Okay, I've sat down and worked on this blog post at least three times in the last week and a half each time just needed to wrap it up only to get side tracked and not getting back to it until several days later. The following with several weather events and some editing is dated, please read on bearing that in mind...
Three "Christmases" First Christmas was on Carol's side of the family the Sunday before Christmas. That was at Elaine and Steve's with their son Mark and wife Megan and kids Lydia and Brock. Carol's sister Lois and Jim her husband and the sister's mother Margaret. A good time with good food. Ian made it too. Unfortunately Ali had to stay home to study for semester finals at law school. Well Carol and I were able to make up for missing Ali when we had accepted an invitation from from Ali's parents, Mandy and Victor to spend Christmas Eve and Day, our second Christmas, with them at their lake house in New Hampshire, a two hour drive from here. We arrived with time to spare for Christmas Eve services where Ali's grandmother Rosemary played piano for the choir. Back to the house for a bolognese dinner nicely done, Mandy is a great cook. Christmas morning was a big breakfast featuring Swedish pancakes, a big deal around Carol's family and us as well. Carol shared the recipe with Mandy who cooked them up and with bacon/sausage, Cool Whip and strawberries. A little while later we shared Christmas gifts having a good times with surprises and good laughs. Chilled out for most on the afternoon as Carol, Mandy and I watched a movie. Ian and Ali had run an errand. Ali had brought a very tasty coffee stout which was a great afternoon treat. Dinner that evening included some friends of the family Anne and Mick, Mandy cooked a huge roast beef that Victor finished on the grill out on the snow covered decked. We enjoyed the time there very much. Third Christmas was Saturday, New Year's Eve day with my extended family at our nephew Eric and wife Kailey's place a short drive away for us. Great turnout by my siblings and their adult children and Ian and Ali - only Jim, sister Kathy's son couldn't make it as he had to work though his wife Kelly and step daughter Taylor were there. As usual it was pot luck eats, a very good Yankee Swap for the gifts and of course the huge family photo.
I also managed to take vacation time during the holiday week with a little bit of office work I could do from home. Seems I have an abundance of vacation time available that I hope to use here and there over the next couple of months. Believe it when you read it here.
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