Road Trip East

Ready For Christmas

It's just before 6:00 and a miracle, we are both up waiting for the coffee to be made. A chilly 29º with clear skies begins our eight-hour drive. Once we have our coffee, we will be on our way, sad to leave but happy to be heading home.

Sunday was a relaxing day, in fact, most of our days are relaxing. I was up for literally three hours before anyone joined me except for the dog. All four seemed to get up at once, however and had their coffee, a few ate breakfast. Mary rode the stationary bike while I drove uptown and filled the car with gas. Then, we got ready for a Costco run for dinner and a few other un-necessities. We shopped, however, for a good half hour and then had lunch, a coke, and hotdog for me, and pizza for Marlena. 

Aundraya and Nick Arrive

When we got home, we put a few things in the car and the afternoon of football began. Also, Mary and Tom brought out their Christmas stuff, including a tree, so while the game was on, Tom put up the tree and lights and Mary decorated the mantel with stockings and Christman decorations. While they were decorating, Nick and Aunraya came over just as Evie was busy making twice-baked potatoes, cleaning mushrooms for sauteeing, and trimming and blanching the brussel sports. Once they were done, Mary brought out some appetizers and we watched the Bengals/Ravens game until 3:30 when we adjourned to the basement to watch the Chiefs play the Rams.  Marlena, unfortunately, had to miss a great dinner because she had to drive back to Fayetteville for classes Monday. 

Chiefs Win

The family is huge Chiefs fans so it was fun to watch the game although it seemed to go on forever to Evie and me because we usually tape games, then breeze through commercials. Once the game was over at 6:15, Tom fired up the smoker and Evie was already in the kitchen, baking the potatoes, getting veggies and Brussels sprouts ready, and making a salad,  Tommy smoked three nice ribeyes and a couple of tenderloins steaks so we had plenty of steaks and sides, probably too much. Dinner was amazing and though we had what seemed like more than enough, we practically finished everything. Unfortunately, Mary was not feeling well and had a migraine so she missed dinner. 

Marlena Hugs Bella

We sat around the table talking about the dismal state of the political world until 8:30 when Nick and Audnraya drove home, after Costco's apple pie and ice cream of course. Tom and I stayed up until 9:30 and watched some more football but then went to bed,