Holiday Cheer East Coast Style!

We were fortunate enough spend the Christmas holiday back east, thanks Dad! The plan was to be there for nine days. The weather changed our plans. By the time we were heading west, the boys had missed a week of school and we racked up 16 days on the east coast. I'm still trying to figure out why we couldn't get a flight out until seven full days after our original return date. Well, I don't spend much energy thinking about it, actually. I got an extra week with my mom and dad and sister and brother - and New England. Ah, New England. Need I say more? I mean, paradise is nice, but New England is still home in my heart, so intricately woven into my DNA.

We arrived on Tuesday, December 21. There was snow on the ground and we set straight to building things with it. When things got too cold or we'd had enough, we would build a fire in Nana and Papa's fireplace to warm ourselves. We drank lots of hot beverages, cocoa, coffee, tea. We ate Nana's "Don't *@!# With My Apple Pie" Apple pie. (that was an inside joke. when Chris was first getting to know Mum he was discussing her apple pie recipe and mistakenly made some suggestions to adjust it. To which Mum responded "Don't *@!# with my apple pie". Anyone who has eaten Nana's apple pie knows there is no improving on it. It's perfect.) We even had apple pie for breakfast one morning. Cookies were piled high about the house. There was even a special secret box of frosted date balls for Chris and I - which I devoured virtually on my own. We spent several delightful days with Auntie Mary and Eva Rose at Nana's and at Eva's house. We went swimming, if you can imagine. Chris and I spent time with Chuck shopping and just hanging. I must say I do love Chuck's new career. He's so Chucky-like these days. Loving my brother. Wow! we visited Angella at The Science Museum, I met up with Jean, Graham, and their girls in their new home, we saw The Dewsnap Clan, The White Clan, I got to see my favorite neighbors EVER, Natasha, Tony and Helen. We also had a chance to visit my favorite museum, the MFA. And it was a even new experience for me, because they have added on and changed the entrance and rearranged their collection. It was an old and new experience.

January 6th was our return flight. And it was nice to arrive home. We are so grateful for the time we were able to spend there, the snow that fell while we were there and for all the people who took time to spend with us over their busy holiday break.

Happy New Year Everyone!