The Christmas Season

Yes, I have been just awful about updating my blog. Well, now it's Christmas morning, and since nothing Christmas-y is happening yet, it's a good time to do an overview of my Christmas season.

It officially started with a weekend in Chicago, where I met my friend Cindy for tea at the Drake Hotel and shopping in the Loop. The photo above shows the centerpiece at the Drake. (The gal in the red hat is not my friend Cindy, but just someone who got into the frame!)

I stayed with Andrew, Abbi and Morgan, and Morgan wore some snazzy Christmas pajamas and enjoyed examining the Christmas tree!
















We also ate out at Lulu's, where Morgan worked on his chopstick technique.

As I usually do, I am spending Christmas in Florida. Andrew, Abbi, and Morgan were able to come down for a few days until Christmas Eve, so I got to spend more time with my favorite grandson. Here he is in his "Miami Vice" shirt:

We also had the chance to give him some preliminary instruction in playing cards -- a skill he will surely need in the future!

Looks like he was also keeping score. Well, I said he was brilliant, didn't I?

Later today I will have Christmas dinner with my Uncle Dan and Aunt Rosie, cousin Judy and sister Nancy. And within the next few days I will have my Christmas with Brian and his friend Kristen. So the season goes on and on!

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was held -- as usual -- at Mark & Tressa's in Holland. Here is my sister Nancy supervising the setting of the table(s). We had 18 people in all, so it was a very LONG table.


We arrived on Wednesday night, just in time to witness the death of the oven. Yes, it died on us, on the night before Thanksgiving. Luckily, most of the dishes were already composed, and Doug & Kathy heated them up in their oven. And the turkey was cooked at Tressa's parents' house. So Thanksgiving was saved!

Naturally, cards were played....

Morgan got to meet his Mills relatives for the first time.... I THINK he enjoyed himself!


















Brian brought Kristin, and Jeff brought Katie....


And the babies ruled! Here are Ben & Kristie's Chloe, and Victor & Esther's Noel, the newest members of the clan.
















It was a fabulous get-together. Once again, we Millsed it out successfully!