12.29

We had some fabulous weekend guests.

There was some painting… with added googly eyes!

And gaming…

Fortnight w/friends FTW (and such a great Nintendo Switch accessories kit from Auntie Kate for Christmas)!

A super fun visit to the local model railroad club’s open house. I took itty bitty Junah there years ago with Mack & Addie, and Rusty & I had a blast taking all four kiddos this year. I made note of their regular “open to the public” hours, and I’m sure we’ll be visiting again.

They had one room separated from the rest with THOMAS & friends that the kids could control… but, oh my goodness, Davy just really wanted to touch the actual things (anything!). There was a small room with random items for sale and he was able to walk away with a couple of train cars for a very reasonable sum. Happiness all around.

I don’t get the NYT in print anymore, but I was able to order the Puzzle Mania section — something of a holiday tradition around here, in various configurations — and it did my heart good to see (and sometimes assist) these two in their crossword efforts!

Not sure I’m a fan of this smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-the-week holiday stuff… but it is what it is. I’m back to work for a day-and-a-half, then off for a day-and-a-half, then back to work for a day, and then a “vacation weekend.” It’s been a whole year since implementation of the “new” work schedule, which allows for a nice long weekend a couple of times a month… it’s gone quite well, even better than I’d imagined it would. It’ll be “new” probably until I retire… it always seems to take a couple of years to truly settle in & get comfortable. So, I guess, looking forward to true/full retirement (which seems a little unreal… and is still a ways off), I’d best prepare for some settling-in.