Our little family has to import people so we can have over a dozen at a family get-together. Our list this year was a tad different
Yours truly and the little Mrs. wandered off to Daughter #1's house to join:
Daughter #1, husband, son and younger daughter
Younger daughter's "friend" who has yet to decide on a gender
Older granddaughter and husband
Daughter #3, husband and son
Mother- and Father-in-Law of Daughter #3
My ex-wife
The stepdaughter of Daughter #2.
The last two arrived together although they live over 150 miles apart. My ex-wife is staying at Daughter #2's house with step-granddaughter for a week while Daughter #2 and hubby are off celebating their Fifth Wedding Anniversay in Jamaica.
Almost forgotten to mention the two Maine Coon cats that were insulted that so many strangers had invaded their private abode.
I went to New Orleans for this holiday. It was also my birthday weekend so two birds, one stone kind of thing.
Did LOTS of walking and exploring of the city. I'd been before but it's been a few years. We stayed at a hotel right on Canal St. It was a great location but not the best hotel due to it undergoing some renovations that were NOT mentioned on their website. All in all, it served it's purpose for a place to sleep and get out of the cool, damp air.
Explored the French Quarter, French Market, Garden District, Business District, Riverfront, Jackson Square and steered clear of Bourbon Street which is not my scene, never really has been.
Had dinner at a little jazz club called Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. There was a sold out jazz concert happening that we could hear from our table and watched on a CCTV. Dinner was really good and we were set in the bar which was cozy, dark and quite pleasant. Would highly recommend if you're into jazz and good seafood/gumbo.
Had breakfast/brunch at a small cafe called Two Chicks Cafe and it was a small, cozy, delicious experience. We waited in line for about 10 minutes but was well worth the wait.
Had my birthday dinner at Chophouse which was amazing! Great service, ambiance and the food was VERY tasty.
On the way out, headed back to Texas, we made a stop at the Oak Alley plantation. This place is so beautiful with landscaping, 200 year old Oak trees and roughly 50 yards from the Mississippi river. The house itself was FULL of history and it's interesting to see how folks lived back then.
Back to work yesterday so I can plan/afford the next trip.
We had our usual boring Thanksgiving (but we kinda like it that way). Drove my mom up to Seattle to cat sit at our daughter's house, with a couple days visit at both ends. We went to a good friend's house where we had fun just chillin' out and consuming delicious food (friend is a very good cook).
I might have smoked a turkey, had my smoker not died on me a couple years ago. Probably time to get another one, since everyone has raved about it (and still do).
Of course, a large chunk of my weekend festivities included working on this website -- but no condolences needed. I enjoy it immensely! 🙂
My wife snuck off a couple of times to tend to someone on their way to the next life, and a few little ones who just started this life (she's also a volunteer baby holder at the hospital, for babies who might not otherwise have someone).
Overall, I can't complain. I'm a big fan of boring. 😉
We had the two youngest kids and wife. Oldest two were with the significant others family this year. But we had fun. Just had to make a couple hours on farm checking cows and letting the dog run. Daughters had fun seeing just how close they could get a week old calf to come to them.
Not me. We planned to visit the wife's family in Maine at MIL's house. Brothers flying in from FL & MD, sisters driving over from other parts of Maine. I tested positive for COVID Wednesday evening. MIL has not great health, so we all my household stayed put. No turkey for us, as the wife doesn't cook anything more challenging than ramen noodles. Been banished to the spare bedroom/office ever since. Just got out to go to the office today.
