We opened our presents early. Erin and Mike and his family gave Dad the whole set of James Bond movies on Blue Ray and they gave me a Blue Ray player. Heather sent Dad 6 loaves of wonderful Grandma Sycamore bread and 6 loaves of California sourdough bread. What a surprise! It was very welcome! There is no really good Dad bread here. Wish I had taken a picture. She had it packed perfectly. And she sent me a beautiful set of pictures of herself so I can hang it among her siblings.
Bennetts arrived Wednesday before Christmas. The Barneys met us at our house and Atticus and Sarah immediately started playing on the swing and tree house. Atticus spent the night at Barneys and played with Sarah.
During the day of Christmas Eve we went to an impressionist art museum that James wanted to see. It was very interesting. It was a private collection from one family. They had some famous paintings and quite an eclectic collection of all kinds of interesting art and objects. No pictures allowed. Outside the museum was an ancient old tree that was art itself.
Later in the evening Christmas Eve we all went to Barneys and had their usual seafood dinner with shrimp and scallops. Bennetts spent the night there so they could all wake up to their toys together Christmas morning. Dad and I went over to see what Santa brought to everyone later that morning. In the afternoon we had dinner together here. Atticus got a wristwatch telephone that he could call his parents from whenever he wanted. And they could call him. Atticus spent the night again with Sarah and called his parents during the evening. We went to lunch Saturday on the waterfront and had a good visit.
Evanses arrived Saturday afternoon and the fun started all over again. The kids loved seeing each other and played and played outside. The weather was still holding so that it was pleasant. Dad made a fire in the outdoor fireplace and the kids played in the tree house while the adults visited. It was cute that Alice came in to tell her mom that GP had made a fire just in case maybe that wasn't okay. :o)
Sunday we had everyone for dinner and had a great time together. Lara brought a huge bowl of delicious fettuccini Alfredo and we provided chicken strips and veggies for everyone. Evans kids got to join in the fun. Barneys had some cots that worked well for the kids spread out in the front room all together. They did actually sleep.
Monday we went to the gym with Lara and I got almost crippled for the next few days from walking longer than usual on the treadmill. Then Bennetts went to Galveston but Atticus went with the Evanses to the children's museum downtown. Dad and I stayed home to watch Matthew as he took his nap. I went grocery shopping while Dad watched Dr No and enjoyed it. Lara and Sarah came over that evening and watched some Pixar shorts for FHE with us all.
Tuesday we girls went to the temple and then investigated the two cemeteries where my dad was buried and my mom's parents are buried. It was a cold and wet day. James went to see the movie he had been wanting to see in 70mm (Hateful Eight) with Jon. Bobby and Dad stayed home to babysit and wait for the dishwasher to come and be installed!! They watched the Minions movie that Bobby hooked up to the tv with his computer. When we got back from the cemeteries there was the dishwasher in all its glory! Yay! And it works like a dream! It's perfectly quiet and it cleans perfectly. I love it! Thank you all for helping us get it.
In the evening Dad and I went to get Erin at the airport while Susan and Heidi made paninis for dinner. It was glorious to see Erin. Everyone was so happy to have her here. We stopped in to Barneys to let them welcome her and then came and got Alice and took her to Sarah's girl party that she had planned. Atticus hung out with Sam then too.
Wednesday Dad went to the temple to work for a brother that had subbed for him at Thanksgiving. That was the day we had planned a girls' day out with Alice and Sarah. All the women and girls went to lunch at Zio's Italian food. It was a good place with lots of time to talk and visit. The food was delicious and we loved being together. After lunch we came home and decided not to go go-carting because the weather was cold and wet. We decided on a jumping place that turned out to be perfect.
It was two huge rooms full of blow-up toys for all the kids to play on. This is a challenging one that they all mastered. You can see Atticus at the top and Alice at the bottom. Matthew even had a place that he could enjoy plus just wandering around and trying out everything,
James didn't want to be in the picture and Matthew was tired. They all had a good time together. I loved how they looked out for each other and played together.
Thursday morning the Bennetts left to go back home. So sad. But it was really good to get to see them as much as we did. Atticus and Sarah and Robert and Alice had had such a good time together. I hope they remember how much they all loved being with their cousins.
New Year's Eve we had a PARTAY!!! Barneys came over and we ate and drank and played games and everyone stayed up late. Poor Sam had had his wisdom teeth out Wednesday and so wasn't feeling up to much party so he and Mary and Jon went home early to rest and Lara and Sarah stayed to see in the new year with us. Evanses had brought honkers and tweeters and poppers that we got to use at midnight! The kids loved it.
Then New Year's Day the Evanses left to go back home. It was hard to see them go. Nice to get together but sad to end it. What a good time it was.
But we still had Erin! After going back to bed for a while we got up and watched two James Bond movies. Dad wanted to see Goldeneye and Erin wanted to see Casino Royale. Then Barneys had invited us over to have dinner. Lara fixed a beautiful ham and we brought funeral potatoes and veggies. We shared all the goodies we had left over from the party and had a nice evening together. We played a new card game Lara had called Dutch Blitz. Dad and Jon watched Sam play Grand Theft Auto on their big tv. When we came home we watched Quantum of Solace.
Saturday morning we watched Skyfall and then went to IKEA to get some kid cups. I didn't have any for the kids to drink from while they were here. A little late, right? But we will have them from now on. After IKEA we went to a late lunch at Tin Roof Barbecue and it was FABULOUS! Erin and Dad said they were almost the best ribs they had ever had and they had a delicious broccoli cheese rice side that I loved. So now we know where to go when anyone comes to visit again. Dad had wanted to go to Pappa's bbq that Sean had tried when they came out, but it was closed! What a disappointment! But Tin Roof was great.
After lunch we took Erin to the airport and left her. Bummer. Now we are two again. It was so much fun to have everyone visit. It filled the house with noise and fun and joy. It's quiet now, but we are used to quiet. Dad settled down and watched Living Daylights and I did indexing. Then we watched an old Sherlock and went to bed. Back to normal. So...when are you coming again?
Atticus wants to come back tomorrow. Or next Christmas. Whenever. :)
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