Another Long Haul Home

An Attempt At A Family Selfie

Dual Dogs

We are heading up North to Chautauqua after a fun Christmas stay with the Bissells.  It's almost 7:00 and I am the only up at the moment though I will be waking Evie soon so we can be on the road by 8:00.  It looks like some rain, perhaps a light snow when we get nearer to the lake but it should not be anything serious, let's hope.

The day after Christmas is always quiet, if not sad because all the excitement, the anticipation, the waiting, is over for another year.   It was evident with our granddaughters, who planned to get up early on Christmas, but yesterday, the day after all the fun, they slept in until 11:00 or later, not that I blame them.  So for all of us, it was a somewhat boring day, no presents, no big dinner, no football till later (thankfully), so it was a welcome change when my sister Ellen and her husband came over mid afternoon to visit.  A year ago their daughter Julia was married and all the extended family came to the wedding, one of the first times all of us have been together in years.  Anyways, they finally received a copy of the wedding album so she brought it along so all of us could see it, relive the fun time.  They didn't stay long, left just as it was getting dark and time for Halle to go off to volleyball practice.

Earlier, Drew and I and the girls went off to Dick's to pick up some snow gear for the girls who are going skiing at Timberline Ski Resort in West Virginia later in the week.  It's not much fun picking out jackets and ski pants because most outfits were either outrageously expensive or did not fit. Finally, we found some that Halle liked and were reasonably priced.  I don't think North Face or Patagonia are de reguer for a sixth grader skiing for the first time.  While we shopped, Evie and Jill went to the grocery store and Target, as Jill is having Drew's family over on Thursday and decided to make a big pot of chili for the gang, along with bratwurst and hotdogs.  So they picked up all the fixings and when the got home,  Evie made the chili while Jill took Halle to volleyball.  When Jill returned, the four us relaxed for the first time or so it seemed, had a beer or wine, and had an empty hour and a half before we had to go pick up Halle.  And we decided on having Chinese and Thai for dinner, no prepping, so it was nice to just relax and talk.  While we talked, Hayden went through a 45 minute work out downstairs, always willing to stay in shape.  A good girl.

Ready Position

Serving

Around 6:30, Evie, Drew and I went early to pick up Halle so that we could watch her play some. She made the traveling team, so it's high powered for a sixth grader but she thrives on it, does not mind going to practice over vacation, in fact, loves it.  She is the smallest member on the team but holds her own.  We were able to watch her play for about 20 minutes.  On the way home, we picked up some Thai and Chinese food and everyone was hungry so we pigged out in front of the TV, watching old episodes of Friends.

Family Time With The Bissells

After dinner, Evie helped Hayden organize her drawers in her vanity, Drew did up the dishes and then we both watched the football game until half time when I was ready for bed.  Evie finished up with Hayden then played cards with Halle before coming to bed as well early, around 10:30.

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Hayden Tidying Up With Granny, Again