Crab Feast!

We only had a short three days with our family in Maryland before we left for Germany, but we had a wonderful time. We were able to visit with everyone, the kids played with their cousins, and we had a crab feast at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

I thought I would write a post on crab feasts for my friends and family who are not from Maryland. Before I married Morgan, I don't think I ever had real crab in my life, and I know I had never picked one! Within a week of getting married, Morgan took me to a restaurant in Maryland and taught me how to pick crabs. Being from New England, I was more of an "expert" on clams, so he ordered clams. Well, picking crabs is not like riding a bike! Every time we have them in Maryland I forget how to remove the succulent, sweet meat from those hideously ugly creatures. Morgan is always very sweet, and picks a pile of meat for me. But this year, I wanted to do it myself. So with Morgan and Uncle Pat's help, I think I finally have mastered the art!

The funny thing about crab feasts, is that it is almost impossible to actually get full on just crab meat! So there are lots of other yummy treats there to fill you up. Everyone brought something, and we had quite a feast. Grandma had spent days getting ready, and it was a wonderful party.

We were so happy to be able to see everyone before we left. I only wish we could have stayed longer. New Mexico was nice, but Maryland is home. The smells of flowers and wet grass and salt air, the sounds of the birds, the sights of the National Monuments as we drove through DC, the bay as we walked on the boardwalk at Chesapeake Beach (Peak-a-Bay Beach, as Braden used to call it), all made us feel so much at home, and wish we could stay to enjoy more time. But more than anything, we wish we could have spent more time with all of our family.