Holiday weekend in MA

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, I thought it would be a fitting time to visit home this past weekend and make up Christmas with the family, since we had medical issues to deal with over Christmas and New Years. Mom even left up the Christmas decorations and trees for reenactment purposes :) All the gifts were still under the tree, the candles on the window. Although, I am glad that Mom put up her heart wreath on the front door for Valentine's Day. At least that keeps the neighbors from wondering if we went off the deep end!!

We effortlessly jam-packed what would be a typical holiday week's events into a couple days. Mom and Dad picked me up at the airport in Providence on Friday, and when we arrived home at 10:30pm, it was "Christmas Eve". We had dinner together and then opened presents like we usually do on Christmas Eve. Then Saturday morning, Dad made breakfast like he used to do on occassion on cold winter mornings. Mom and I went shopping in the afternoon-- the "post-Christmas" activities...redeeming certificates, returning things, etc. Early Saturday evening, we had cocktails and hors d'oeuvres-- shrimp, crackers and spreads and of course wine and beer in the spirit of New Year's Eve. Saturday night was like Christmas dinner. We wanted it low key so we didn't invite relatives as usual, but it was nice that we invited my mom's sister last minute and she came. We waited for her arrival to have dinner, so didn't start until 9:30 or so. After dinner, dessert and discussion was over, the poor lady ended up driving home at 2am--just when the snow started to fall. She refused to stay over!! So we didn't go to bed until we received her call at 3:30am that she arrived home safely.

Sunday consisted of watching the snow fall, taking down the Christmas trees and decorations, watching a couple documentaries, shoveling the snow (I actually miss shoveling) and getting my haircut by my Mom. I was supposed to fly back on Sunday-- had a 4pm flight out of Providence....except all flights were cancelled. So they booked me on the 8:25am for this morning. Dad and I left the house at 6am this morning expecting a zoo at Providence. Lines weren't too long, but the stupid flight didn't take off until 9:30am. And so after landing in Philly, shoveling my car out, and then driving back to NJ, I arrived at work at 12:30pm to have a half day left. I was sooo tired at work, I am surprised I am still awake. It was nice to get an extra day in with the family, and it was a great "holiday" weekend. Heck, it was a White Christmas!!