Clear Skies And Beth Arrives

Clear And 22º At 7:30

It’s 8:05, and I’ve been up since 6:15. I’m happy that our daughter Beth is visiting for a few days. Today will be a bit strange, though, because Tom and his family are attending a funeral for an uncle, which will take up the entire morning and part of the afternoon. That leaves Beth, Evie, and me on our own this morning.

Marlena And Rhys

On Monday, we were lucky to have Rhys for the day after he spent Sunday night with us. He was up early with Mary at 6:00, while I slept in until 6:45 so I could at least be of some help later—though probably not a lot. He’s a typical boy, full of piss and vinegar, and only truly settles down when a truck video is playing on the boob tube. By 9:30, everyone was up and pitching in—playing with Rhys and giving him plenty of attention so Mary could enjoy some free time. He especially loves the Richard Scarry books Evie gave him, which kept him occupied for a while.

Rhys And Mary At The Library

It was too cold for a walk, so I stayed in, helped with Rhys, and worked on the blog. Around 9:40, Rhys, Mary, Evie, and I drove to the Lee’s Summit Library, about 15 minutes away, for story time. Unfortunately, the woman who reads the stories was on vacation, so story time was canceled. We stayed for about half an hour anyway, since there’s a play area for kids, and Rhys loved climbing and exploring. We left around 11:00, happy we’d gone, even though he didn’t get to hear a story.

A Busy Boy

The rest of the morning was mostly spent hanging out and waiting for Beth’s plane to arrive from Dallas in the early afternoon. Since I hadn’t gone for a walk, I decided to take a sauna before lunch, followed by a shower. I was in for only 20 minutes, but it took a bit of the mojo out of me and left me wanting to relax—or even take a nap. Lunch was easy: leftover pizza.

Beth Arrives

Beth finally arrived around 2:00, coming by Uber. It was great to see her, and we really appreciated the effort she made to come, despite leaving the family at home. Tom headed to the Tesla dealer at 3:00 for a minor battery adjustment. Beth loved spending time with Rhys as he got to know her, and as usual, he was good with everyone.

Dinner With Beth And Rhys

We had dinner reservations at 5:00 in Lee’s Summit at the 3rd Street Social. Nick arrived at 4:00 to take Rhys home, but stayed with us through dinner. Even at 5:00, the restaurant was busy, though we had no trouble getting a table. Our waiter was quick and efficient, bringing drinks and appetizers promptly, followed soon by our main courses—mostly burgers, salads, and fish. It was a good place, and we enjoyed it. Rhys did fine and seemed happy to be there.

We were home by 6:45—without Rhys, alas, since his dad took him home. We sat around talking for a while and then watched a show called Knife’s Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars. By 8:30, everyone was in bed except me. I stayed up to watch the end of the NFL game, which wrapped up around 10:00.

Clear Skies And 12º

Aundraya And Tommy

Nick And Rhys

A Happy Boy

7:10

It’s another early morning for Mary because Rhys spent the night. He was up at 6:00—I could hear him playing—though I didn’t get up to join him until 6:45. He’s a wild man this morning: jumping around, yelling, and happily knocking his train off the table, a typical boy. Breakfast consisted of three or four helpings of blueberries and a yogurt, both of which seemed to fuel him even more. I have to admit to being a bit selfish, spending little time with Rhys and leaving most of the supervision to Mary while I sat at my computer. Fortunately, she’s great with him. I tried reading Richard Scarry to him for a while, but he was soon off in search of more blueberries.

Early Morning Play Time

Watching A Garbage Truck Video

Yesterday started in the 60s and ended in the teens. We woke in the usual order: me first at 6:15, then Mary at 7:00, followed by Tom and Evie at 9:00, and Marlena at 11:00. It must be nice to sleep until 11:00. We had a long, leisurely morning watching the Sunday news programs. The highlight was breakfast, courtesy of Tom—his specialty: fried potatoes, onions, and peppers, topped with eight fried eggs and cheese. It was scrumptious, something I could happily eat every morning.

By late morning, I was getting antsy from sitting around, so at 11:30 I put on three layers of jackets and headed out for another walk on the trails. It was already in the 20s, but I stayed comfortable thanks to the layers. A couple of other hikers were out, but for the most part, I had the trail to myself. I was out for only half an hour, but it was enough to get the blood moving.

Winding Trail

A Bleak Winter Trail

The early afternoon was spent watching football and waiting for Rhys and Tommy to finish their naps so Nick and Audraya could bring them over. They finally arrived around 3:00, and their arrival changed the dynamic of the afternoon: Evie and Mary played with Rhys, I held Tommy on my lap, and all of us watched Buffalo’s devastating loss to Philadelphia. Tommy was fed at least twice and took a long nap before dinner.

Tommy

Dinner

Rhys, After A Bath In The Kitchen Sink

We, of course, had wine time—and it seems to start a bit earlier every day. As an appetizer, Tom made a delicious guacamole, which we all devoured with Tostitos chips, of course. Around 6:30, we sat down to dinner: salmon, scalloped potatoes, creamed spinach, and rolls. Tommy was content to sit in his seat and watch us eat, while Rhys sampled the salmon but ultimately preferred chicken nuggets. For dessert, we had crème brûlée from Costco. Marlena and I layered the included brown sugar on top of each ramekin and slid them under the broiler for a few minutes—perfect and ready to eat.

Football Fans

Tommy, Again

Around 7:30, Audraya put Rhys down for the night, and after a few minutes of crying, he was fast asleep. Nick and Audraya left around 8:00 with a half-asleep Tommy. We watched the final episode of the Taylor Swift documentary, and when it ended, Evie went to bed. Tom and I stayed up to watch the NFL game, while Marlena and Mary went to their bedroom to watch another episode of Stranger Things. Everyone was in bed by 10:00.

A Day Without Rhys And Tommy: Boring

Saturday's Sunset

Sunday Morning At 7:49

7:53

8:25

The sky is just beginning to lighten here in Kansas City. It’s 7:15, and I’ve been up in a quiet house for an hour. I’ve had my first cup of coffee and am about ready for a second. I don’t know what today will bring—maybe time with the great-grandchildren, but definitely the Bills game at 3:30. The temperature when I woke was 62°, but by tomorrow morning it will be in the teens. Winter weather is about to arrive. It's 9:00, and Mary and I are the only ones up. 

Yesterday was a long day without the boys, though we made the most of it. We were in no hurry to get going, so I was the first up, followed by Mary, Tom, and Evie around 8:30. ç As we talked about the day and what we might do, the easy answer here in KC is always the same: head to Costco. So off we went at 10:00—the three of us—because Mary went to the gym for a workout, a good girl.

Costco is maybe 15–20 minutes away and is always crowded. We went with nothing in mind that we needed, but by the end of our excursion down countless aisles, we had a $500 Visa bill. How? I’m not sure. That’s why we should never go to Costco. When we returned, Marlena had just gotten up and volunteered to make breakfast/lunch, scrambled eggs, and toast. Perfect.

Trail

Creek

Rock Path

Tom's House From The Trail End

It was a long, lazy afternoon. I read some, tried to nap, and the rest of the gang hung out, watched TV, and got a few things done, like the wash. Around 2::00, however, Tom and Mary, with Evie’s help, spent a good forty-five minutes taking down the Christmas tree and decorations and storing everything in the basement. While they worked, I went out to play and took a half-hour walk—a loop straight out their front door and back up their street. Most of it winds through the woods on trails, along a creek, with lots of ups and downs, until I reach the parking area where the trail begins for those who don’t live nearby.

I returned just as they were finishing, and Evie suggested I needed a haircut. So I put on my bathing suit, wet my hair, and Evie gave me a trim outside next to their pool. It was just warm enough to be outdoors—a toasty 66°. Once I was sheared, Tom and I availed ourselves of twenty minutes in the hot tub, letting the whirlpool massage our backs and legs. Afterward, I showered and got dressed in my pajama bottoms since Evie was doing the wash. By then, it was game time—the first NFL game of the day.

We watched it sporadically as we talked about the next couple of days and what we might do when my daughter Beth arrives for a short visit. By 5:00, we were enjoying wine and appetizers, courtesy of Mary. Earlier, we’d decided on an easy dinner: Mary heated the pasta and meatballs, Evie boiled the water, made the salad, and warmed the bread. For some reason, certain meals taste better a day or two later, and that was definitely true of the sauce and meatballs. We even have a few left for lunch.

We watched episodes four and five of the Taylor Swift documentary before Evie went to bed. Tom turned in early as well, fighting a cold. The three of us then watched Stranger Things. I’d never seen it before, had no idea what was going on, and went to bed around 9:15 to read—the end of a not-so-bad day.

Evie and Tommy, Hawaii, 1969

                                                            Below are Rhys and Evie at 20 months

Families

 

The Bissells, Thanksgiving, 2025

Albarran Dallas Family, Thanksgiving, 2024

Davis, Kansas City Family, Christmas, 2025

In yesterday’s blog, I wrote about our three families but neglected to include photos of the Bissells and the Albarrans, so I decided to begin today’s entry with their family pictures.

It’s later than usual—8:30—and Mary and I have been up since 7:40. Tom joined us around 8:15. The house is unusually quiet and will stay that way today, as the boys will either be staying home or visiting Audraya’s parents. What a letdown. We’re left debating how to fill the day—Costco, the Country Club Plaza, or Lee’s Summit’s farmers market. Plenty of options, yet none compare to having the boys here.

Yesterday, though, was just about perfect: sunshine and time with the boys. While we were having our morning coffee, Nick texted that they were on their way and would arrive around 10:00. And that set the tone for the day. We stayed in all morning, simply enjoying their company, and didn’t head to Lee’s Summit until about 2:30.

Nick And Aundraya Arrive With The Boys

Working From Home

Nick worked from home, though I did catch him nodding off around noon. Evie spent a lot of time reading to Rhys—mostly Richard Scarry—and even ordered a new book because he loves them so much. 

Finding Water

Splashing With His Feet

A Big Boy Walking The Bridge

I took Rhys for a short walk, where he became completely absorbed by a puddle, splashing it with his hands, then his feet, and finally attempting to drink it before I intervened. We continued down the trail for about 20 minutes, and it took some convincing to turn him back around, but he climbed the hill like a champ. Around noon, Marlena’s friend Grant came over to scrapbook with her and spend the night.

Scrapbooking

Back home, it was nap time. Tommy was already asleep in the bedroom, so Evie gently lifted him onto her shoulder, letting Rhys have the room. Tommy slept there for nearly half an hour before waking up smiling. During all this, Tom ran to CVS for cold medicine, Audraya slipped off to Target thanks to plenty of babysitters, and Mary went out to buy a gift card. I ate a chicken sandwich, read briefly, and unsuccessfully tried to nap.

A Tired Tommy J With His Great Grandma

Reading About Trucks

Once both boys were up after 2:30, we drove to a park in downtown Lee’s Summit. Rhys had a great time on the slides and running freely in the open field, while Tommy slept through it all. When the boys started to fade, they headed back to Roeland Park.

Grant And Marlena

Tom, Mary, And Billie, Watching The Baby

A Tired Big Boy

We stopped at the International Tap House—busy and lively—where we had beers, talked, and played a couple rounds of Bananagrams. By 5:00, hunger sent us to Main Slice, surprisingly quiet that evening. We ordered beers, a couple of pizzas, and three of their well-known salads—far too much food, as it turned out, but all of it good.

Beers At Tap House

Playing Bananagrams

We didn’t get home until 7:00.  Grant, Marlena, Mary, and Evie decided to play Telefunky while Tom and I watched F1, the new Brad Pitt movie on Netflix. It was predictable and heavy on racing scenes—worth watching if that’s your thing, otherwise skippable. We turned in around 9:30, leaving the kids still up, talking and laughing—always a good sound to end the day.

A Day Of Gratitude

The Kansas City Family

The Sun At 8:13

Screened In Porch

How lucky we are to have such a wonderful family spread across three states—children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. That is what yesterday meant to Evie and me. It's 9:30, and guess who just walked in? Nick and the family. It looks like a busy but fun morning and early afternoon. 

It’s 7:30 now, and I’ve been up in a quiet house for over an hour, reading on my computer and thinking back over Christmas Day at our grandson Nick’s home in Roeland Park, Kansas—so far from our home on Chautauqua. At 8:00, Mary briefly stopped to say hello before heading out for a workout at the gym.

Christmas morning at Tom’s house was calm and uneventful as we lounged around before getting ready to head to Nick and Audraya’s. After coffee and breakfast, everyone took showers and got “gussied up,” more or less. We were bringing dinner—pasta and meatballs—along with gifts, mostly for the boys. Because of the size of one gift—a slide for Rhys and Tommy from Tom and Mary—we had to take two cars.

With Our Great Grandsons

Kitchen Talk

Audraya's Charcuterie Board

The half-hour drive was easy, with most roads nearly empty as families stayed home opening presents. We arrived around 10:45 and were greeted by the smell of Audraya’s homemade cinnamon rolls and fresh coffee. We gathered around the table, enjoying breakfast while watching Rhys happily devour pieces of the rolls. If one of us said “enough,” he simply moved on to someone else for another bite. Smart kid.

Tommy and Great Grandma

After breakfast, while Tommy napped, we exchanged gifts. Our favorite was a photo album from our granddaughter Marlena, filled with pictures from her summers at Chautauqua with her cousins. Each photo included a short comment on the back—what a treasure. We love it. The gifts were a hit all around: Audraya with clothes and a cookbook, Nick with a golf club, Marlena with AirPods and a down coat, Mary with a full-length wool coat, and Tom with an assortment of T-shirts. Rhys, of course, was thrilled with everything. Watching everyone open their gifts was a joy.

Out For A Walk

Grandma Mary Chasing Rys

What A Big Boy

Afterward, we relaxed. Rhys took a solid nap, and I managed a short one myself. Later, we took a walk around the neighborhood with Rhys. The weather was mild enough for just a fleece or light jacket, and Rhys was clearly the star of the show. We spent about half an hour enjoying the late-afternoon air before returning for wine and football in the living room. I was especially happy to hold Tommy J for a good half hour, passing him around as he remained content and cheerful.

Three Tommys

Marlena And The Boys

We ate around 6:00—Tom and Mary’s pasta, meatballs, and fried chicken. Not exactly a traditional Christmas goose, but delicious and filling. The boys stayed up until about 7:00, when Tommy fell asleep with his bottle and Rhys, after a bath, reluctantly headed to bed, quickly succumbing to exhaustion. We watched the first quarter of the Kansas City–Denver game before heading home, the car loaded with leftovers and goodies.

Taking A Bath

Enjoying Pasta And Meatballs

Grandparents And The Boys

Dad Feeding Tommy J

Once home, Evie went straight to bed while Tom, Mary, and I stayed up to watch the rest of the Chiefs game. Marlena lingered as well, texting and talking with friends. We finally turned in around 9:45 after the Chiefs’ loss.

Oh, what a day.