Part of the big reason to come back to the States this holiday season was to meet the newest member of our family, Lucas. Born in late September to my brother and sister-in-law, he is at the perfect age to laugh at the silly antics of his older cousins. And laugh he does.
It was lovely to meet Lucas, though bittersweet in a way. We won't see him again for at least a year and he'll be quite grown by then. It was fun to meet the little 3 month old though and my boys love him.
Another highlight of Oma and Opa's house is taking bubble baths in the giant bathtub. It's practically a swimming pool for the kids.
The boys love the bathtub and think it's a big treat to have a swim in it. It's far bigger than our bathtubs at home.
Ever since I was a small kid, I can remember listening to my parents play pinochle with my grandparents. Whenever we'd visit Montana or they'd come to us in Ohio and Indiana, they'd play cards. I learned to play while in middle school but for some reason, we never really played. We'd sub in for a person here and there, but playing was reserved for grown-ups. We taught Jay to play during his first trip to Montana almost 10 years ago and officially entered grown-up realm. We were allowed to play. It is a partner game and you never partner with your spouse. We also, for some reason, play a guy and gal on each team.
We've been playing pinochle almost every night since we've been here. Most nights, it was Dad and I versus Jay and Mom. Most nights Dad and I have lost. Last night, we won both games. I managed to pull a near perfect (in my opinion) hand. Between the meld and the play, it was 720 points!
Pretty darn cool if you ask me.
