Christmas 2019

While I can still remember details, here is the schedule plus a few highlights from Christmas 2019.  To be honest, with Steve and me working most of Christmas week some crankiness did set in...  But I'm happy with everything - all went as planned and we had lots of great family time.  The holiday season is wonderful, and good thing it is only once per year.

• Dec. 22 - Aunt Pam's student piano recital at Trinity Church, which Rob and I attended.  Also, baking commenced (cut-out, sugar cookies).  Baking continued over the next couple days, then more on Friday night & Saturday morning.
• Dec. 24 - 7:30 pm service at Wyoming Presbyterian Church.  Laura Lewis was retiring as pastor at the end of the month; also, Pastor Jim Thyren retired back in June.  We've always looked forward to church and other activities with them, and will miss them.
• Dec 24 - 9:30 pm at Aunt Pam's house.  Delicious food including beef rolls with horseradish, crab dip and cookies.  Had a pleasant time with Norbert and Pam's friend Dawn.
• Christmas Day - 12:30 pm present opening, once Alex came over.  Favorite presents:  Alex - mattress & box spring, which arrived about a month earlier, and hopefully a silver and red glazed shot class that Rob brought him from Monaco; Rob - Van Refrigeration (The Office) t-shirt, The World According to Mr Rogers book, and Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon DS game; Mom - black and white kitties crystal pendant; Steve - Sonos lamp with speaker from Ikea.
• Christmas Day - 2 pm ham and chicken dinner with Aunt Pam, Norbert, Joe, Rich & Gary the dog (who was well behaved i.e., no pooping on the rug; of course, our feline companions stayed upstairs).  My pecan pie was excellent, with special thanks to the pecan shopper - see related posting on NCFE:  Pecans.  Unfortunately Taylor didn't join us, since her grandparents' Christmas dinner was at the same time.  
• Christmas Day - 6 pm or so Kate (home from NYC), Becca and Chris came over.  It was a nice, relaxing time to catch up and open presents. 
• Friday Dec. 27 - Korin and Alex came from Massachusetts to stay for the weekend.  Had a pizza dinner together on Friday, then presents on Saturday night.  We are pleased that Alex's room is completely in order as a guest room.  Korin's Alex said the bed was more comfortable than theirs at home  :-)  
• Saturday Dec. 28 - Lunch at Montgomery Ave, then the "final" Star Wars movie from the original series The Rise of Skywalker at Movies 14.  Grammie, John, Fran, Noel, Larson and Paul Fejko (organist at Old Swedes church, think 'Lucia Fest') joined us.
• Sunday Dec. 29 Mid-Day - Grotto party at Harvey's Lake with Brian Gochez-Kerr, David and Natalia Kerr, Alex & Taylor, Grammie and Grandad, Aunt Julie and Mark, Aunt Di and Uncle Lawry, Lou, Uncle John and Aunt Fran, Noel and Larson.  A happy time.  And more importantly, Alex's birthday!!  You turned 23 (wow!!), which was also celebrated with your friends the prior evening.
• Dec. 29 - 31 - Continuing on to Ricketts Glenn, we stayed at Grammie & Grandad's cabin.  Walks, games, more presents and much good food (Aunt Julie's chocolate sauce was a big hit).  On Monday we took a drive with Lou through Lopez and Mildred, to Dushore which is in need of some general repairs and house paint.
• Dec. 31 evening - Jan 1  Came home in the afternoon & thankfully, nothing on the schedule!  There was laundry and general recuperation, including couch time for Mom.

Here's a picture Steve took of our handsome boy Rambo, alongside a lovely Christmas tree.