Holidays

We left Wednesday night around 9:00 p.m. for North Carolina. We being, my daughter, and my son, and myself. I was sooo tired that we only made it to Knoxville and then stopped at a hotel. We spent the night there and got up the next morning and drove the rest of the way to Morganton to my mom's. When we arrived, I went with my mom to go get Clyde, her boyfriend, from the nursing home. We brought him back to her house for rum and egg nog. Later, we took him back. Upon return, at my mom's house, we then had, my oldest son, Craig, his 2 children, Caleb and Megan, his girlfriend Tammy and 2 of her children, Mattie and Megan, and my sister Kathie and her husband Steve and their son Danny and his wife Stephanie, and their daughter, Linsi. Oh my did we feast upon food and wine! I cannot remember the last time every single one of us laughed so much.

The next morning, my middle son, Anthony and my daughter Beth and I drove to Sugar Mountain. My children went snowboarding. I skied. Later, we met my oldest son Craig and his girlfriend Tammy and her daughter Mattie at a japanese steak house for dinner. Yes, in the middle of dinner, my mother called, wanting to know if we made back down the mountain safely.

The next morning, Saturday, my nephew Todd and his wife Rebecca and their 5 1/2 month old son Collier, and Todd's sister, Wendy and her husband Jay and their 2 year old son Will drove in from Pineville and Gastonia. We had lunch at my mom's with all 7 of my mother's grandchildren, beginning with the oldest Craig, Todd, Wendy, Danny, Anthony, Linsi, and Beth. This was the first meeting of my great nephews Collier and Will.

Later on, my sister Kathie and her daughter Linsi, and my son Anthony and my daughter Beth and myself went downtown the place I grew up - Morganton. It was such a lovely little town. We went to a little coffee shop and then walked amongst the little stores. Memories of a wonderful childhood! My son suggested, "Mom, you paint, aunt Kathie sews and makes handbags, and Linsi cooks and makes coffee - the 3 of you should go into business with all your unique talents and open your own shop!" Perhaps a quest to be considered in the future eh?

Anyway, we went back to my mom's and packed and left to come home around 5:00 p.m. The forecast called for snow in the mountains. Family - accepting and loving, yes, family rocks!