From Dad and Jean's, we drove north to La Verne, a little community near Pomona east of LA. Tom's mom lives there. I didn't take any photos, but we stayed there and ate cookies for lunch awhile before we all left for Joy and Marcus's house in Monrovia. Monrovia is a very cute town set against the San Gabriel Mtns. full of wonderful craftsman homes. We enjoy the hospitality of the Stenzels often for the larger family gatherings.It was an extraordinarily clear and beautiful day! We've driven through at times when the mountains might as well be mythical, for all one could see of them.
There, of course, their house decorated to a fare-thee-well (did I mention our tree didn't even have lights on, yet?), was more great food and rather a lot more activity. Starting from Lisa's oldest, Ben, who's in his upper teens, somewhere, down to Gracie and Griffin, each four-ish, there were 6 boys and one girl comprising the youngest generation. Lisa has three boys (Ben, Luke, Joel), Joy and Marcus, three boys (Wesley, Colby, Griffin), and Eric and Rachel T., one girl (Grace, with one more girl on the way in February, or around there).
Jeremy and Jacob, Ken's boys, and Christina, Jeremy's girlfriend, were there, as well. That's the three of them sitting with Mom, there, in the first photo.
Then, in the next picture, you can see a table chat with Tom, Eric, Dick and Ben, followed by a kitchen shot of Joy in the foreground organizing dinner logistics, assisted by Rachel T. After dinner, the big activity centered around the new Wii game of Beatles Rock Band taking place in the next room. Yours truly had to join in on the harmony parts a couple of times. Hey, these songs are in my DNA! I don't need Rock Band to tell me that I got an excellent score! Here's a cute pic of Gracie, Griffin (a little more "Rolling-Stones"), Colby, Luke, Joel and Wesley learning the essential classics of the Beatles canon. Warmed my heart to see it. (by the by, you don't see Diana or Marcus in any photos because it turns out I didn't have any with their eyes open. I'll do better next time!)
The Stenzels kindly offered the use of their guest room that evening and we gladly accepted. So comfy! Next morning, after a quick jump on the trampoline, we went into the kitchen to find amazing waffles (made on the new, Alton-Brown-recommended waffle maker) waiting for us! Sheesh! Marcus, master kitchen elf, had made just lovely, brown, crunchy, warm waffles and we just melted into the chairs and scarfed 'em right down along with the fresh fruit Joy had cut up (with great style, I must say!).
Wow. Hard to leave. But, even more glad for stretchy clothes, we waddled out to the car for the long drive north, vowing not to eat again before, say, the end of time. Yet, somehow, somewhere along the way, we did stop for something-or-other. Can't remember what. We arrived home just as a storm rolled in (we watched it creeping up behind us as we drove up the hill from Sacramento) and unloaded the car as the first drops fell.
We so enjoyed the visits with everyone! Conspicuously absent were our kids. Dylan had a crazy-busy week of woodworking and couldn't peel himself away. Rachel was also working and trying to beat down one of her signature colds. We'll work out other times of year to get everyone together again. From the two of us, though, deep thanks to everyone for the fun, food and hospitality! The drive is longer, these days, but always worth it.
Next, our merry little Christmas at home...
