Awake: 7:13am Temp 52 sleep 6+00 cloudy overnight @ Indiana, PA.
We have complimentary coffee, Raisin Bran & instant oatmeal cereals for breakfast in the hotel, then join the Foote family for 9:30am Mass @ the Saint Thomas More University Parish church about (2) miles down the road. Matthew & Andrew seemed happy to see us & they both sat with us nearly the entire time. After Mass, we all stayed to help do a little decorating with the rest of the volunteers inside the church for Christmas. I did very little & soon realized these people have their routine & act together, so we may be more of a hindrance than an asset.
Back @ the Foote Castle, the rest of the gang is leisurely meandering around the 1st floor rooms with ease. Zack had arrived on the 19th & is looking good & quite relaxed in his casual attire. Little Jerry is full of smiles & seems to recognize us from our rendezvous in Seattle the last week of October.
Kevin disappears into the kitchen to begin preparing today’s dinner while the rest of us chit-chat about last night’s flight into Latrobe & how the sleeping arrangements went for the newcomers during the night. It wasn’t long before Kathy also disappeared into the kitchen to assist Kevin in the meal prep. After the big ham was heated sufficiently in the oven, I felt like I should be helping out with the slicing operation; that lasted for @ least (20) min until my boss Kathy keenly noticed that my slices were thick on one side & thinned on the other. I tried to ignore her casual suggestions, but after repeated efforts to clean up my cutting act, I had to admit, maybe she could do a better job than I.
3:30 pm dinner: Baked ham with pineapple, oven roasted red potatoes & corn; all very good.
After dinner, it was a delight to watch little Jerry & little Andrew play together, pushing & maneuvering a small shopping cart around the kitchen, dining room, & living room. They got off to a good start, playing well together.
Katrina & Kathy spent time playing a game of “Candy Land” with Matthew & he seemed to be catching on quite fast to the board game.
Early evening showers for the boys, then we all enjoy some popcorn with smoothies before Andrew & Matthew are encouraged to climb the stairs for bedtime. Little Jerry did take a late morning nap so he is not quite ready for his bedtime yet.
Later evening, Zack is in the spotlight with off & on questions & discussions about his soon to be new lifestyle in Seattle. Then Katrina, Nick, Zack, Kevin, Kathy & I play a game of “Loaded Questions.” We didn’t play too long but long enough to realize we should play this game again soon.
Kevin lets Kathy & me use their 1984 Ford van for transportation during our visit with a caution to start the engine up & let it run for at least (15) min before driving because the transmission is not working well. We make a stop @ Wal-Mart en route to our hotel for some groceries & a quart of transmission fluid. I am suspicious that the Ford van might possibly need more fluid. Today was a good start for a casual & entertaining holiday & family rendezvous with the busy & active Foote family.
Lights out: 11:20pm
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