Baby steps. Well, not even baby steps. There was no way, and there is no way that I wouldn’t spend Christmas with the kids. Not even a consideration. Off to CA we went! We arrived on Saturday and pretty much went straight to our family Christmas party. Next day was all girl lunch at my sister’s house, next day was all day at Disneyland, dinner with friends, shopping, wrapping gifts, Christmas Day, birthday shopping, visiting my mom. Before I knew it, it was time to come home. Although I’m always happy to be reunited with my broken in, worn looking boots, I’m already looking forward to my next trip. I’d actually wear the boots there, but the little voice in my head is actually that of my daughter saying, “oh mother”!

My son and his family went to Michigan to spend Christmas with my daughter in law’s family so we stayed at their house. It was a perfect set up, we had a place to stay and they had dog sitters! Cubbie is a good dog, and he was really good while we were there. He’s energetic. Entertaining, one might say. Example: the day we went to Disneyland, he was at home for a LONG time. This means he didn’t get any running around, get some energy out time. We got home around midnight and heck, we were tired! I myself wasn’t really thinking about Cubbie’s running around, getting some energy out time because all I could think about was my head hitting my pillow. Aaah, yes, that’s it. Goodnight…zzzzzz. What? Who? Oh, hey Cubbie. What’s that? You need to go outside? Okay. Up I go, with Cubbie trotting along behind me to go outside. I’m thinking he’s going to go out and go potty and come right back in. Wrong! You know how puppies strike that pose when they want to play? Yeah, the one where the rear end goes up and the front legs go down. Well even though it was 2:00am, Cubbie was ready to play. Cubbie come here! Now! At this point he went all John Belushi on me. Remember the scene in Animal House where John Belushi is acting all silly trying to get the girls attention? Not so funny at 2:00am! I tried everything and finally I said the word “treat” and in he came. The highlight is that he did the same thing to JD the next night!!!

One of the highlights for me was celebrating Christmas at my daughter’s house. A passing of the torch, so to speak. We’d always done Christmas at our house, and I always liked having everyone over. Although it wasn’t what we’d always done, it was perfect. The house was full of warmth, laughter, and the love we all share for each other. And she didn’t even mind the invasion! I guess the time has come for new traditions =)

It was such a fun week, and even though I knew my boots were at home waiting for me, I was really sad to go home. Next year, stay for the New Year. Shhh…JD doesn’t know that yet!