Christmas in Cali

After our Aussie friends promised to bring the homemade "crackers" for Christmas Eve dinner in Mesquite, I phoned to find out if crackers were appetizers or with-dinner fare. I learned they're neither--they're noisemakers...part of why I love having international students around!

For the first time ever we did the big feast and stockings on Christmas Eve, because...

We rose at 4:15 AM on Christmas morning and joined my sister Mary and her family at the airport for a 7:15 AM flight to San Jose (one big family gift this year). Several months back, we found steal-deal rates, and as Mary's in-laws' health kept them from coming to Dallas, we all went to them.

The pilot was apparently eager to get us to our destination, because he shaved fifty minutes off our flight time. We arrived at Dick and Bernice's in Stockton just in time for (Pacific time) Christmas brunch and "socks." D&B had created a sock/stocking for each of us with fun stuff inside. Following a big dinner late in the afternoon, we worked a puzzle and rediscovered the art of conversation. Oh, and our girl developed some serious muscles sword fighting on the Wii.

I had a fab birthday on the 26th. Our family and my sis's made the gorgeous two-hour drive over to Lake Tahoe. There we had superb weather and enjoyed a lakeside picnic followed by a walk in fresh, mountain air. On our way back to Stockton, we watched the sunset and the moonrise over silhouetted fir trees. And Dick made me a birthday cake complete with a sparkler-fire crazy candle that opened and played "Happy Birthday."

On the 27th my sis, nieces, and husband drove up to Sutter Creek for more beauty and meandering through fun little shops. That night our little family slid into the hot tub and enjoyed watching the moon and stars through fir branches as steam rose from our bodies.

Yesterday morning Dick made us sourdough waffles (my dad always made those on Sundays for us when Mary and I were little). I picked oranges and a lemon from front-yard trees and squeezed a pitcher full of tart juice out of them. Yum.

Our family departed yesterday, but while en route to the airport, we received notification from American Airlines that we had a two-hour flight delay. Perfect. The airport is right on the way to Santa Cruz, so we headed straight for the coast. Dazzling weather. A beautiful drive through more fir trees. And surfer-watching. Our daughter loves all things surfing, and a couple of kind wave-cutters accommodated her request for a photo opp.

We fell into bed last night around 2 AM Dallas time, so we're all dragging a bit today. But we feel so thankful for great family and friends, and a chance to get a West Coast beauty-fix. Ahhhh!