Thanksgiving
Ive been home a little over a week and its been enjoyable. The family was happy to see me as were the dogs. It took a few days to get re-acclimated to Colorado weather and the lack of humidity, the somewhat warm days and the ice-cold nights, but Im back and I love every minute of it. There was talk of a passing snow, it finally happened Friday night. The past three days the temperature has gone from the mid-sixties to the low thirties. Once the ground remains consistently cold snow will stick and as of right now, it has.
When I returned to my office Monday, I was greeted with the normal deluge of missed work. Still, over a week later, I havent completed the two incident reports I promised to finish. Being at the office for only two days then taking my forced time-off Wednesday and Friday gave me the needed delays to get those reports completed. Although not on time, theyll still be finished before the three-week cutoff. Enough with work, its Thanksgiving week and that turkey was terrific!
I got a call Monday night from my father. He asked if the older two children were in school this week and what time they got out of school. I told him that the children were out of school this week then I asked the next question, Dad, why? He was rather vague, plus, he was calling me from his cell. I just left the gym and wasnt in the mood for games. I told him that Id like to call him back and he made it abundantly clear that he wanted me to call him on his cell and not the home phone. Finally, he told me he was in Colorado and that he was planning to drive from Colorado Springs (where my Grandmother and Aunt live) to my house the following afternoon. I was utterly floored, annoyed, and concerned.
Once I worked out the preliminary logistics with my father, I called my mother. Mom, did you and Dad get into a fight? Is he in Colorado because Grandmother is sick? Why didnt you come? were all the questions asked as soon as the normal pleasantries were complete. No, my parents didnt get into a fight. My Grandmother is fine. The reasoning for her not coming is the same excuse as always: stubbornness. I asked Jessica and the children to help pick-up the house and get it ready for my father I then called him up and worked out a time for him to get here. Tuesday afternoon he was here and the children were ecstatic.
My father took Tyler, Kylea, Ayden, Rylin, Jessica, and I to see Bolt. It was an all-expense paid trip. I remembered why I never take the whole family to a movie: $44 for the movie admission and another $40 for popcorn and soda. I felt horrible but my father shrugged it off, it was something he wanted to do with his grandchildren. The movie was a lot of fun and the children, my father, Jessica, and I really got a good laugh out of it. Rhino was excellent comic relief. Ill never look at our hamsters the same way againespecially when theyre in their ball. My father departed back to Colorado Springs late Wednesday afternoon and our house returned to normal.
Thanksgiving is always interesting in our house. We always have the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, and stuffing, but you never know if there will be dessert. Nothing in our house is ever pre-made on Thanksgiving. Jessica and for a portion of the day I slave away in the kitchen getting everything ready. We needed to make a grocery store and a liquor store run around 4:30pm and by the time we got home at 5:30, Ayden and Rylin were pretty much done for the day. We put them down for a one hour nap; they ended up sleeping the night. With the turkey almost done, the potatoes boiled and ready for mashing, we relaxed for a few minutes. Once everything was ready, we set the table, poured the wine and sparkling apple cider, and celebrated Thanksgiving. It was quiet, enjoyable, and at times funny. I have wonderful children and a great wife and for that I will always be thankful!
Jessica was up bright and early Friday morning for Black Friday Christmas shopping. She got a lot of the shopping done with a bunch of excellent deals found. Although she spent a few dollars more than expected, she did great and thats what matters most. Later Friday I got my Christmas present, a new couch. Actually, its a chair and a half but if you look at it, youll see that it is almost the length of a couch. Its quite comfortable. I dont miss the couch. Hopefully Jessica will come visit me over here once in a while. I might visit her couchif shell let me.
I cannot believe were in the Christmas season now. Where did the year go?
When I returned to my office Monday, I was greeted with the normal deluge of missed work. Still, over a week later, I havent completed the two incident reports I promised to finish. Being at the office for only two days then taking my forced time-off Wednesday and Friday gave me the needed delays to get those reports completed. Although not on time, theyll still be finished before the three-week cutoff. Enough with work, its Thanksgiving week and that turkey was terrific!
I got a call Monday night from my father. He asked if the older two children were in school this week and what time they got out of school. I told him that the children were out of school this week then I asked the next question, Dad, why? He was rather vague, plus, he was calling me from his cell. I just left the gym and wasnt in the mood for games. I told him that Id like to call him back and he made it abundantly clear that he wanted me to call him on his cell and not the home phone. Finally, he told me he was in Colorado and that he was planning to drive from Colorado Springs (where my Grandmother and Aunt live) to my house the following afternoon. I was utterly floored, annoyed, and concerned.
Once I worked out the preliminary logistics with my father, I called my mother. Mom, did you and Dad get into a fight? Is he in Colorado because Grandmother is sick? Why didnt you come? were all the questions asked as soon as the normal pleasantries were complete. No, my parents didnt get into a fight. My Grandmother is fine. The reasoning for her not coming is the same excuse as always: stubbornness. I asked Jessica and the children to help pick-up the house and get it ready for my father I then called him up and worked out a time for him to get here. Tuesday afternoon he was here and the children were ecstatic.
My father took Tyler, Kylea, Ayden, Rylin, Jessica, and I to see Bolt. It was an all-expense paid trip. I remembered why I never take the whole family to a movie: $44 for the movie admission and another $40 for popcorn and soda. I felt horrible but my father shrugged it off, it was something he wanted to do with his grandchildren. The movie was a lot of fun and the children, my father, Jessica, and I really got a good laugh out of it. Rhino was excellent comic relief. Ill never look at our hamsters the same way againespecially when theyre in their ball. My father departed back to Colorado Springs late Wednesday afternoon and our house returned to normal.
Thanksgiving is always interesting in our house. We always have the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, and stuffing, but you never know if there will be dessert. Nothing in our house is ever pre-made on Thanksgiving. Jessica and for a portion of the day I slave away in the kitchen getting everything ready. We needed to make a grocery store and a liquor store run around 4:30pm and by the time we got home at 5:30, Ayden and Rylin were pretty much done for the day. We put them down for a one hour nap; they ended up sleeping the night. With the turkey almost done, the potatoes boiled and ready for mashing, we relaxed for a few minutes. Once everything was ready, we set the table, poured the wine and sparkling apple cider, and celebrated Thanksgiving. It was quiet, enjoyable, and at times funny. I have wonderful children and a great wife and for that I will always be thankful!
Jessica was up bright and early Friday morning for Black Friday Christmas shopping. She got a lot of the shopping done with a bunch of excellent deals found. Although she spent a few dollars more than expected, she did great and thats what matters most. Later Friday I got my Christmas present, a new couch. Actually, its a chair and a half but if you look at it, youll see that it is almost the length of a couch. Its quite comfortable. I dont miss the couch. Hopefully Jessica will come visit me over here once in a while. I might visit her couchif shell let me.
I cannot believe were in the Christmas season now. Where did the year go?