Friday

 The morning started with one last trip to Aldi's and then to Kroger's.  Jared called last night and I thought of another idea for the kid's stockings.  I needed to satisfy myself doing that.  The grandsons receive their grandpa, grandma gifts in their stockings.  Some things are funny, and somethings are serious like money or gift certificates. They never know what to expect and I'll keep it that way.  So another something on the funny side was added! 

                        Each of the grandsons have a stocking.  Not to big and not to small.  Just right.

I spent the rest of the morning making corn chowder.  Kimmy's happy about that. Egg salad is finished and there will be more than enough food for the weekend.  I'll be freezing soup for January meals, I'm sure.  

The Michigan car left mid-morning and knowing there is a Michigan driver at the wheel, that family will be here ASAP but it is never soon enough.  

So, the game all afternoon was called wait and text and then wait some more.  It was either time to make cookies or a pie. I needed to fill the minutes with something.  Since Kat will bring PLATES of cookies tomorrow, (thank you Kat) I did the apple pie thing.  But I was finished almost before I started.  The tradition that was kept was having a pie cooling as Jared comes through the door.  That happened many times.

                                   A yummy apple pie made with Michigan Granny Smiths.  

Once again in the afternoon the dirty clothes got cleaned via Doug's efforts. Thank you, Doug for the millionth time. 

Soon the house will be full of good noise.  Tomorrow there will be more good noise.  There is nothing like five almost adults but still teenage boys and six talkie adults to keep the ball rolling. Card games and perhaps a walk at Central Park, Carmel Indiana...here we come.  The temperature tomorrow should be wonderful.  Now we'll see about the rain possibilities.