A Hallmark Christmas - Final Chapter

Christmas was everything I hoped it would be. There was always Christmas music playing when we were eating or just hanging out. The house was beautifully decorated with their family history as well as some that went back to when Stacie was little. It was fun looking at many of the ornaments that used to hang on our trees. 

It was also special sharing in traditions from their family like the Advent book reading nightly and the kids opening their LEGO advent nightly as well. Stacie started the book advent reading several years ago and they started the LEGO calendars last year I think. On Christmas Eve they continued the tradition that Jackie started many years ago of giving ornaments. And we continued the tradition of pajamas on Christmas Eve. 

Another tradition special to me because I started it many years ago was having green chili stew. Stacie has continued that and added her family’s part with snowman pancakes for the kids. And of course the reading of the Night Before Christmas. 

Christmas morning was done with more traditional food, cinnamon rolls and breakfast burritos that Jackie made. It was the first year the kids did the burritos too and they loved them. After Chase made sure there weren’t vegetables in then. 😄

Before and after breakfast was spent opening gifts with a lot of talking and laughing. The funniest thing I think was noticing that after Haley opened all her gifts from Santa she seemed a little disappointed and we thought that maybe it was because she didn’t get a cat. It turns out that Parmesan cheese was on her list and when she saw it at the bottom of her stocking her reaction was priceless. 

It was a fun morning and then we had what is our traditional dinner of brisket, macaroni and cheese and sides with dessert provided by Haley. 

Making it a “Hallmark” Christmas- Pt. 3

A FULL DAY OF HOCKEY 🏒!

Christmas Eve Eve found us back at the AB Brewery for what was supposed to be a two hour family skate that Tom arranged for Chase’s hockey team. Then the plan was for us to go home and hang out while Stacie wrapped and Tom and Chase went to play in the father - son hockey game. Instead it turned out to be a whole day away from home except for a quick stop home to pick up hockey gear on the way to the game. 

In addition to the family skate Tom gave some of us a behind the scenes tour of part of the brewery including the Clydesdale barn and the tasting room. Then we ate at the Brew House with some of the team. 

The final part of this full day of hockey was the father-son hockey game for Chase’s team. Before we left the house that morning the head coach sent an email to the parents asking for a volunteer to play goalie on the Dads team. I jokingly told Tom I’d do it if they didn’t get a volunteer and I didn’t have to wear skates. Stacie asked if I was crazy. “With your knee? No way.”  Throughout the day I kept joking about it and Stacie kept repeating no. Chase said, “Papa, remember this, you’re the Dad, she’s the kid. She doesn’t tell you what to do”. I still laugh every time I remember that. 

At the brewery rink I asked Coach if he had a volunteer yet and I was honestly surprised when he said no. I told him about our conversation and he said I could do it without skates. I laughed and said I’m sure he’d get a volunteer but if not I really would consider it. 😳 By now I’m sure you know how this turned out. No volunteer so I decided I had to do it. A lot of the mothers including Stacie had intended to stay home from the game to continue prepping for Christmas but when they heard Stacie’s 70 year old father was going to be in goal they decided to go. 

It was a lot of fun but nerve racking every time the kids had the puck in our end. We played halves of 25 and 20 minutes and I was exhausted mentally as much as anything when it was over. I only gave up 1 goal the first half when the fathers were still fresh. Chase scored that goal and then added two more in the second half for a hat trick. We hung on and won 11 - 7 or 11 - 8. That was a great once in a lifetime experience!

Making it a “Hallmark” Christmas - Pt. 2

I jokingly talked about making this a Hallmark Christmas but it really is what I was doing. I was looking forward to being around the kids and the excitement of the season. Part of that would come from watching and sharing in their family traditions some that started from our family with Stacie and the boys when they were growing up. And then there are new activities like Chase’s hockey games and activities and Haley’s piano recital. And what vacation would be complete without good fellowship, food and drink? 

Hockey Highlights 

Piano Recital 

Traditions 

I got here late on a Thursday night and Friday morning I found a race to do on Sunday. I knew that it was Christmas themed so I dressed in my Christmas suit that I got on clearance at Walmart last year for $5. It was a hit. 😄. The surprise was that even though it was called the Candy Cane Course it had train themed sweatshirt and finisher medals. Considering my trip out was on the train it made it special and you could hear train whistles from nearby tracks during the race. Another highlight was seeing a bald eagle perched in a tree at the turnaround. Another surprise highlight was winning my age group. 

Making it a “Hallmark” Christmas - Pt. 1

We brought Billy home from the hospital after three days. He seems to be doing much better but we’re definitely going to have to keep an eye on him. Fingers crossed. 

Before heading to St. Louis on the California Zephyr I made time to run two December races and both felt like part of the “Hallmark” Christmas experience. Despite the fact that I’ve gained back to much weight over Thanksgiving I still felt good at both races. The first was a new one in Sacramento and the second I’ve done several times, the Spirit of Giving in Modesto. As far as any more December races it’ll depend on schedules. 

Riding the California Zephyr 

A big part of my Christmas trip that I was looking forward to was the trip on Amtrak. We had taken a long train trip about thirty years ago and I remembered that we all enjoyed it. Most of the trip was as I remembered with a lot of beautiful scenery and a fairly comfortable seat to read and enjoy relaxing. One of the highlights for me occurred on the first day when a bald eagle flew alongside the train along the Truckee River. It was truly majestic 

As with any public transportation there were some negatives but that’s to be expected. A couple of crying little ones. Some talking to loudly on their cellphones and one man right across from me who only talked when he was arguing with someone who didn’t exist except in his mind. And finally it’s impossible to sleep comfortably in a train seat for two nights in a row when you’re 70 years old. 😳 Even with access to both seats. 

The first part of the Denver to Chicago leg was at night so there wasn’t anything to see from eastern Colorado through Nebraska until the next morning when we were in Iowa. It was that second night when I made the decision that going back would be last multi night trip on a train in coach. Just impossible to get comfortable. 

The foggy looking picture was crossing the Mississippi going east. The Chicago dog I bought at Union Station in Chicago was very good but I didn’t slow down to enjoy it as much as I normally would because I had luggage concerns to deal with. Coming into Chicago I asked the conductor if my luggage would simply be changed from one train to the next. That’s when she informed me that she was looking for me to tell me that my luggage wouldn’t be sent on to St. Louis until the next night because the train I was taking didn’t have a luggage car. She said I could pick it up and take it on the train with me if I didn’t want to wait. I went to baggage claim and was told it would be at least 30 minutes before they would call down to have it sent up. Thus, a good time to have a Chicago dog. I ate. I picked up my luggage. I went to the waiting area. And I got on my phone and made a reservation to fly home. 😂