2025 - HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (Our last in the great state of Texas!)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Julia's flowers bloomed as predicted, right on time for Christmas!
Our first "holiday gift" was getting Barry's shoulder fixed so he could get back on the pickleball courts! His surgery was on December 15, and went without a hitch (except they could not fix his bicep tendon, which had completely burst). Luke has been his trusty companion during recovery.
The boys, Sian, Dia, and Mom arrived first on Sunday. For people wondering...yes, I have a spreadsheet on this holiday season, it was helpful for me to see who was coming in when, and for how long to coordinate activities, food etc. - ha! ha! Originally, Lester, both girls and their SO's were coming, but unfortunately Lester took a bad fall the day we arrived back in Texas 😞. Luckily Jackie & Lucas were still able to come, and Julia (Dia's mom) joined us as well - it was still a full crew (and happy to say that Lester is doing much better)!
We got tickets to the Austin Trail of Lights for Monday night, something Barry & I had never been to, and wanted to experience. Different local businesses sponsor "exhibits" on a walk around Zilker Park - it was pretty cool, but before we landed there, we went to a steakhouse that Garrett recommended - ARIS!
We (and mom) soon realized that she would not be able to walk the entire display. Luckily I had bought her a cane with a seat, and so we left her sitting to wait for us (which of course she did not do).
The skyline was beautifully lit, and weather was perfect!
The following day we relaxed at home, did our grocery shopping, and prepped some food...including (more) ear cleaning (this seems to be included in every family trip/gathering! See 3rd photo below of my dad & I - I was raised on it).
Shirley & Michael (Sian's parents) kindly sent us Harry & David pears & wine...look at how many they got us! We ate ALL of them by week's end, they were so delicious!!!
On Christmas Eve, Jackie got Julia & Dia signed up for a free Yoga class on ClassPass!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
All Hands on Deck!
Dinner is served!!!
Sian made us Homemade Hot Chocolate topped with Homemade Marshmallows every night!
Day after Christmas...
We decided to join the kids to check out Inner Space Caverns. I was actually not that interested in going...Barry & I have visited MANY caves on our road trips and already went to Longhorn Caverns last year, but we decided to get out of the house for a bit, and we were glad we did!
While waiting for our tour to start...
I did not have high expectations for these caverns because they are in the middle of North Austin, but I was pleasantly surprised - they are beautiful! The caves were discovered in the 60's while they were core drilling to build Hwy 35 😳
Saturday was a sight-seeing day for those that wanted to see Austin. Lucas has never been, so Jackie took him to see the main sights and even threw in looking at model homes!
Likewise, it was Dia's mom Julia's first time in Austin, and she is an explorer! She often travels on her own to far off destinations via Home Exchange, which is a bit like Airbnb, but you have to be OK with other people staying in your home as well. She had been staying at a home in Leander for the first few nights, and on Friday she moved to a place "in town" which gave her easier access to downtown. Throughout this trip she has been going to Yoga classes, going on hikes, listening to live music, trying new foods...I just love her adventurous spirit!
Jacob's friend from high school Josh lives in Austin, so they had brunch with he and his girlfriend, then met up with Dia's mom to catch some additional sights they did not see on their last trip, a nap (?), and dinner at a cool southern restaurant - Matties.
The rest of us got caught up at home, then took mom shopping at Skechers & TJMaxx before hitting our favorite independant bookstore, First Light, and adjacent restaurant.
No visit to Texas is complete without BBQ!
Our last day together...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Even though this next part took place technically in 2026, I am adding it here because it was one continuous celebration!
Originally Larry & Dee Dee were supposed to come out for New Year's Eve, and we were going to spend time with Nancy, Fran & Vanessa who came down to visit (get out of the Chicago cold!), but their dog Roxy got very ill and they thought they were going to have to put her down 😞 (Post Note: She came out of it with new meds & food, and is now doing really well!). Fran also caught a terrible cold, so he also had to cancel!
The original plan was to drive up to Waco, but since Larry & Dee Dee were the ones spearheading that idea we decided to pass. John Paul & Katy happened to be in Texas visiting her parents who live in New Braunfels.
I took the gals to Buc-ee's and then we met the crew in Gruene for lunch. It was so nice to see JP's family, and meet Katy's brother's family & parents again. 💕
I am not quite sure how these two can eat so much and stay so skinny!
Nancy has a cousin that lives here in Austin - Helen Moorhead & her husband Wells. They moved here many moons ago to be closer to their only daughter Elizabeth and her family. We've tried to stay in touch with them while here in Austin, and periodically take Helen & Wells out to lunch in exchange for their fresh garden vegetables & fruit!
This is Nancy's cousin, Helen:
Nancy & Vanessa did us a HUGE favor by taking boxes full of Boris books as gifts for friends, as well as for Katy's work/schools. They put Barry to work signing several of them!
Here is our "Care Package" for Andrew & Lydia to be delivered when we visit them at the end of the month!
Barry & I were still left with leftovers that will last us for weeks - I kept shoving things into the freezer to make room in the refrigerator!
Well...might as well enjoy it!
The pecan pie that went from Texas to Chicago, back to Texas - YUMMMM 😋
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