Tired but Home

We're home! Finally! We made it. Last night, Tuesday, dh and I arrived at Newark airport at 7:00 p.m. and checked in with JetBlue for our 8:55 p.m. flight back to Ft. Lauderdale. We landed in Ft. Lauderdale at 4:55 a.m. Due to high winds, Newark Airport stopped all landing and arriving flights for hours and hours while we sat at the gate and waited. We told our friend not to worry about picking us up (although he was willing to wait) and got a taxi to take us home - the ride cost us $54.70! At that point, we just wanted to be home.

Our Thanksgiving was quite lovely. We all gathered at my sister Kathy's house. By all (25 of us) I mean two of my sisters & their families, three of my brothers and their families (I am one of eight), Laney & her family and my son, Jon. I made a 21+ pound turkey with lots of sides and worried if we would have enough meat. We just made it! Our kids are growing up and have adult sized appetites now, a fact I failed to consider when planning dinner. Note to self: Next year, more meat. The family time was really good, the kids had a blast in the hot tub, and we picked our grab bag names for the traditional family fun night on Christmas Eve.

I love this time of year. I am so thankful that I had a Mom and Dad who treasured their family and instilled it's value into their children. Now, I see my children, my nieces and nephews, our next generation, assuming our family traditions, and it thrills my heart. I am certain that this was the desire of my Dad's heart. He lives on in our celebration.

I spent a wild time of Christmas shopping while in NJ. It was a well executed plan in which my daughters played a significant role. We shopped till we dropped, literally! Now, most of my gifts are purchased, some wrapped, and waiting for me when I return to NJ for Christmas. Thanks girls.

My husband and I attended a Murder Mystery Dinner at our friend's home the weekend after Thanksgiving. They planned this party for when we would be in NJ because they say "we are lots of fun!" Well, the truth is, we are. We received invitations in the mail which revealed our characters and we dressed the part. The setting was Chicago 1926 and Patrick was a millionaire gambler named Ernie G. Ambler, nicknamed Betsamillion. I was Molly Awbster, a socialite from NY who moved to Chicago because I wanted more fun and night life, I was a flapper. We had a blast. There were eight of us for dinner and we stayed in character all night. Thankfully, I am not sleeping with a murderer but now I can't get him out of the character. He keeps saying things like, "lets go to the track, baby" and "how about the Casino" Only kidding!

The very best part of my trip to NJ, as always, was spending time with my daughters and their families. My sons-in-laws are very gracious and kind to me, my grandsons are more than delightful. John & Jeremy & me spent an evening out. We saw the movie, Zathura, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The sounds of little Joe's "Hi Gramma" and baby Tom's laughter, singing, and humming while eating keeps replaying in my memory and it makes me smile.

I am blessed!