We are back from a whirlwind trip to cold, snowy IL. Here's a recap of the past 4 days...
Thursday - up early to drive to Punta Gorda and our 8:30 (30-minute delay) flight to Peoria. Burrr....so cold and flurries off and on. Got our rental car and then met Allie and Owen for delicious hot breakfast at Eggcellent Cafe in East Peoria. Enjoyed a nice long chat and again, so sorry for the loss of Owen's brother recently.
Then we were off to St. Francis Hospital to visit my cousin and fellow Sublettian Jane. What a ginormous complex with tunnels, and zig zaggy paths everywhere!!! At this point, Jane had been in the hospital a week and been moved 4x. We had a nice young man (orderly) escort us to her floor - what a trip! Ha.....but so good to see her, and also hubby Joe and grandson, Josh. We had a great visit, but Jane was so tired. Hopes to come home tomorrow.
Then we were off to Bloomington - ran a few errands and picked up some groceries for Anne. Got to her house (boys were at swim practice). Great to see them all - ordered pizza/salad from Monicals and enjoyed our dinner (+ wine for the big folks)! Then we exchanged our gifts and called it a day!
Friday - Said our good byes as Anne was off to work (upstairs) at 7 AM and the boys left for school at 7:20. Mark and I loaded up the car and then picked up Starbucks coffees and breakfast treats and off to visit Donna Rae at her Westminster Village assisted living apartment. We had such a nice visit and then her daughter, Judy stopped by and more chatter.....so many good memories of Judy and Steve for many many years having the craft sale in November at our house on Jackson Street. Bye bye till spring...
Left for Mendota and lunch with Bob and Linda - their house is always sooo pretty and Christmassy. Can't believe I forgot a picture....arghhhh. Great lunch of 2 soups, mini ham salad sandwiches, cheese/crackers and then red velvet cake roll/grasshopper pie for dessert. We'll see them in FL this winter.
Onto Stonecroft Village to visit Aunt Marian - she is such a delight at 94 and we sat in her cozy apartment and yakked and yakked. Walked down the hallway and saw my cousin Delmer and 2 other ladies I've known for a very long time....Betty is 99 and Mary will be 100 on Christmas Eve.
Stopped in Sublette to see Mom and Dad's gravesites and the pretty greenery bouquet.
Onto Dixon (it is soooo cold and windy) - checked into the hotel, settled in unpacking and then joined the family for games/pizza and lots of chatter. Mostly siblings and spouses there tonight (many more coming tomorrow). We have the big party room for the weekend and we will fill it for sure as expecting 98 tomorrow!
Saturday - snowy and cold.....we picked up my cousin Eileen (Jane's sister) for breakfast. Went to the Coffee Crush - good coffees and sandwiches/waffles. We so enjoyed our visit and then ran some errands including a trip to her favorite grocery store - Oliver's. Just so cold to be out running around. Snowed off and on.
Eileen showed us her apartment after we carried in the groceries, said our goodbyes and back to the hotel. More games in the afternoon and more family arrived. We went to 4:30 Mass at St. Pat's and then back to the party room for wonderful bountiful feast, gift exchange and lots of visiting - it was very noisy with so many + little ones running around, but everyone had a good time and another Chamberlain Christmas for the record books. Annette's parents, Dave and Judy joined us, too!
Sunday - up early again and left hotel at 6 AM for Peoria airport. 11 degrees out, but tah dah...we did have brilliant sunshine. Got the rental car filled with gas at station nearby, turned in car, got some breakfast and then we were off at 10:10 back to sunny, 75 degree Punta Gorda.
Unpacked but didn't put our bags away as we'll be leaving again on Wednesday for NC. Did some laundry and settled in.
Have a great just-before-Christmas week!
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