Later in the morning, Jeremy & Renee and Brett & Esther and family joined us for a yummy breakfast of baked French toast and the Dewey family traditional fruit salad (oranges, grapefruit and bananas - all fresh cut and sectioned the day before (except the bananas). You know the saying, "the family that eats together, stays together"? We're proving that correct! Lots of food, laughter, and enjoying being together!
Renee crocheted matching scarves for all the girls, from Grandma to Maeve. They are so soft and pretty, lovely shades of blue, beige and brown with a great turquoise "feathery" yarn trim. I've worn mine and love it!
The night after Christmas while the girls slumbered partied at Jeff & Caroline's, the adults and Cole met at Jeremy & Renee's for a great meal and lots of laughter. They grilled salmon on a cedar plank, had filet crostinis with horseradish, and tri-tip skewers. We ate like we hadn't eaten in days, devoring every bite. Then the chocolates that Esther's sister, Antoinette, brought from Switzerland appeared. Oh my! Dark chocolate and little wine, and I don't even like dark chocolate and am not much of a wine drinker, but it was fabulous! YUM! We had to pull ourselves away at midnight!
The Dewey Men. Cole is very proud to be the tallest!
The Dewey Women. I have the priviledge of loving these three amazing women!
This Christmas was probably one of the best yet, and yet it was such a difficult time for Brett & Esther as they sorrowed over the loss of her father. I can't begin to tell you what a joy it was to watch J&R and J&C and kids dig to the depths to love and care for B&E and family. Jeff and Jordyn traveled with us to the funeral. J&R provided quiet places to sleep, a vehicle, and hung Christmas stockings which were filled in the Calderon-Dewey family tradition of oranges and trail mix. J&C provided their van, more Christmas stockings for the girls filled with cute "do-dads". Jeremy went "suit-shopping" with Brett. Caroline provided to/from airport transportation, leaving Moorpark at 3:45 AM to take them to leave LAX. That's EARRRRLLLLY! B&E returned back to Newton exhausted but well-loved. It all did these Mom and Dad hearts proud!
From CA we went to Oregon to visit our dear friend, Larry. Rich actually left on Dec 30, accompanied by Cole who helped him drive. Cole flew home and then I flew up to Medford on January 4 with Elaine, who had been in Southern CA visiting her mom. My extra days in CA were spent at soccer tournaments, and also with my mom and siblings and we had a really special time together.
We spent a couple of days together with Larry and Elaine and then headed for home, taking the back roads of Oregon (highway 140, I think) to Winnemuca, NV where we picked up I-80. Talk about barren, remote, territory!! We went through Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, and dropped down to visit our friends, Carey and Nancy in Ft. Collins. Carey was away on business but we spent a great two days eating, having tea and sharing life with Nancy. We saw the movie, "The Young Victoria". Loved it! We still reminisce about our time together in England.
Roads were clear and open although it was bitterly cold everywhere.
Colorado and Utah - actually on the way to CA - beautiful - blue sky - gorgeous works of God's creation!
It was a wonderful trip with lots of memories that we harbor in our hearts!
Now it's back to "routine", although I'm still STRUGGLING to get caught up. Must clean house one of these days!
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