Tuesday - November 30

 Hello from Eastland Suites in Bloomington!    We arrived here around 1:30 but our suite wasn't ready, so we went to storage and loaded up more to add to the already pretty full back of my car.    Still had to wait another hour or so till we could get in and start putting our stuff away.     This is our 7th December to stay here so like coming home and remembering where we put everything.

We left Georgetown at 7:47 this morning and another beautiful day for traveling.  

Awesome view from our room to start the day

Good morning...

 Stopped in Hebron, KY for gas,  Pittsboro, IN for a short break with lunch at Panera in Champaign, IL.

While at storage, sorted thru clothes and only bringing what we need instead of bins of our warm winter woolies.    Also, made the decision a while ago to NOT decorate our little home as we are here for such a short time......trying to keep it simple this year as we'll be leaving the 17th.    

We went over to Anne's around 4ish and had a nice visit with she, the boys and dogs.    Great to see them all......we'll be staying with Liam and Connor Thursday-Sunday while Anne is off to Vegas celebrating her 51st birthday (was supposed to be last year for her 50th)!

Anne, Frankie, Liam, Connor

One more trip to storage and then turned on the fireplace and hunkered down for the night watching our first Hallmark Christmas movie of the season!

Bye bye to November........bring on the hustle and bustle as we prepare for the real...

"Reason for the Season"

Monday - November 29

Said our good byes to everyone....Annette and Maeve were off to school; Luke woke up with a sore throat, so he's home today.    Beautiful day for traveling - sunny skies and 40's.    Traffic was pretty heavy and saw more RV's/campers heading north rather than south???    We shared the driving and covered 330 miles with 349  left to Bloomington for tomorrow.

Stopped for gas in Marion, NC, Starbucks in Knoxville, TN and lunch at Arby's in Mt. Vernon, KY.    No inside dining as seems to be the case more and more for fast-food places - drive-thru only, so we ate in the car.

Arrived in Georgetown, KY at 2:10 and settled in.    

Something I meant to mention last night - Ryan's pizza oven bakes a pizza in ONE MINUTE!    Unbelievably fast how this works.   If anyone is thinking about one of these for a gift or yourself....it's a winner!!!

More fun pics from the weekend

Gingerbread houses

Maeve

Blair

Luke

Grandpa and Grandma with the kiddos at 

Shortoff Mountain

Taking a rest on the bench

Luke is wrapped around the tree - all boy!!!

Tonight we met Theresa (Mark's sister) and Mike from West Chicago at Cattleman's Roadhouse for delicious dinner - the guys had steak and Theresa and I had whitefish.    They even had a very nice salad bar (hadn't seen one of them in a long time).    So good to catch up.    As we are heading back to IL, they are heading to NC and will be with our kiddos for the next 10 days or so.

Theresa and Mike

Sunday - November 28

 We enjoyed a delicious breakfast casserole that Judy had made and sent home with us last night.    Annette, Luke, Maeve, Grandpa and I went to 9:00 Mass at St. Charles Borromeo.    Today is the first Sunday of Advent and this church always hangs a ginormous wreath (8' in diameter and 6' off the ground)) over the center (tall folks still have to duck under), but it's so pretty and love that fresh evergreen scent.

After Mass we went to Ingles (we adults enjoyed Starbucks treats) and got donuts for Luke and Maeve plus the makings for homemade pizza which Ryan is making tonight.

On home and Annette made bloody Mary's.   We got some of our stuff together with Mark starting to pack up the car.    Got the Christmas tunes on, Maeve and I wrapped another package and did a load of laundry.    Philip is flying home today but 1st flight was full.....this is a very busy day for travel, so....

Mark, Annette, Grandma and the kids went for a short walk down the street to check on progress of new home under construction - some very interesting layouts that we couldn't figure out?     They will be checking it out as the building continues.

It's definitely looking like Christmas here in North Carolina....

The "Big" tree in family room

Luke and Maeve's tree and Daddy's airplane tree in basement

and

some outdoor beauty

Some happy memories from this Thanksgiving weekend...

Sweet Maeve under the tree

Leigh (Brooke's sister-in-law) turned her hoodie around and made a comfy little spot for Alley.

The kiddos enjoying some game time on Mommy's phone

Saturday was a marathon craft day for these little girls while Luke was at camp....

They made bows for the dogs (Gibson, Frankie  (Liam and Connor); Jinx (Brady and Blair), Bud and Alley, (Caroline and Cooper).  Also a volcanic eruption out on the road, made bath bombs, watched a movie, and made chocolate chip cookies!   Brooke was a very patient "Mommy/Auntie"

Ready to make the bath bombs

Doggie bows

Awesome chocolate chip cookies

Jerry Nibbles on his Pusheen blankie 

It's almost December and petunias are still blooming

Annette took us for a little ride to see a close-up of Shortoff Mountain.

Beautiful view is close to the kids 

We hiked thru the woods and rested on the bench!

Our last night at Lake James was spent at Ryan's with lots of euchre (4 and 5-handed).   Philip arrived at 6:15 (took 3 flights till there was an empty seat) and we enjoyed Ryan's homemade pizza on his special oven - it was very good along with salad and wine.

Pretty sunset from Ryan's deck

Excellent pizza

Sad to be leaving tomorrow, but what a fun 9 days here in NC.    Sooo much good eating, euchre, football, beautiful weather but most of all, hanging out with family!!!    Tomorrow, we are heading to Georgetown, KY and meeting Mark's sister, Theresa and Mike for dinner (of course, more eating)!!! 😋

Have a great week!

Saturday - November 27

 Philip flew back to Fort Lauderdale last night for some instructing till Sunday.   Good night's sleep and then another awesome "Annette" breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast/English muffins.    

Luke, Maeve and Grandma wrapped some presents (Christmas and 2 for Logan, Luke's friend who has a birthday party today).   

Maeve is a good scotch taper

Mark and Luke went to check out the new pickleball courts at the camp.

Luke pointing to the construction of the new courts which is so popular here - our kids love this game!

Maeve putting jammies on Camilla (cause she hasn't slept in a long time).    She said "this is how I do it" as Camilla stands on her head!!!

Philip is so talented at woodworking - here are 2 of his latest projects...

Barn door to close off the playroom

and

new desk in his office

and then, a few days ago...

Philip was flying over Guatemala when a volcano erupted

Annette preparing her 7-layer taco dip

After lunch, Mark and I hiked our favorite trail and here we are taking a rest on "our" bench

The guys helped Michael assemble their large tree

Michael on ladder, Mark, Scott, Davis

Judy and Bob at just one of MANY euchre games all weekend

Annette took Luke, Blair and Maeve to the camp for the tree lighting ceremony tonight

Ahhhhh - beautiful tree

Luke is 3rd from left and Blair and Maeve on far right side

Friday - November 26

 Chilly today and very windy - a 20 degree difference from yesterday.    Annette fixed another yummy breakfast - biscuits 'n gravy casserole.    Luke went to Day Camp and Maeve went with me to Michael's to play with Blair.    I made my Hawaiian sliders with ham 'n Swiss to go with the 4 soups that Judy, Annette, Brooke and Leigh made!    Good day for soup....more football, euchre, and visiting.

Kitchen crew...

Judy, Annette, Pat, Leigh, Brooke

'

Luke, Maeve and Blair doing their craft projects

After lunch, Brady and I went to Dollar General and brought the makings for the rollo/pretzel/M & M treats.    Blair and Maeve helped make these yummy family favorites.  

                                                          Gram and Grandma with the girls 

Hairy moments watching Iowa eek out a win over Nebraska....but they did it much to Michael's delight

Michael slow grilled 2 turkey breasts that Brooke had infused with some good flavorful stuff and then wrapped in bacon.   It was so good along with lots of leftovers from yesterday.    The deliciousness and consumption of all this food has been over the top.

Thanksgiving 2021

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with families and friends...    There were 22 of us at Michael and Brooke's with tons of delicious food and what a spectacular day at 63 and sunny.  Several ate outdoors on the deck.

This morning, Annette prepared a wonderful breakfast of cinnamon swirl French toast, sausage, blueberries and bananas.    Mark and I went to Michael's to pick up the last of our stuff.

Philip and Annette played pickleball and Maeve and Grandma made the puddin' for the cream puffs.    

We missed Drew this Thanksgiving - he was in the Cedar Rapids area with his girlfriend, Tessa and family.    

Anne, Liam and Connor were invited to Mark's brother Tom and Beth's for big dinner with their family.  

Several games of euchre, corn hole, visiting, lots of football and time around the bonfire made for the perfect holiday!   Here are a few pics from today...

Daddy and his girl

Separating the eggs

Another Aunt Jemima

Cuddy and cozy in her unicorn bathrobe

Maeve in her Christmas dress

Blair and Alley (her cousin's new puppy)

Michael carving the bird

 

 

 

Wednesday - November 24

 Lovin' these pretty fall days with the sun shining on the trees and still plenty of color.    Most of us slept in today - Brady was really exhausted from playing the entire game and not getting home (with Brooke) till after 11:30.    And he scored "19" points (gotta give him all that credit for a great game)!

Busy day in Brooke's kitchen which became "Grandma and Blair's domain" today.    We cranked up the Christmas tunes and "Little Miss Chef" and I got to work making strawberry pretzel salad, mini cream puffs, and getting the bacon, eggs, onions and dressing ready for spinach salad.    Cleaned up the kitchen and finished the laundry (our sheets and towels) for the next guests arriving tomorrow (Brooke's parents, brother and family).    Brooke was off to Asheville shopping for the day.    Michael and Davis golfed in a tournament.

Playing "Jolly Old St. Nicholas"

A perfect pretzel crust by this little homemaker!

Mark took Brady to Morganton at 1:30 to be with his teammates for tonight's game.   

Mark and I moved from Michael's to Philip's this afternoon.   Blair was with us for a bit and Philip, Annette and Ryan played pickleball.   Luke was at day camp.   We girls did manicures and hairstyling. 

  Girl Fun...

 

Delicious dinner of melt-in-your-mouth brisket with pasta and green beans.    And then euchre - but arghhhh....Annette and Mark beat Philip and me 3 of 3 games (close games, but ???)  

Brady won his game 49-19 and he scored 18 points!

May tomorrow bring many blessings as we celebrate with our families - in spite of all the turmoil in our country, we have much to be thankful for.

H A P P Y   T H A N K S G I V I N G