Dec 19, 20, 21, 2009: Redman Christmas, as well as Osage Beach, MO

As I last stated on Saturday evening from the hotel room in Hannibal, MO.......a small party was taking place in our room......so, I closed down the post....haha. WELL....the party continued into the night. The first ones to exit were the young ones, being taken back to their various rooms and put into bed. However,.....many of the others remained for a while....and then they disappeared into the hotel to find an area where they could play some board games, without disturbing the other guests...hmmmm.

And so, after a short night's sleep, Sunday morning arrived very quickly. The room was disaster with crumbs, cheese, crackers, cookies, etc., etc., etc. all over the floor. Left by the young ones, I really didn't care as they were having a great time. They did wind up in our bed, sitting there eating toooooo many late night goodies and I am sure they didn't sleep well.....haha.

I took a shower and went down to the breakfast room where I had some coffee(ugh!), scrambled eggs/bacon/biscuits, etc., etc. This is the great thing about this hotel is that they serve a full hot breakfast buffet....and it is lavish and pretty good(except for the coffee).....and it is part of the room charge. Soooo many hotels just serve a continental breakfast of doughnuts and drinks, but this Quality Inn really does it up right.

The morning flew by....some the kids went into the pool again.....and before long, or at least it didn't seem very long, it was almost time for our catered dinner to being. Other family members of the 1st Lady's family began to arrive....the ones who live close by and didn't need to use the hotel for overnight rest(?). After many group photos by the large Christmas tree in the lobby, we all gathered in the rented room for dinner and the unwrapping of the little ones Christmas gifts from the matriarch of the family.....Granny(the 1st Lady's mother). This is always an exciting event for the kids.......little do they know that their parents bought them a gift that the kids were asking for, and Granny picked up the tab(s). As she is notw ell, virtually completely blind, and with the weather having produced 2-3 inches of snow, she didn't come to Hannibal for the weekend.

After this was completed, then we all played a game or two with the $5 gifts each adult had brought.....passing them around, and then trading them off. Always a fun time with lots of adult laughter....haha.

By mid-afternoon, everyone was leaving with several carloads stopping in Monroe City to see Granny and to thank her, as the great-grandchildren did when they got there. The house was packed, but it was enjoyable by everyone for an hour or so. Then as people departed, the 1st Lady and I put things back together within the house, picking up gift paper from the gifts that Granny received and disposing of it, so she wouldn't trip over it as she walks around through the house.

The evening went by quickly.......and soon.....it was:

MONDAY:

The 1st Lady and I left Monroe City around 9am....and arrived in Eldon a little past 11AM. We went first to the cemetery to put out some Christmas flowers on our daughter, Michele's grave, as well as my parents and grandparents. Then we grabbed a quick bite at McD's, where we ran into several people we have known since we lived in Eldon(1974-1988). And...then on to the Lake/Osage Beach where we did some shopping for ourselves and others at the Discount Mall.

By 5:30, we were at the Outback Steakhouse, where we met my sister, her husband, and their granddaughter for dinner. We had wonderful time visiting and eating....and before we knew it, the time had flown by and it was time for the 1st Lady and myself to start the trip back to F'town....200 miles. We arrived home, tired, sleepy, and with tons of items to carry in from the car. WHEW.....by midnight, the lights were going out.....and so were our lights!

And, with this extended weekend, as always.....

LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!