Given our distance from family, Christmas tends to be a two-week affair for us most years. No worries, though–our families keep us quite busy during our trip. This year, we had nine separate gatherings over eight days.While I probably won’t post about all of them, I will cover quite a few in the coming days.
We started our trip–just the girls and me–out at my mom’s on Monday the 22nd. I took the opportunity to make many batches of candy in my mom’s formerly pristine kitchen (sorry, Mom).
Mornings are always beautiful on the lake, and Mom and Dave added a hot tub to the new deck construction. Just when you thought the view couldn’t be improved…
The girls played happily at Gramma’s, though Ava asked when Aunt Katie would arrive about 15 times every hour.
Katie flew into Kansas City on Tuesday night, but a pending ice storm caused her and Bryan to delay their trip west until Wednesday morning. Road conditions meant an extra 90 minutes in the car for what was already a five hour trip. Needless to say, they were both a little tired and stressed.
You know what will help with that? Mulled wine. Nicely done, Mom.
For the record, you are not supposed to drink mulled wine in the hot tub, then request more by throwing your cinnamon stick stirrer at the window in an effort to get Mom’s attention. Despite the fact that it is literally four degrees above zero, you should risk life and limb to scurry across the deck into the house. The 30 mile an hour winds feel brisk against your wet skin, but you probably won’t get frostbite. The wine–made with a LOT of apricot brandy–is worth the trip.
More to come!
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