That old song about overcoming wintery obstacles to make it to Grandma's house was one of the themes of our recent Thanksgiving family reunion. As ten family members around the country made their way to join the three of us at home in Washington, mild fall temperatures gave way to arctic cold, much snow and icy roads for the whole week we were together.
Sunday, Nov. 21. Keith and Bethany fly in from Phoenix with Evangeline and K2. We stop for Mexican food on the way to our house. Book reading is big with both E and K2 so we do a lot of it. Keith and Bethany have taken one week of vacation out of only two for the year from their apartment ministry to come be with the family.
Monday, Nov. 22. We all wake up to total snow cover and wonder how Zach and Kaley will be able to drive down from Spokane after they land in the evening, flying in from Louisiana. Chris and Bethany take Evangeline to Highland Health Foods to pick up almond flour to make yummy chocolate chip cookies and to Costco for salmon, scrumptious fuji's and a bag of avocados. Keith moves his family across the street to stay at neighbor Dave's basement just before bedtime.
Tuesday, Nov. 23 At 12:30 am, Zach and Kaley arrive from their elongated drive through blinding snow flurries down from Spokane. Zion hasn't slept well on the journey but Keziah has fared better. She goes to sleep on the hide-a-bed in the living room one night until Auntie Annie arrives to share the outside room with her. Zion sleeps with his folks in the guest room. After a few hours of sleep, the four grandchildren get to re-meet one another and share the books, toys and cats. The dads take them out, bundled up, to slide down the snow on the driveway.
When Evangeline comes in, she is cold so Grami promises to make her some warm juice. This becomes an instant tradition, requested after every snowy outing, with Keziah joining in.
Grami's note: I didn't get any more about the days written yet and still have trouble finding the pictures I want to include but here is one that captures the fun and energy of one evening dancing to the music!
3 comments:
Your reference to the "over the river" song reminded me that the week before we came to your house, Evangeline heard "She'll be coming around the mountain." When we got to the line, "She'll have to sleep with grandma when she comes," Evangeline said, "That's silly. I not sleep in Grami's bed!"
I think it's sweetly ironic that she ended up taking her best naps in your bed. :-)
Yes, the picture makes me think of what a warm and inviting place your house was for the kids and all of us. It says, "Come play music, dance, read books, play with play dough whenever you want." I still can't believe we were able to do all that you mentioned in that e-mail that you wanted to. The cold outside just highlighted how warm and inviting it was inside.
Yes, the picture makes me think of what a warm and inviting place your house was for the kids and all of us. It says, "Come play music, dance, read books, play with play dough whenever you want." I still can't believe we were able to do all that you mentioned in that e-mail that you wanted to. The cold outside just highlighted how warm and inviting it was inside.
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