of a terrible snowstorm. Jason and I arrived on Wednesday night, and everyone spent the first evening relaxing and getting to know one another (Jason’s parents met Christina and Maia for the first time when they showed up on the…