Family Meetings

Mini-Christmas

Last Saturday we took a drive to Grants Pass to meet with the Catchpole parents.  We went down Saturday because mum and dad were too busy partying Friday night and because we wanted more favorable weather.

The drive down was fairly uneventful.  There was a lot of snow on the sides of the road, especially on the passes, but the roads were relatively free of hazards, mind the occasional lump of chain in the middle of the road.  Why people think they can drive faster than 30 mph with chains on over bare pavement is beyond me, but I digress.

We met mum and dad in time for lunch.  They took us out for some delicious Subway sandwhiches.  Betsey and I powered through a footlong each and mum and dad split one.  I guess we were hungry.  The only thing we'd eaten was an apple pie from McDonalds on the way down because we wanted to use the restrooms and felt guilty for not buying anything.  Those subs went down quick, and then we all tooled around Grants Pass together picking up last minute gifts.

After a bit of a relax back at the parents house, we went for dinner at the Wild River Brewing and Pizza.  We enjoyed delicious soy cheese pizza (thanks fam) with an array of delicious toppings.  Their beer was as yummy as ever.  We reminised about the first time all four of us had eaten there, it was when I introduced Betsey to mum and dad.  With good food in our stomachs, but no desire to eat more, we had to find a different locale to continue our pleasent conversation.

Once we arrived back at mum and dad's and everyone had relaxed a bit, it was time for mini-Christmas.  Mini-Christmas involves opening the presents you don't already know about in front of the people that loved you enough to get them.  It lets them see the happy look on your face since they won't see you on Christmas day.  We received some wonderful presents and there's a story about mine that deserves its own post that I probably won't get to until the new year.

The next morning, after a wonderful brunch prepared by mum, we had to pack the bags and head out.  I had work the next day and we were trying to catch the warmest part of the day in Corvallis.  We'd all had a wonderful time, and after saying our goodbyes, we made one stop at Dutch Bros. for our traditional leaving Grants Pass coffee, and then we hit the road.

Three hours later at exit 228 for Corvallis, we stopped to fill up with gas.  I had wanted to check the car's gas mileage with all freeway driving since Betsey's recent town driving had been killing the averages.  The car performed admirably (34 mpg) and we noted the temperature wasn't that cold (only 46 degrees F) .  I reset the odometer and we pulled out of the station for the last leg of our trip.

One minute later, 1.6 miles down the road, surrounded by torrential downpour, the car's external thermometer was reading 36 degrees F.   We simply couldn't beleive it.  It was clear that the next cold front had some serious clout.  We safely made it back to our home, turned on the heat and settled in for a quiet day-after mini-Christmas evening.

Unexpected and Welcome Birthday Guests

Last night after getting back from work, I received a call from dad.  Apparently Chrystal and Kim had been on the road for hours in Portland and were trying to get home that evening.  It seemed a little unsafe to be tired on these roads, and I excused myself from the conversation immediately.  There was only one thing to do, have them over.  I called Chrystal to get the report directly.  After sitting in Portland through road closures and moving at 2 mph for most of the day, they were driving through Salem.  I knew, from traveling home from work that the worst was behind them, but Kim was extremely tired from the stressful driving and fog was setting in thick.  I made sure they knew they were welcome at chez Catchpole, and that dinner and a warm bed was waiting for them.  It took them about 30 seconds to determine that it was the best offer going.

Once we knew the girls were coming to stay with us ON CHRYSTAL'S BIRTHDAY,  we had to get a cake and candles.  Betsey and I rushed over to the Safeway and found "The moistest cake you've ever tasted".  Well that's what the sticker said.  We returned home and set 22 candles into a lovely chocolate fudge cake and hid it in the bedroom; our plan set in motion.

Chrystal and Kim arrived shortly thereafter and, it being the first time I'd seen Chrystal since she went to Denmark, I squeezed the living daylights out of Chrystal.

"I'm making that face you make when mum hugs you," she said.

Over a yummy pasta dinner, we listened to colorful and well delivered winter adventure tales.  There were great dangers, lovable characters (yummy firemen) and a happy ending.  As tummys were filling, Betsey dissappeared to light candles.  At the same time, Chrystal uttered an almost prophet like sentence.

"I could really go for something sweet."

I pretended to look through the cupboards, and I came up empty.

"Sorry," I said.

It was about this time that Kim spied something that must have looked like a flaming commet moving slowly through the living room.  Chrystal couldn't see it yet, but seconds later, everyone started singing the birthday song as Kim and I scattered through the apartment looking for the cameras.  Chrystal had trouble getting all the candles out in one blow, so I guess that means she's old now.  She was definitely surprised, and it was wonderful to see the look on her face.

Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve, and the family meetings are scheduled to continue.  We have a somewhat trecherous trip to Portland to make, and once we've seen Chrystal and Kim off safely, we will begin that adventure.

We wish everyone who reads this a safe and happy Christmas.