Time to get back up to date! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We started off the week with a LAZY day – Abby only got out of her pajamas in order to take a shower and get into a clean pair. Mom and dad headed home and it was just the 4 of us……
Tuesday morning we got up and headed to Houston. Encountered our first delay when Tom got a call from work and had to pull over to take it (company policy). Then we needed to stop so that he could respond to a priority e-mail (yes, you can assume this request came from a non-American not on holiday). The girls and I sat quietly and patiently for the 45 minutes this took. The second delay was in Lake Charles where we were diverted onto the loop around the city. A bit of googling on the trusty Blackberry advised that there had been a propane truck that overturned on an exit ramp (on the way home we saw that this particular exit occurs immediately following a TALL bridge – imagine making a sharp turn coming off a steep ramp in a propane truck – NOT a pretty picture!). So another hour behind. Made it to Tom’s brother’s house a bit after 4. PHEW! Had dinner at their house and a relaxing evening.
Wednesday we enjoyed a movie day – we all went to see “2012” and were disappointed. The action lived up to the reviews, but the story was pretty lame. But nice for an afternoon of entertainment. Stopped at the grocery on the way home – what a NIGHTMARE – in order to procure the appropriate items for the feast the following day. Enjoyed dinner at a Thai restaurant and another relaxing evening.
Thursday we all headed to Tom’s other brother’s house for a day of football, family, and food. For me, the highlight of the day was watching Tom perform the “Hoedown Throwdown” with his niece providing music. He won the talent competition (need I mention he was unopposed?). We also did the annual Christmas gift exchange with the Webbs. You can tell the kiddos are all getting older as most of them received some sort of gift card! Headed back to our home away from home full and sleepy. Some got in the hot tub, the rest of us watched a movie and digested.
Friday morning the boys took off on some sort of adventure. The girls headed out shopping to an accessory store. A few dollars later we returned to the house for some lunch. The girls headed out for movie-afternoon – 4 went to see “Precious” and the rest of us to see “Blind Side”. Apparently, those of us who chose the “happy” movie were more satisfied. Truly a great story of how a family really helped a young man succeed. And true as well. We all met up for Chinese buffet afterwards (best way to feed 20+ people at once, no?). And once again back to the house. A rousing came of cards for a few of us and another evening of rest.
Saturday was time for us to head home. Again we met with a delay, though this time for tragic reasons – a flipped over mini-van with 5 fatalities, including 4 children. I-10 had re-opened by the time we hit Baton Rouge, but there were still delays. What a sad ending to a joyful holiday and, in this particular instance, what was a “new beginning” for a family returning to New Orleans.
Tom left to fly to Dallas Sunday morning for a training class. The girls and I headed to church and the grocery. Then home. I’d bribed them that we could do a bit of shopping IF their rooms were straightened up. They met my terms and we did a bit of crazy shopping with all the other crowds. They were able to use their gift-cards from their Webb cousins and I was able to FINALLY find some casual gym-type clothes for me that fit. And I got a new coffee maker – my old one was new 13 years ago. It’s lost a spring, leaks water, and has build up from hard water – I broke down and replaced it. Used the new one today and am quite happy with it!
We truly had a great holiday with the Webbs. Good to see everyone, good to be able to spend time with them, and good to have a nice place to stay. THANKS to all of you! Hope we didn’t inconvenience you too much!
Now onto the rest of the holiday-season mayhem……
No comments:
Post a Comment