After celebrating Christmas with my dad and the extended family, I spent the next few days with my mom's side. Since my grandpa has yet to make a miraculous recovery, I treasure the times I get to spend with them. Additionally, for Christmas, my mom's siblings chipped in to buy her a flight down for Christmas for which she was able to take family and medical leave. So Sunday, I did family Christmas with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, mom, sister, and cousins. It was such a special time.
I don't remember what was so funny, but I love this picture.
Aunt Sherry and Wayne
My aunt and cousin make wrap with beautiful bows, however, sometimes they're hard to undo. My sister to the rescue with the scissors!
Cousins
My grandma got a blanket and a Bible with large size print for Christmas. Both of which my grandpa tried (successfully) to borrow. He read some out of her Bible that night, it was a precious moment with his insertions of 'yes Jesus and you know it Lord' after passages about strength or such. It was funny enough to keep us all from sobbing as he read.
A little later, I reminded my grandpa that if he was going to borrow grandma's gifts, he should let her borrow his. (Only he got gloves, which wouldn't fit her, and a shirt, same problem.) He responds with, "I'll let her borrow my shirt...when she washes it...cause I'm a good husband." He's obviously being a ham, and now has us cracking up with his sarcasm. I later point out to him that I've obviously been looking for the wrong qualities in a guy...clearly I need to find one who will let me do his laundry. ;)
Sunday night, my cousin Jonathan stayed around and we played Settlers...and my mom won?! Not quiet sure how that happened. ;)
My mom and sister went back to Oregon on Monday and I stayed around until Tuesday afternoon. Monday night, my grandma and I went on a date to see Tangled. Cute movie, and it was fun to spend some quality time with just her! After we had a snack before bed. Hot chocolate and cinnamon and sugar toast will ALWAYS remind me of my grandma and grandpa Rhymes.
Tuesday morning, I made breakfast for my grandparents and for my uncle (he's staying with them to help out around the house, etc). Swedish pancakes have been a family favorite for years, and I thought I'd find the recipe and whip some up that morning. I feel a little tricked as the recipe was under Norwegian, which referenced French pancakes...but, my grandma had added her own writing into the cookbook making them 'Swedish'. :) I also thought the cookbook was too funny not to include a picture.
Tuesday afternoon, my friend Kristel, former roommate, picked me up so we could hang out until my flight on Wednesday morning. And where did we stop for lunch?! In-N-Out! Yumm!
We had a wonderful visit, even though it was short. I miss my southern California friends, Kristel being one of them! I was bummed I couldn't get down there this year, however, grateful I was able to spend some quality time with Kristel (as her family lives in northern California).
In other news...I began to panic on Tuesday when I hadn't received email check in information for my Wednesday flight. Long story short, apparently I didn't book the flight. Which is odd, because I remember exactly where I was when I bought it. In case you wanted to know, I was sitting at Common Ground parking lot on Wednesday (before Thanksgiving) in the Tiff-terra, as CG was actually closed, but their free wi-fi still worked. I remember purchasing it before going to dinner with my friend Kelley. I remember. I remember. Only, they don't. And there was no record. And it wasn't on my credit card. So Tuesday night, I frantically called Alaska Airlines to double check, and to repurchase, or purchase for the first time, my flight from California to Oregon.
It was a close call, the flight was overbooked by one, me. But thankfully, and with much prayer, I was able to get on the flight!
Oregon, here I come.
End of part two.
