We loaded up and drove to Clyde on New Year's Eve to spend a few days with Susan, Corey and kids. Susan and Corey had previously made plans to get together with friends so we were going to keep the grandkids. When we arrived, Corey said they weren't going out after all because he was going to have to work, but he had time to go to dinner with all of us and Karen first.
Karen and me
Susan and Aidan
Corey and Susan
Ally and Grandpa
As it turned out, Corey's job got cancelled so the kids went out after dinner and we went back to the house with the grandkids to enjoy reading books out loud, playing many games of "Sorry," "Jenga," and "Connect Four" and chatting about life. Rich also found a cool puzzle game for his iPad called "Monument Valley" and the kids loved working on it. Aidan and Ally are both super sweet and fun to be with, and they still don't mind hanging out with their grandparents, thankfully! We managed to stay up for the ball drop in NYC and just like that, it's 2016!
"Sorry!"
"Monument Valley"
The next day we hung out at the house for the most part and then drove into Abilene in the early evening to take the kids to see the Chipmunk movie, not my first choice, but there weren't too many kid friendly movies showing. Imagine our surprise when we arrived and found it to be sold out! Aidan and Ally weren't that upset but, oh my goodness, you should have seen the other little kids sobbing when their parents told them they wouldn't be able to go! It was sad and funny all at the same time. :)
So we went to get something to eat, wandered the mall briefly, and on the way out stopped at Books a Million to see if we could find a different board game. I'd meant to bring our "Mexican Train" game with us but had forgotten it at Sarah's so I was going to look for it but the store didn't have any. We settled on one called "Rack-o," which I'd never heard of, but the box said it was "family fun for the last 50 years!" and Rich recalled that they had the game when he was a kid. Stopped at the store for ice cream and made our way back home for a fun night of snacks and "Rack-o," which the kids ended up loving and wanting to play over and over. Oh, yeah, while we were at the theater we'd gone ahead and bought tickets for the following morning's showing of the Chipmunk movie.
"Rack-o"
Ally and me
Susan bundled up!
Susan had to work Saturday morning so we took the kids and met her at the theater after her shift. I can't say I was especially enthralled with the Chipmunks but the kids seemed to enjoy it and laughed throughout, so that made it worthwhile. Plus I got to have popcorn.
At the movie
As we were getting into the car, my friend Jim texted to see what we were up to and said he'd just made a pitcher of tea if we wanted to come by. Susan and Corey ran some errands and went home while we took Aidan and Ally with us to visit Jim. I failed to get a pic but we had a nice visit getting filled in on the latest news.
Back home for more games, then out to dinner with Karen. We had a full weekend and a very quick trip, leaving Sunday morning to drive back to Dallas. I'm glad we now live close enough that we can pop in and visit when we want!
Early morning snuggles before we went home. Love and miss these sweeties!
