Back Home Again

Me and Little Feisty spent the weekend in H-Town visiting family for an early Christmas. On Friday we went to Ma & Pa's and had dinner with them. Ma made a delicious meal, per usual, and then we stayed up late chatting with them - always a pleasure. The next morning, Ma whipped up one of my favorite things - a Ma breakfast (which means biscuits and chocolate gravy.) That brings me back to my childhood. Dad & Donna came in for breakfast as well and we all had a nice visit before they left so Dad could go in to work.

Around mid-afternoon, Feisty and I went early to Pam & Ron's to help them set up for the Gregory family Christmas. This is one I haven't been to in years and Feisty, of course, never has attended. It started, for me at least, at Sugar's every Christmas Eve when a few dozen of us would pack in to her tiny little house on Sherman Street. Sugar always gave me a jar of her specially made dill pickles that night. I loved those pickles.

We had a great time visiting everyone (I think attendance was just over 40) and it was nice for Feisty to meet some of the fringe relatives - including Darryl Gregory and Tim Inman - but it was also nice to see some of the kids, such as David Ray's three boys. David couldn't make the party but his wife was there. We both were able to spend a bit of time chatting to Stella, Evelyn and Beryl and I'm very pleased that Feisty enjoys that as much as I do. The Great Aunts love her to death. Of course, another big highlight of the night was playing with little Hailey. She's a real doll and we're already looking forward to seeing her on Christmas.

We went back to Ma and Pa's that night. In the morning we headed to Mom and Alan's and also had a good time chatting for a couple of hours before the extended family Christmas started. It was a smaller crowd this year with Gary's crew unable to make it in - but it was good to visit with Grandma. Last week she had a spell where she apparently passed out and hit her head. She was still sore Sunday. We're not sure what caused this and, of course, it's worrisome. She's having an MRI in a few days, I think. Grandma is 86 and has done remarkably well in the years since Gramps passed away. I just hope perhaps everyone can get her moved in to a place that's not so isolated - ideally an assisted living place where she can be sure to get a good meal each day and not be in a place so fraught with dangers for her (such as steep stairs to the laundry.)

In any case, seeing Grandma is always a pleasure for me. And again, I know Feisty feels that way too.

I can't explain how happy I am that Feisty has embraced my family as her family too. It makes me happy that she has grandparents to enjoy again.

Next week: Christmas Round Two. We'll start in Lowell for Christmas Eve - where we'll see the whole gang there and I'm already looking forward to seeing the little ones. Later, we'll head back to Ma's for the regular Christmas noon meal and presents. Christmas at Mom's will either be Christmas Eve night or Christmas night.

Feisty and I have a couple of days off before Christmas and the entire week off afterwards. Hallelujah!

'Tis the Season

It's early December but feels like mid-January out there. But, this weekend, that was okay because we huddled inside and kept comfortable. The nest is extra nice as we decorated for the holidays a little with some lights, garland, Gramp's music box church, the new Christmas stockings Kathy & Rajer gave us for our first anniversary and some other things.

We also sorted through our ornaments, which was great because we remembered what we had been given last year and also looked through some from our childhood. We didn't do that last year because our home at the time was a pretty uncomfortable place to be so we just didn't get in the mood for it. The difference being in this home is amazing. It's a warm, cozy and always clean space thanks to Feisty. She's made a wonderful home for us and I know, after we move, we'll look back fondly at our time here.

Back to work tomorrow, and the frigid weather (teens, I guess) seems to make it a little tougher - but weekends with Feisty, just doing our thing, is really great fuel to get through the work week. Knowing I get to hang out with her when work is over really is the best feeling.