Trip Home

The trip home went smoothly despite the terrorist event that took place in Detroit on Christmas. We read that all carry-on would be subject to a hand search and that only one piece was allowed per person. Since we had 4 pieces this posed a problem. In the end, we filled our two big suitcases with all our carry-on items, clothes, and Christmas presents, taking only cameras and laptops with us as carry-on. We left 2 hours to clear security but were at the gate 30 minutes after saying goodbye to Melissa. I guess flying out of the States is easier than flying in.

I dozed while we waited to board as Miles had given me a cold and I was not really functioning. We boarded on time and with no problems. We were row 13, at the very back of the plane, but this suited me as the flight attendant gave me a whole can of ginger ale instead of a cup. Colds make me thirsty.

After landing in Calgary, we flew through customs and were home within a half hour. I could not make supper so we decided to go to Boston Pizza. However, everyone must have been sick of cooking and/or leftovers because there were line-ups at the two restaurants we tried. We ended up at Nottingham Pub, across the street from Meg's townhouse, where Glen enjoyed steak and kidney pie and I had shepherd's pie. We were in bed by 8:30.

We had a great holiday with Geoff's family and will miss the little ones and our early morning wake-up call. Elijah wished we could live next door and I must say that would be a perfect world.

Christmas in Aurora (there's a song in that)

We had a wonderful Christmas with Geoff, Melissa, Elijah and Miles. It began Christmas Eve with a lovely church service where Melissa sang in the choir and all the Armstrong men wore white shirts and Christmasy ties.

As tradition has it in our family, Christmas Eve is seafood night and the more the better. We indulged in mussels, oysters, Maryland crab cakes, shrimps, and oyster soup. Melissa had a steak cooked by Glen. We also enjoyed Bessie's cranberry salad, another traditional Christmas Eve dish which Elijah loved. Geoff has a small wine cellar and we tried one of his favourites.

The kids were excited about Santa coming although they told Grampy that all he would get was a lump of coal as he had distrupted the building of the gingerbread house the day before. Even Miles knows you are not supposed to eat the icing before it has hardened.

Christmas morning, Melissa was first up at 5:00 and by 6:30 all the adults were up. The kids kept to their room until 7:00 as is their routine but were thrilled to see Santa had come when they raced downstairs. They tore into their presents in an orderly manner thanking whoever gave them the gift whether they were present in the room or not.

Glen was surprised to see a lump of coal beside his stocking as it had not been there when he went to bed. It brought back memories of a time when we wrapped the same lump and gave it to his Dad as a Christmas present. It had come from our old apartment in Ottawa and was a reminder of a time when the furnace burned coal.

Santa brought the grandmonkeys nerf guns which were a big hit, in more ways than one. They used them as ground-t0-air missiles. Screams of laughter and wails of frustration that always happen at Christmas made the morning exciting. We finally finished opening presents at 10:00, having stopped to enjoy Geoff's homemade cinnamon buns partway through the present opening.

Christmas lunch was a variety of fancy cheeses (Melissa even found one she liked), leftover shrimp, olives, and an endive Caesar salad that Melissa created. The kids did not want to nap for fear of missing something. The adults played Wii Resort which was lots of fun.

Fro Christmas dinner, Geoff rotisseried the turkey after letting it sit in a savory brine overnight. It was delicious. He made a fancy dressing with apples, celery root and fennel as well as sweet potatoes while Melissa whipped up an awesome batch of mashed potatoes. We finished with the Christmas pudding I had made back in October and its accompanying sauce.

The kids went to bed exhausted and we followed a short time later.

The United States doesn't celebrate Boxing Day so there were no big sales or crowds at the shopping centers so Melissa and I ventured out to get groceries and my birthday present. She also wanted to use her new Tom-Tom. She gets lost a lot when driving so this GPS device should help her. We laughed because the Tom-Tom wanted her to take the freeway to the store but Melissa didn't want to so it kept telling her to make a U-turn. It was very funny.

One thing that makes Boxing Day special is leftovers. We indulged in another turkey feast and the boys broke up the gingerbread house for dessert.

The Children are Nestled all Snug in their Beds

Tonight Glen and I are babysitting. After cooking the grandmonkeys dinner, we read stories and played quiet games then both kidlets went to bed without a fuss. We haven't lost our touch. They are now sleeping while Geoff and Melissa enjoy a double date.

We arrived in Aurora late Sunday night after a horrendous airline experience. We got to the airport at 1:15, Meg and Mike driving us with 4 carry-on bags and 2 huge suitcase. We have never travelled so heavily laden. At the United counter, we discovered, after 20 minutes of keyboard tapping that Air Canada had booked us on a non-existent flight. The gate agent put us on standby for the flight we were supposed to take then booked us seats on a noon flight on Monday. We waited until 2:30 then learned we would not make the 3:30 flight.

United sent us to Air Canada saying they couldn't get us onto the 5:30 Denver flight. Air Canada said, no, that we had priority because we were mishandled passengers. They discovered that a flight from Frankfurt was late meaning 5 free seats on the United Denver flight. They sent us back to United who said, yes, they could get us on that flight but we'd have to be on standby until we reached the gate.

Thrilled, we went to enter customs only to be told we had to wait until 3:30 to be processed. It was 3:15 so we went to Harvey's because we hadn't had lunch yet. We inhaled a burger (Glen) and a chicken sandwich (me) and then went back to customs. All went well until we passed through security where one bag that Glen carried caused problems. Since I had wrapped all our gifts, the agent and I went through each one. Glen had to leave because most were for him and I had to tell the woman what each one was. No presents were opened but it did take time.

We reached the gate to learn the plane was delayed then they changed our gates. Finally, at 6:15, 6 hours after arriving at the airport, we boarded. After deicing, etc, we left Calgary at 6:45 and arrived in Denver at 8:45. Melissa whipped up some pasta and sauce for a light supper then we tumbled into bed.

Two bright and cheery faces woke us up at 6:30 Monday morning ready to play with Nana and Grampy. After breakfast, Geoff, Melissa and I headed to do Christmas grocery shopping at Sprouts, Sunflower, and Safeway with a stop at Geoff's favourite liquor store. Grampy played with the grandmonkeys.

We had lunch, played Wii Fit Plus, then the kidlets napped while Grampy did a conference call. Geoff made fudge. Melissa and I went to Five Guys for burgers and fries which we brought home then when the kids were in bed, the grown-ups watched Black Adder's Christmas Carol.

Today Glen, Melissa, and I went with the kids to Cherry Creek Mall. Our shopping was less than successful, although Melissa got a great bargain on a blouse. We then stopped at the pediatrician where both boys had their seasonal flu shots. It was not a happy experience although peppermint/chocolate milkshakes eased the pain. Geoff did a run but the weather had started to turn (it is now snowing).

After lunch, Grampy babysat while kids napped. Geoff took me to his favourite running store to buy some shoes so I could do zumba with Melissa tomorrow morning. The shoe selection process involved walking on a treadmill and having my pace videotaped. I love my shoes and they are Brooks which is Geoff's favourite brand.

Glen played the card game War with Elijah and when I got home, I taught him Solitaire. Both kids love colouring and playing with stickers. Geoff made brownies then I made supper with Melissa's help. Now we are relaxing. Tomorrow will see the beginning of Christmas food preparations and wrapping some last minute gifts.