Christmas Vacation

It was a wonderful holiday season! We celebrated Christmas day in California this year, and then I flew back to Illinois on the 26th. Matt was with us for Christmas eve and Christmas morning, so we opened gifts bright and early before he had to leave. I think Santa was very good to us all this year :) We spent the rest of the day at Shari's (Jasen's mom) house and she fed us full of all types of wonderful food, including homemade lasagna and chicken n' dumplings. Most of Jasen's family was there as well, and we had a great time opening gifts and feasting.

The next morning, bright and early, Jasen dropped me at the airport to fly to St. Louis. Everyone was already at Mom and Dad's, as Lindz had flown in from Phoenix, Meg from San Jose, and Ben drove up from Edwardsville. The Trutter's had held off on the Christmas celebration until I arrived.....so on the 27th we woke up, as if it was Christmas morning, and opened gifts and prepared an amazing Christmas lunch/dinner. The turkey had some weird black spots on it, something my Dad, as a farm boy, had never even seen before. But we ate it anyway, and so far, no ill effects- ha! It is hypothesized that the black spots were from the feathers (it was an organic turkey). Ben actually made homemade bread - go figure! As for me, I mostly supervised and videotaped the chaos.

The weather was crazy, when I flew in it was 60 degrees! Then the weather varied between 19 degrees and 50s. Some rain, but no snow :( So much for a white Christmas. We walked around the Lincoln Gardens on one beautiful, chilly morning.There was still ice from the freezing temperatures the days earlier, which made it really beautiful!

Jasen couldn't fly back with me this year, which was really dissapointing, but he has already requested the time off for next year. I know papa Trutter was a bit sad not to have his drinking buddy with him....I did the best I could to fill in :)

I was home for 10 days, and I had a blast. We played lots of cards and dominoes, went bowling, hung out at the press club, saw some of the newest movies out at the theatre, and just generally relaxed with hot tea and good company. It was sad to leave, as always.

Flying back on the Sunday after New Years, I hadn't anticipated that airport being so busy, and nearly missed my flight! They were paging me over the intercom while I was running to my gate! But, I made it back and I was very happy to see my husband :)

Happy New Year!

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