2 day pass

the holiday weekend which began wednesday was long and lovely...
really the way they all should be in my perfect world and probably yours too.
truth be told...i'm paying for all the fun.
today i'm dog tired and dragging.
i'm also a tad blue and missing my extended family and old friends.
it's hard not to feel lonely after much togetherness.
thanksgiving was a day of turkey, thanks and tradition.
it's truly one of my favorites.
so in that spirit we embarked on our annual before the feast four miler in anticipation of all the good eats of the holiday.
then we traveled over the river and through the woods to my dad and step mom's arriving shortly after kick off for the other f word of the day...football.
at half time the lab of the house revealed that he is rivaling air bud and hoping to become air bodie.
soon the house was filled with family and then our tummies filled with food.
most everyone in my family likes to cook and can do so well.
i'm especially grateful for this on thanksgiving day.
some of us can play a mean game of pictionary too.
the day after the festivities the girls met at the public market for a little lunch.
no one ordered turkey.
then we went on to visit the art museum making the most of our 2 hour time frame.
we got through the visiting impressionism exhibit and spent time with a few other favorites.
back at the hotel, miss bit saw santa who arrived by fire truck to light the tree in the grand and festive lobby.
the same lobby that was festooned with pumpkins and fall foliage just the day before and was overnight a sea of poinsettias, dog wood, holly and ivy.
miss bit later told her grandma that santa who arrived sleighless was no faker.
to her discerning, wide as saucer eyes, he was the real deal.
after a quick swim on the 22nd floor, we were off again to be wined and dined by and with family.
we gathered by the fire for warm chili and crusty bread thanks to my brother and his wife.
t. bone and miss bit were toast on the couch too tired to even eat their pizza.
i had grand plans to make a frou frou breakfast before bed for my friends coming early the next day, but at the end of the day...the end of the night, i was totally tuckered out too.
strong coffee, fresh fruit and day old bakery would just have to do.
we have this same time next year thing going strong... a standing saturday after thanksgiving date.
we talk a blue streak trying to make up for lost time, but of course, there's never enough of it...time that is to say.
the kiddos disappear into the playroom to become reacquainted which takes all of 2 minutes.
another friend from college joined us and it was good to see her for it had been far too long.
we spent much of our time crying and commiserating.
so sadly, this was her first thanksgiving without her mom and unfortunately i knew just how she felt.
after she left, i was emotionally exhausted so i crawled in bed and napped for hours and i never sleep during the day.
i could have slept straight through the night, but we had dinner reservations with the whole fam at 7 so we gussied up and hurried out to my cousins favorite italian joint in town.
it did not disappoint and we all ordered well.
although there's no lazy susan, we managed to share our plates and it's the best way to eat in my opinion.
we ended the evening at a local speakeasy.
my kids had to do the chicken dance to gain entry since they didn't have the password.
that was humorous, but having to pay a cover charge for them was not.
we stayed long enough to explore a bit.
miss bit found the dance floor.
t. bone bellied up to the poker table to play for drinks.
he did not redeem any.
they both thought that was quite the adventure.
should make for interesting journal writing at school this week.
hopefully no one calls child protective services.
sunday was not the day of rest we all needed, but it was good all in all.
t. bone had not 1, but 2 early morning away games.
grandpa showed up in the stands for the 8 o'clocker.
i was still cozy in bed.
i know i'm not getting mother of the year after this weekend.
miss bit and i convened with family (grandpa and the girls) once again eager to eke out as much time together as possible before cousins headed home east and west.
this time at the italian deli for muffalettas, fried ravioli and articholes, fresh baked pizza, italian cookies and gelato, although not necessarily in that order.
me and my girl arrived home after dark for a few hours of downtime.
we found the boys watching football in chicken wing coma.
apparently the celebrated their victories (yes, plural) at bw3.
it was early to bed for all 4 of us and when the morning came, we still didn't want to wake, rise and wipe the sleep out of our eyes.
i'm hoping i feel more rested and less nostalgic tomorrow.
after all, tis the season.
tis the season of joy and good cheer.
in 27 days christmas will be here.