Laptops, Luggage & Leashes: Erin's HERE! I know her!

December in Boise was, in a word, AMAZING!

Since Erin works at the Bellingham Airport, she's not able to take time off during the busy holiday season. She came to Boise the second week of December for an early Christmas with me. It was a lovely week with a mix of visits with friends and family, and we both enjoyed some downtime in the cottage. It had been a few years since Erin had been in Boise, so she wanted to eat at all her favorite restaurants and do some of our traditions we used to do with my mom before she passed away. My sister Cathy's family was able to join us for some of our special dinners.

During both my kids' visits, we got to see all the holiday lights in the area, shop with my sisters, and connect with our friends Michelle and Natalya. Michelle and I were reporters together at the newspaper after I graduated from BSU. She went on to open a home daycare both my girls attended before we moved to Washington. They've known my girls their whole lives and I'm so glad we've stayed in touch. It was so nice to get to reconnect with them for the first time in person since Covid. Erin got to have dinner with them and a tour of the new holiday lights in downtown Caldwell.

Spoiler alert: the light display in Caldwell includes a dragon that shoots fire every 15-or-so minutes. We stood in the cold for 20+ minutes when Erin was here, but it didn't go off. But I did get a video of it when Abby was here. So please, enjoy the most holy and festive of holiday symbols: a fire-breathing dragon. (Baby Jesus aside, I think everyone should incorporate a fire-breathing dragon of lights into their birthday celebrations.)

Nelson’s family texted they would like to make a couple weekend trips to see kids and grandkids and asked if I would sit for them again. Erin and I agreed to cover their trip while she was here, but I was already booked over Christmas. For Erin's visit, we spent half the time in the cottage and the rest of the week back in Nelson's home. She loved him as much as I did, and enjoyed walks on the trails, being in my sister's neighborhood again, the hot tub and breathtaking views. We even watched a meteor shower from their back patio. It was so good to be with Erin again after the longest stretch she's been apart from me in her entire life (2 months!)