Since our entire family is in Texas, we get to make the rounds and see almost everyone during our January trip south. Our immediate families all live within about an hour and a half of each other which makes those trips do-able.

At Grammie and Paw Paw’s house (Robert’s parents) the kids enjoyed lots of crossword puzzle solving with Paw Paw, lots of yummy gluten free food and treats from Grammie (notice the goodies on the table!), and some other fun activities!

Paw Paw took them golfing twice – once to hit some practice balls, and then back the next day for a full 18 holes of golf, complete with two golf carts! As you can imagine, the boys are just as interested in driving the cart as they are the balls! (Here, they had to “shush” Kayla because they were letting a REAL golfer tee-off in front of them.) Kayla and I stayed for the first nine holes and then took off to Dairy Queen for some of our own favorite past times = Blizzard eating and coffee drinking!

Robert’s parents are retired schoolteachers/administrators and now seem more busy then ever with church leadership as well as leadership in the Walk to Emmaus Ministry. They have seen so many lives changed and can’t seem to get enough of watching the Lord work in that way!

Grandad’s house (my dad) is sort of home base for us and central to all other locations we need to visit. Half of the time, he wasn’t even there, but off on business trips, so we had the whole house to ourselves. One evening after dinner, there was a knock on the door by someone from the electric company saying that the power would be out for a while on his cul-de-sac. Well, this made for much excitement! We had to get out candles and prepare for darkness. I was amazed at the amount of candles my father owns being a bachelor and all. We had about 2 going in every room by the time the lights went out, and we all thought it was so much fun. I thought it was the perfect time to make some tea. Nope – electric tea kettle and stove. How about a load of laundry? Well, no. Washers use electricity, too. Wow! Electricity is such a blessing. Little did I realize how much I take it for granted. Well, we were forced to live in this Little House on the Prairie existence for all of about 35 minutes which was beginning to feel like a huge sacrifice.

Would you believe that in 11 New England winters now, we have NEVER been without power? And would you believe that I’ve secretly wished we would be without power at times? How romantic to sit by the fire for warmth and read by candlelight…

Maybe not.

This scene brings with it so many memories – cowboy hats everywhere! My dad has been a sales rep for Resistol Hats for over 30 years now. For as long as I can remember, his house has often been filled with hat racks, hat boxes, hat steamers/shapers, and hat cleaners. Now the company has a line of shirts as well, so along with the hats, he also has racks of men’s, women’s, and kids western shirts. And though I’ve never been much of a cowgirl (much to his dismay), some of the shirts are pretty cute,and he is quick to indulge me in any leftover “samples.” And I do love the rodeo, (which we, of course, grew up attending each year) but just can’t really dress the part too well!

My boys (and cousin Jonah) helped him unpack the hats and shirts, place on racks for cataloging, and then carry boxes to the curb for pick up.

My dad has often been the company’s top salesperson.
Did you realize that you could make a nice career of selling cowboy hats?

Only in Texas.

(Well, not really just there, but it is ideal.)

Another treat was seeing my grandmother, Gigi. She and my uncle took my sister, her kids, my whole family, and my dad out for an amazing dinner at P.F. Chang’s which has a really great gluten free menu. She also indulged all the great-grandkids in the flourless chocolate cake – and one husband in the cheesecake! It was a fun evening of catching up and it was great to see her doing so well now in her mid-eighties.

And two nights before we returned home to MA, we attended church with some adopted grandparents – Jack and Kelly, and then were treated to dinner in their home. I emphasize the word home, because I was having a hard time picturing it before Kelly moved in. Married only one year ago, Kelly then moved into Jack’s house. Well, either Jack had no belongings before her arrival, or they mysteriously disappeared as Kelly worked her cozy, country comfort all over the entire place. It became the joke of the evening, and Jack did give a “tour” of things that had survived the decorating makeover – an antique saw, his old pair of ice skates, and maybe one or two other items!
(I don’t think he really minds.)

She even made gluten free spaghetti and chocolate chip cookies, and the boys enjoyed a quick ride in their new car – a hybrid! (Hopefully not a recently recalled hybrid??!!)

Such fun memories with such wonderful grandparents!

Next up…..Cousin Craziness!