Allison Christmas

We sure had a fun day yesterday! It was so fun that we didn't get home until midnight and slept in until after 9:00 this morning!!! We went to Bob's about 10:00 after both the ham and the rolls were cooked. Ann had a hair appointment at 10:30 and we weren't supposed to eat until about 1:00, so we helped Bob with the food prep. Ann had already set the table and had the side dishes ready to go...we peeled potatoes and got them on at the proper time. I was so anxious for the girls to get there that I was like I was when Bob and I waited for Aunt Helen and Uncle Bert to arrive at our place when we were just kids. At that time, Bob & I would sit on Mom & Dad's bed and watch out the window for what seemed like hours, just waiting to see who would see their car first. Of course, Bob always saw them first...after all, I was just a little kid and I had a short attention span!! Well, yesterday felt much the same - Bob and I both kept looking out the window!! Linda and her family arrived first, but not until about 12:15! Then Vicki's family and Rhonda's family and Ann all got there close to the same time! By the time we carried in packages and got all of our hugs, it was time to get serious about dinner!
After dinner and dishes, we opened packages. It seems we always have some kind of a tear-producing package and yesterday was no exception. The girls' mom had acquired a sign that was advertising J.W. Allison and Sons, which she gave to the girls to give to Bob. It produced lots of tears!! We figured the sign dated somewhere between 1945 and 1950. It had our Fairfield phone number on it and we moved from Fairfield in May of 1950. Dad didn't start trucking until 1945...thus our logic. Anyway it was good to remember all the sign stood for.

After presents and supper, the real fun began! We played games - Bananagram, 5 Seconds, Farkle, and Wild Card! We left there about 11:45 - it was a great day!!

Today, we worked on financial papers and taking clothes to Salvation Army. We also found out that we passed the background check with flying colors! So, now we can officially be owners at Holiday Ranch in Clearwater, Florida...actually, our home is in Largo, but the mailing address is Clearwater! I'll get some pix posted - hopefully tomorrow!! More later...