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.

A Foggy Christmas Morning In Kansas City

Merry Christmas From Marlena

It’s 7:35, and I’ve been up for an hour. Evie just walked in and made her coffee, so for the moment, we’re the only two awake on a gray, foggy 49° morning. We may see some sun if the fog burns off, but clouds are expected to move in this afternoon. We will be spending Christmas Day with Nick, Audraya, and the boys. 

8:23

Christmas Eve was quiet and uneventful, mostly because the boys spent the day with Audraya’s parents. Rats! That left just the five of us, with nothing in particular to do—sort of. Like today, I was up at 6:00 and was eventually joined by Mary and Tom around 8:00, Evie at 8:30, and Marlena at 10:00, the lucky gal. After coffee, the blog, and breakfast, Tommy got busy making Mary’s famous meatballs and tomato sauce for our Christmas Day dinner. We love that sauce and those meatballs and always look forward to them when we visit. The meatballs were fried, and the sauce was finished by noon.

Walk Along A Creek

Tommy And Marlena

Around midday, Tom, Marlena, and I went for a walk in the woods directly behind their house. They’re fortunate to have numerous nearby trails, some of which connect to the Katy Trail. We were out for about forty-five minutes and ran into a couple of families also enjoying a walk on such a warm day. It felt good to get some exercise. While we were gone, Mary not only baked a carrot cake but also squeezed in a workout in their gym.

New Bridge

Christmas Eve Hiking

We returned around 1:00, and Tom suggested we use his sauna. I put on my bathing suit, headed downstairs, and sat in the sauna for twenty-five minutes, listening to oldies-but-goodies on Tom’s phone. We both worked up a good sweat, so I took a shower to cool off. After that, I was ready for lunch—easy and tasty. I heated up a leftover hot dog and bun in the microwave and ate it with chips. I tried to nap but couldn’t quite fall asleep, so I spent most of the hour reading instead.

At Smoke In Lee's Summit

Around 3:00, we decided to drive into downtown Lee’s Summit. We walked around a bit before finding a table at a local bar and restaurant called Smoke. It was busy for Christmas Eve and stopped serving food at 4:00, so we quickly ordered beers and an appetizer. We also played around with a new app called Grok, which lets you edit any photo in a creative way.  It’s hilarious, and Evie and Marlena had a great time creating funny photos of us sitting at the bar. We left around 4:15, and the place was still crowded.

Baba With His Granddaughter

Back at the house, we relaxed on Tom’s screened-in porch overlooking the pool and woods. It was warm enough to sit out with a fleece, and Tom had a fire going, which made it especially pleasant. Around 6:30, Tom and I got busy in the kitchen—prepping the filets, boiling potatoes, and cleaning the asparagus. We ate around 7:00. Dinner was excellent: nicely grilled filets by Tom, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.

Gals Relaxing While The Guys Make Dinner

After dinner, we sat in the living room, enjoyed a piece of carrot cake, and watched the third episode of the Taylor Swift documentary. What an amazing performer. We were all tired by then and went to bed just after 9:00. We are definitely getting old! 

An example of what I created this morning using the app Grok:

What Do You Think?

A Busy Day With 'Da Boys'

Great Granny And Rhys Yesterday Morning

Trail Leading From Tom's House

Tom's New Home

Fog Outside The Front Door

What a difference 24 hours makes. Yesterday at this time, Rhys was fired up after watching tractor videos while I sipped my coffee. Now it’s 7:45, the house is silent, and I’m drinking coffee while reading the depressing news in The New York Times. The gang is sleeping in as a dense fog alert blankets Lee’s Summit, warning drivers to stay off the roads. I can hardly see beyond the tree line myself. It’s unseasonably warm—53° already—and expected to reach the mid-60s later today.

Rhys Loving Water

A Well-Washed Great Grandson

Yesterday was a busy one, much of it centered on Rhys, who had slept over Monday night and is always delighted to do so. Mary was up early with him, followed by me at 6:00, then Tom and Evie. We enjoyed a leisurely morning of coffee, bagels, and Rhys. Mary and Evie kept him happily occupied, with Evie introducing him to one of our kids’ old favorites, Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town. After feeding himself yogurt, Rhys took a bath in the kitchen sink, cheerfully pouring water over his head.

Around 11:00, three of us—Marlena, Evie, and I—headed out to shop, stopping first at Target and then at Total Wine. I saved nearly ten dollars on box wine and seven on bottled wine compared to Chautauqua. We were home by noon, and Rhys soon went down for a nap.

Lunch was toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, after which I eagerly followed Rhys’s lead and took a nap myself. I was worn out, probably from the long drive on Sunday and Monday. I must have slept a good hour and a half because when I came upstairs, the house was quiet. Evie was on the couch, Tom and Marlena were resting, and Mary had taken Rhys to the doctor for a few vaccinations.

The Happy Parents

Aundraya, Rhys, And Billie

The Family

Around 4:00, we drove through busy Kansas City to Roeland Park, a Kansas suburb where Nick and Audraya moved a year ago. It’s a lovely neighborhood, and they have a spacious house with a great yard, outdoor patio, and screened-in porch. We got the full tour—bedrooms, living rooms, and basement—while enjoying libations and time with the boys. Both were awake when we arrived, though Tommy managed a short nap before dinner.

Grillin And Chillin

Tom And Rhys

Mary And Tommy J

Audraya, Marlena, And Mary

Nick grilled burgers and hot dogs outside, courtesy of Omaha Steak and hot dogs, gifts to Tom from a vendor. Everything was delicious, and everyone enjoyed the meal—even Rhys, who sampled hot dog bits for the first time. We stayed until 7:30, when both boys were asleep, then said our goodbyes and drove home through Shawnee Mission, where neighborhoods were festooned with remarkable Christmas lights. Many streets were crowded with cars out to admire them.

Tommy J

Tommy With Grandma Mary

A Happy Boy

We were home by 8:30, just in time for Evie’s bedtime. Tom and I watched the Dallas–Denver NBA game; only the two of us made it to the end—a Dallas victory. By then, we were more than ready for bed.

Christmas Lights On A Shawnee Mission Estate

Afternoon With Family, Morning With Rhys

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Tommy J

Backyard View Of Pool And Woods

The Family

It’s 7:00, and I was up at 6:10, joining Grandma Mary and Rhys. He was watching a video about tractors and trucks while eating a bowl of blueberries. He loves staying overnight at his grandparents’ house, and they clearly enjoy it just as much. A little later, Tom, Rhys, and I rushed outside to watch the garbage truck arrive. Rhys waved enthusiastically, and the driver obliged with a blast of the horn as he pulled away.

Dining Room

Yesterday’s road trip to Lee’s Summit was uneventful—just long and boring. The only rough stretch was driving around St. Louis, five to six lanes of driving hell. Both sides of the highway were lined with buildings and shops, especially car dealerships, and the strip malls seemed endless. Once past that, it was smooth sailing until we neared Kansas City, where traffic picked up again. Eventually, we arrived at Tom’s house, where Tom, Mary, and Marlena were outside waiting for us.

Rhys And Granny

Grandma Mary And Rhys

Rhys Watching A Truck Video

They moved into their new house about a year ago, and this was our first visit. It’s a striking place, essentially with two living rooms: one above the pool that includes the kitchen and looks out over the woods, and another at pool level with a couple of TVs, a bar, and a workspace for Tom. We got settled quickly and caught up on their lives, but mostly we waited for Nick and Aundraya to arrive with our two great-grandsons, Rhys and Tommy. The afternoon was spent watching Rhys play and taking turns holding Tommy. Both boys are a delight, and we envy Tom and Mary for having Nick’s family living so close.

Tommy With Grandpa Tom

Wearing Grandma Mary's Glasses This Morning

Nick and Aundraya both have busy lives since they work full-time, though each has taken advantage of three-month parental leaves at different times. Earlier, Tom pulled out 20 pounds of wings, doused them in hot sauce, and let them blacken in his smoker for a couple of hours. After a couple of glasses of wine and some quality time holding Tommy, he went down for a nap. We sat down to dinner—wings, salad, baked beans, and cream corn from a local barbecue place called Smoke Stack. Everything was delicious, and I happily finished off the beans and corn. Yum.

Morning With Rhys

Tommy With Great Granddad 

Nick and Aundraya took Tommy home around 6:30, and Mary put Rhys to bed at 7:00. Earlier, Marlena had baked cookies to take to a party, so she left around 7:30 and planned to spend the night at Nick’s house since it was close by. The four of us struggled to stay awake until 8:30 while watching the NFL game, but by 9:00, we were all in bed, worn out from the drive and a busy, wonderful afternoon with the boys.