The Eve of Christmas.....

7:25 am - Christmas Day - December 25th - Rancho Cucamonga, CA - 48° F, humidity 87%, wind wind 4 mph out of the north by northeast....partly cloudy today with a forecast high of 63° F.  On this date in 2023 we were celebrating Christmas at the home of my first born son, Chris, and his wife, Rochelle.....

 .....just as we will do this year.  When I see this picture with so many people in it who would  not exist, or be with each other except for the fact that TLE said 'YES' 53+ years ago my eyes fill with tears of happiness, and joy.  The only ones missing are my youngest son, Tim, his wife Laila, and their two children, Crosby and Bowie who live in Georgia now.

We were awake before 6 am Tuesday morning getting ready to make the 5.5 hour drive to SoCal to be with our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren for Christmas.  We didn't plan on leaving until 10 am (9 am SoCal time), and we did not want to be rushing around getting ready to travel.  By 9:45 am everything had been done from shutting down the Newell for a couple of days, to locking all everything (garage, CONEX, house, both Newells, the trailer, and the shed), so we hopped into the Beetle to begin the 7 mile, 30 minute drive out to westbound US-66 (we can do the same drive in the Expedition in about 9-10 minutes).  

We stopped at the Maverick in Kingman to top off our VW tank, and were back on our drive within 15 minutes.  TLE drove the second leg of about 100 miles to a Rest Area where we took a break, and then I drove the rest of the way....we got a little rain, but for the most part is was a beautiful drive....

.....we arrived at my son's home in Rancho Cucamonga around 2:15 pm.....exactly 5.5 hours after leaving TWW.  Chris and Rochelle were at Rochelle's parents home when we arrived, so we let in ourselves, and unpacked for our stay.  We would be heading to Kate (2nd daughter) and Nick's home to have dinner, and decorate Christmas cookies around 4:15 pm.  TLE ordered takeout from the Panda Inn Express, which we picked up on our way to Kate and Nick's.....

With my honorary daughter, Amanda

TLE, moi, Amanda, and Kate

With Amanda's beau Mark

My oldest daughter, Meredith

With Kate's oldest daughter, Charlise (we all call her Charlie)

Third daughter, Sharon

With Nick, Kate's husband

With Rod, Sharon's husband

Decorating Christmas cookies

....we had a great time, but by 7:30 pm TLE and I were out of gas so we bid our adieus until Christmas morning when we will be together again.....MERRY CHRISTMAS, and thank you for stopping by!