The holiday season often brings change, reflection, and new beginnings—and for TODAY co-anchor Dylan Dreyer, this Thanksgiving marked a personal milestone unlike any she’s experienced before. It was her first since publicly announcing her separation from husband Brian Fichera earlier this year, and while life looks different now, Dylan has chosen to embrace the new chapter with warmth, humor, and a whole lot of pumpkin pie.

Returning to the set of Third Hour of TODAY after the long holiday weekend, Dylan chatted with co-anchors Sheinelle Jones and Al Roker about how she spent the break with her three sons—Calvin, Oliver, and Rusty. With Craig Melvin off that day, the group shared family updates and holiday stories, and Dylan’s reflections painted a heartfelt picture of a fresh start.

“I did have a great time,” she said with a smile, emphasizing that the joy of the weekend came from the simplest things: cuddling on couches, enjoying family, and letting the children run wild with cousins. “As long as the boys are with their cousins, they are just bouncing off the walls,” she laughed.

Dylan confessed that living in a house full of picky dessert eaters meant she had a delicious responsibility all to herself: finishing the pumpkin pie. “I polished off an entire pumpkin pie because no one else eats pumpkin pie,” she admitted, recalling that she continued nibbling on slices over the next few days. It wasn’t glamorous—but it was happy.

Another sweet first? All three children posed together for their very first photo with Santa Claus. With the family now living in the suburbs after their recent move out of Battery Park City, the boys also had the chance to cheer from the sidelines as their cousin played football—classic American holiday fun that Dylan seemed grateful to experience for the first time in their new surroundings.

Though she didn’t confirm whether Brian joined them for Thanksgiving, the pair appear to be navigating their new normal with mutual respect and family unity. Since their split was publicly announced in July, Dylan and Brian have continued to co-parent closely, even appearing together for golf outings and shared family moments with their sons. Their focus has remained on togetherness, even through change.

The relocation to the suburbs is part of a large transition Dylan has taken head-on. She revealed in October that she and her boys had officially settled into their new home outside the city. While talking about their first Halloween there, Dylan described how little Rusty “manned the doors for two hours,” handing out candy one by one and making sure every trick-or-treater was covered. The slower pace of life and more open space seem to be giving the boys new adventures to enjoy—and Dylan a renewed sense of comfort and grounding.

Her Battery Park apartment—once the family’s longtime home—was listed earlier in the fall. Moving out symbolized the end of one era and the beginning of another: a future designed around what’s best for her three children, now ages eight, five, and four.

When Dylan announced her separation from Brian on July 18, she shared her message directly with followers on Instagram, acknowledging the openness with which she has always allowed viewers into her family life.

“For many years, I have shared my family with you all—the highs and lows, the ups and downs, and all of the blessings and beautiful memories in between,” she wrote. “I am incredibly grateful for the support and love you’ve given me through it all.”

She continued by stating clearly and compassionately that the separation had been a mutual decision:
“A few months ago, Brian and I made the decision to separate. We began as friends, and we will remain the closest of friends.”

Her final note reinforced what matters most: the children.
“We will continue to co-parent our three wonderful boys together with nothing but love and respect for one another.”

Even through emotional upheaval, Dylan has remained committed to optimism, stability, and gratitude—something that resonates with the millions of viewers who feel like they’ve grown up alongside her evolving family.

In Monday’s broadcast, Sheinelle Jones—who recently suffered the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Uche Ojeh—also spoke about how important family was for her own first major holiday after tragedy. She spent Thanksgiving in Wichita, Kansas, with her 95-year-old grandmother. For both women, togetherness was the priority.

Their exchange revealed a quiet bond that forms among those weathering life changes in the public eye. It highlighted how Holidays, even when bittersweet, can still become moments of healing.

While Dylan acknowledged this year looked different—different home, different family structure, different life—she emphasized that it was still great. The boys played, she relaxed, the house stayed loud and cozy. There were new traditions, like Santa photos, and familiar comforts, like too much dessert.

Her approach to the season feels anchored in resilience:

 Celebrate what remains
 Cherish what’s new
 Keep love at the center

Dylan Dreyer may be entering this holiday season single for the first time in many years, but she isn’t facing it alone. She has her sons, her friends, and a supportive community cheering her on as she writes the next chapter—one pumpkin pie, snuggle-filled weekend, and suburban adventure at a time.