Holiday activities started Christmas Eve with church services, followed with a party with friends and then opening presents at Barney and Dorothy's.
Favorable weather and favorable work schedules allowed Kelly/Rodney and family to be here in St. Joseph the next evening, Dec. 25th. Adam, Andrew, Alee and Kelly drove in first and snacked on tortilla roll ups and Rotel cheese dip until Rodney arrived for the main course of "Triumph Food" ribs. No more sloppy joes for this group!
Water problems last spring caused the downstairs to be in disrepair, so Christmas activities (and decorations) were restricted to the upstairs area. However, since Adam, Andrew and Alee didn't stay all night, extra room wasn't necessary.
After dinner, we opened presents. Revealed among the flurry of wrapping paper and bows were household supplies, gift cards and a Rush Limbaugh ornament. But Best Present Ever from a Democrat Mother-in-Law who needed a Safe Space after the November election was my gift to Rodney, a "Make America Great Again" red hat.
Rodney got up early the next day and worked on the leaking toilet downstairs, which he fixed by examining the flushing mechanism and finding that it was working after all. After conversation over tea and coffee, Kelly and Rodney were off for more Christmas in Kansas.
Dorothy and Barney came over on the 26th for leftovers. No more sloppy joes for these two either!