Happy Birthday, 12/30 Monday

After an upgrade to first class and a two-hour flight delay, we arrive in MN about 5:00pm and face a temperature of minus 2. Daughters pick us up, and the celebrating begins.

The birthday girl, our older granddaughter, has requested a favorite menu of pork chops and mashed potatoes for dinner, and we happily satisfy our travel appetites. Her next request has the entire family playing an energetic game of Life, which turns more hilarious than usual with profuse commentary and a few modifications. (Adults might have been fueled by cocktails, children by sugar.)

Eventually we get around to the birthday cake, chocolate with chocolate frosting and Lego candles and decorations. Successfully extinguishing them with a single breath, birthday girl adds her applause to ours. Might as well scoop some ice cream onto those plates!

Eleven years old! Whoa!

Anniversary Dinner 11/26 Tuesday

Those in the know realize that we are celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary a day early. We have learned from past experiences that the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Thursday is too crazy busy for going out. Once again we choose a favorite place not far from the house, fun and noisy with never-ending popcorn and interesting beer selections. Because it's dark and decorated, I lighten a couple of photos to reveal the subjects.

When our table is ready, we scan the long menus, but older granddaughter has brought something more interesting to read. Yikes! She orders familiar gumbo, as does her sister, since they know it's available only on Tuesday nights. I have the prime rib "burger" with cheese and a fried egg on top. Ridiculous! So might as well add onion rings, right? Thank goodness I'm sharing!

For desert granddaughters order fudge-drizzled cheesecake and warm brownie and chocolate chip cookie sundae pie, both to share with the table. Oh my, glad tomorrow is not Thanksgiving dinner!

Notice the bingo cards and markers, another special feature of Tuesday nights. We play several rounds but produce no winners. On the other hand, just having all of us together makes us the best winners ever!

School Morning 11/26 Tuesday

Granddaughters must attend school one more day before being out for Thanksgiving weekend. They have enough time to play a favorite video and sing along to "What Does the Fox Say?" Older makes up dance moves while younger deejays.

Soon they bundle up against twelve-degree temperature and leave for school.

School Girls 11/25 Monday

Our plane lands in time to go with daughter to pick up granddaughters. Third grader is ready with a thumbs up to celebrate the holidays without school and with family and food. At her locker she confidently collects everything needed and smartly wears her coat against the freezing weather.

Next stop is the church location where the bus drops older granddaughter. Not expecting to see us there, she exits the bus and runs to greet us. After big hugs, she shows off her warm new coat and the all-important trendy thumb holes.

While daughter attends school committee and PTA meetings, we have a Mexican dinner she prepared previously. Later in the evening, she picks up our younger daughter who has flown from San Francisco. With all of us together under one roof, celebrations can begin.

No School! 11/1 Friday

Students have no school today because the first quarter has ended for their district, so granddaughters spend the day with us. We begin with breakfast at a coffee place down the hill. Girls read while waiting patiently. First come their turtle smoothies, one with decaf and one without coffee, extra whipped cream on both. This morning both order quiche, older bacon and cheese and younger sausage and pepper jack. My standby, the breakfast sandwich, is extra gooey this morning, the coffee thick and delicious.

Girls describe their haul from last night, and their mom texts photos of them with candy and with friends. I show them the pasta dish my sister's stepdaughter served her family for Halloween dinner. Yikes!