CHRISTMAS VACATION



Texas family at the Gaylord

Dinosaur racing at the museum

Frog back riding at museum

WITH THE INCLEMENT WEATHER LOOMING OVER US, WE WERE UNSURE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OUR CHRISTMAS VACATION AS SCHEDULED.  THE WEATHER COOPERATED LONG ENOUGH TO GET US TO OUR DESTINATION.  AS ALWAYS, IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WEATHER, JUST WAIT A DAY!

Me and my "Little Boy"

WE ARE GENERALLY ACCUSTOMED TO WARMER CLIMATE IN DALLAS. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THIS TRIP.  IT WAS MOSTLY COLD AND WET.  WE DID GET ONE WALK IN BUT WERE UNABLE TO TAIKE OUR TRADIOTIONAL BIKE RIDES WITH THE  G’KIDS.  THE BOYS PARTICULARLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS ACTIVITY.

REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER, WE FOUND MUCH TO DO INDOORS.  AS ONE MIGHT EXPECT IN THE DFW AREA AND AT CHRISTMAS BREAK, EVERYTHING WAS PACKED OUT.   OUR FIRST OUTING WAS TO THE NEW PEROT MUSEUM.  IT WAS WORTH BRAVING THE COLD AND THE CROWDS.  IT IS EXCEPTIONAL.  WE DID PASS ON LUNCHING AT THE ONSITE CAFÉ.  THE WOLF GANG PUCK PIZZAS WAS A HUGE DRAW LEAVING LONG WAITING LINES.

SUNDAY BROUGHT MASS, PIZZA AND PASTA OUT FOR LUNCH, A VIST TO THE TEXAN GAYLORD CHRISTMAS DISPLAY AND FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT AT HOME. WE WERE GRATEFUL TO WAIT BY THE GAYLORD LOBBY FIREPLACES FOR DR. SON TO RETRIEVE THE MOM BUS AND COLLECT US CURBSIDE.  WITH BECKY LOOKING LIKE SHE IS ABOUT TO DELIVER ‘BABY BOY’ ANY SECOND, THE ATTENDANTS RAPIDLY AND PERHAPS A BIT NERVOUSLY, CLEARED THE LANES FOR OUR PICK UP.  SORRY BECKY!

 WE ALWAYS TRY TO EVENLY DIVIDE OUR TIME WITH EACH CHILD/YOUNG WOMAN. HOWEVER, LILY THE YOUNGEST DEMANDS AND GENERALLY RECEIVES UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.  SHE GENERALLY PREFERS PAPA DAN BUT ON THIS VISIT, SHE WAS NANA’S CONSTANT SHADOW.  SHE IS QUITE PRECOCIOUS THIS ONE. SHE IS NOT SO DIFFERENT FROM HER SIBLINGS IN THAT RESPECT.  SHE DOESN’T MISS MUCH.   DR. SON POINTED OUT MY CHRISTMAS OVEN BURN WAS LOOKING A BIT INFECTED.  WHEN LILY NOTICED A NEW BANDAGE, SHE ASKED WHY. I TOLD HER WHEN I WASH MY HANDS IT FALLS OFF.  SHE PAUSED FOR A MOMENT AND SAID, “WELL, YOU ALWAYS SHOUJLD WASH YOUR HANDS.”

NEW YEARS EVE HAS BEEN EXTRA SPECIAL SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR SECOND GRANDCHILD, MEGAN ON THAT DATE.  WE CELEBRATED HER TWELFTH, AS HARD AS IT IS TO IMAGINE, WITH MOM’S HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CAKE, MOVIE OUT AND DINNER AT CHILI’S---HEAVY ON THE QUESO! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE, DAD WAS ABLE TO JOIN US!  PEOPLE STILL GET SICK EVEN ON HOLIDAYS.

RUMOR HAS IT THERE WERE FIREWORKS DURING THE RINGING IN OF THE NEW YEAR.   WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE ACCEPT THAT IN FAITH.  EVERYONE WAS HAPPY BUT EXHAUSTED AFTER THE LONG CELEBATORY DAY.  SOME OF US CRASHED ON THE WAY HOME!  WE ALL SLEPT SOUNDLY AND LATE INTO NEW YEARS DAY.

I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY TO END AND BEGIN A YEAR THAN BEING WITH THOSE YOU LOVE.

 BECAUSE YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE; MY LIPS WILL GLORIFY YOU!

PSALM 63:3