A nice thing about our family gatherings, is everyone pitches in to help who's hosting, or we go to hotel/restaurants and let others do the work while we just have fun. When there's no meal prep or clean-up, there's more time to connect with each other and share experiences, laughter, and conversations.
Also, I so appreciate that everyone is willing to try to get together each year, and keep our family ties close.
Sunday 12/29 - Three of the cars (ours included) that left the Embassy Suites in Louisville at 11am were headed to Nashville area. We all made a planned stop at Cave City, KY for a quick lunch and then a guided tour of Crystal Onyx Cave.
Going down into the cave, Courtney and Ava lead the way in our family group of ten, which made up over a third of the total tour group.
It was a 75 minute (one mile) long walking tour, with several stops to hear about various cave formations.
It was a rainy day and there had been plenty of rain overnight, so the internal water ways and stalactites dripping onto stalagmites was easily seen.
The tour was the perfect length and speed for us.
There were a few low spots and a couple of tight spots to fit through...
...along with a fair amount of stairs to go up and down.
It wasn't as colorful as I have seen, and hoped for, but there were many different, cool looking rock formations.
When we emerged, the rain had stopped, so we took some time to look at all the strange things (crap) the cave owners had on display on the property.
Why all this junk?
Ava 'brought the kid out' in many of us.
Such silliness...
...and cuteness. 
Big or small, young or old, we were having a good time. 
After some souvenir shopping in the little store, we said our 'good byes' to Jean and Brianna, knowing it would be months before we saw them again. Courtney left with them for her home, Dan's family loaded up and headed for their home, and we (Britney, Juan Carlos, Joe and I) headed for downtown Nashville. 
During the day, we got word from various travelers, that each had made it 'home'. Thank you God. When we got to our Air B&B, The Burnham (a luxury condominium vacation rental) we had difficulties getting in.
Once to our unit on the sixth floor, we stepped out on the balcony to enjoy the view and a sunset.
And wouldn't you know, another 'proposal' reenactment. I am pleasd to announce that marriage is the reality and a wedding date has been decided...
...it's on our anniversary.
We got settled into our rooms and had a drink before going out to tour the building.
Deciding to eat up some of the many leftovers we had (been carrying around in a cooler), we had a quick dinner and then went out Honky Tonkin'. It was not too horribly cold, although Britney thought otherwise.
We ducked into several bars, but many of the bands were playing very loud, heavy metal/rock type music. 
Finally we found a band with a sound we enjoyed, so we had a seat and a beer. They played familiar country tunes we could sing along to. There was a group of Hawkeye fans that were having a good time and Britney and I got up and danced the boot scootin' boogie with them.
Our night ended early. I could have danced more, but being an early riser, I was as tired as the others.
Monday 12/30 - Today was the Music City Bowl, at Nissan Stadium, featuring the 8–4 Iowa Hawkeyes going up against the 'favored' 9–3 Missouri Tigers. It was reported that Hawkeye fans showed up strong and took over Nashville on Music City Bowl eve (yesterday).
We had brought a suitcase of winter clothing, so 'suited up' in under armor, and got dressed and ready to go out in the cold. Patty arrived at our Air B&B at 10:00 and we drove to our parking ramp a mile from the stadium, hit the streets on foot and found our chosen restaurant, with the entrance down an alley. 
Fleet Street Pub was perfect, not at all busy because it was off the main track. 
And it had great atmosphere and wonderful cuisine. We had plenty of time so had a nice, relaxed lunch. 
We continued our trek to the stadium, melding in with the sea of black and gold, but they were not all Iowa fans. Missouri's colors were the same as ours.
We made our way up to the 'nose bleed' section. This photo is from where we got off the elevator. 
Walking down to the other end zone, we found our seats, right on the goal line. This photo is of the Hawkeyes headed for the locker room after warm-ups. 
Waiting for the game to start.
We were in the sun so it wasn't too cold, although the breeze did make it cooler.
It was a fun game. Iowa was doing great, ahead 21-14 at half time.
We enjoyed the Hawkeye marching band, although many of the formations were not identifiable. You can clearly see this one though, as the band played James Bond, - Live and Let Die.
Iowa started having troubles in the second half. We left just before the end of the third quarter. We wanted to beat the crowd and rush hour traffic. While headed east on I-40, after several field goals, we heard that Missouri kicked a 56 yard field goal and won the game.
I rode with Patty to keep her company and we stopped in Cookeville at Chili's for dinner. Then I hopped back in the SUV with Joe, Britney and Juan Carlos and we got home by 7:30pm.
I moved the thermostat up from 62° and turned the fireplace on. Soon it felt nice to be home. But I was too tired to stay up, and was the first in bed. It warmed my heart to hear Britney and Juanca in the living room talking and laughing as I drifted off to sleep.
Tuesday 12/31 - New Year's Eve.
We had a slow, relaxing morning, much needed to recover from the past five days away from home. 
Mama Styx was so happy to have people back home. And before you knew it, everyone was posting photos of their cats, delighted to have their humans home.
Wash with Courtney.
And Squeeky happy to have his (the guest's) room back.
Daniel's Fluffy Kitty.
My Monita.
Brianna's Mae.
And Jean's Parm, at her Air Stream a few days later, on a warm afternoon.
Joe and I went out to the ranch together after lunch, because I had chores and there were a few other jobs we needed to get done, like patching this hole in the feed room roof that our two boys (Rico and Dorado) made.
And of course, while Joe was getting measurements to find the right size board, Dorado and Rico (the project managers) had to be right there investigating.
I had distracted the boys with fresh hay and the patch job was fairly quick and easy.
Rico had gotten thirsty, but waited till we were done before moving in to get a drink. 
Next I moved (by rolling) the round hay bale feeder to the back pasture while Joe switched out tractor attachments and got a round bale. 
When I opened the gate for Dorado and Rico to go on the
front pasture, they went right to what was left of the round bale that
the herd of four had had there the past ten days. They sampled the hay and then went for the grass, which is more plentiful than what is in the side pasture.
I had closed the herd of four in the paddock to keep them out of our way and in preparation for feeding. They all stood watching the other two check out the hay and explore the front pasture. They seemed a tad 'put out' by no longer having access to the front pasture. But they were also quite curious about Rico and Dorado being out there.
After the four were fed, I opened the gate to the back pasture and they were quick to make their way to it and the new hay. Notice the two boys in the front pasture had come down near the lower paddock. 
The three boys were first to get to the new round bale. 
And then it seemed as if they were playing ring around the round bale, with Banner and Cowboy trying to keep Zorro and Amiga, when she arrived, away from it.
I never see any of them kicking at each other, and their 'disagreements' are usually handled with head tossing, ears back, and maybe some nipping. They all get along so well, even when there is a little dispute. 
They tired of chasing around and Amiga got in on the hay eating, followed by Zorro. 
Once they finally settled into position (there was room for everybody) they ate hay for awhile. Meanwhile, Dorado and Rico munched on grass nearby, in the adjoining pasture. 
Patty had us over for New Year's Eve dinner. She made a tasty soup that included meat, vegetables and noodles. Then she showed us how to play Mahjong, a fairly complicated game I thought. We then played Swipe, a much easier card game.
I was in bed reading by 9pm, my extent of celebrating.
Wednesday 1/1 - Happy New Year!
We had a relaxed quiet morning and I spent plenty of time working on last week's blog, trying to get caught up on it. There were too many photos to pick from. I had a third cup of tea chatting with Britney and Juan Carlos while some fur babies sought my attention.
The temperature had dropped some more and it felt much colder because there was no sunshine. Babe trying to keep warm in her little ball body position. 
Monita giving me the cat eye, as if urging me to get off my computer. I was here most of the afternoon. And then, just outside my window...
...Rose was getting some water out of the dirty and half frozen bird bath. This was enough to get me up and going, to get her some clean, warm water in her bowl and to feed her, the birds, and the deer.
Britney and Juan Carlos had dinner duty tonight. Juanca took the lead, slicing and dicing the potatoes and vegetables while Britney assisted. 
Her toughest job was keeping Joe and I out of the kitchen. Joe did assist by grilling (on his flat top) a package of stir fry teriyaki chicken.
Patty came over for dinner and watched some football with Joe while the veggies roasted. Maggie always seeks some lovin' from our visitors.
Oh, one more food preparation photo.
The food was very tasty and it was so nice that I didn't have to mess with fixing it. I did help with clean up though.
Then Joe showed us four how to play Texas Hold'em and went over some of the strategies.
This cheat sheet he printed was to help Juan Carlos and Britney see the ranking of the different hands.
After playing several hands, Patty headed home, Joe retired in the Mancave to watch more football, B&JC went up stairs to start packing, and I went to bed.
I went back to blogging, but was torn with wanting to spend a little more time with Britney and Juan Carlos because they would be leaving soon. I really believe we should be present and engaged during family time, but we each need our own time and space also.
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...DAUGHTER, from here to where you are, there is a great distance.
But that doesn't stop me from asking God to take care of you today, tomorrow and always.
Well, that did me in. I started getting all teary eyed all over again.
It had been a very busy and fun holiday season. But I was ready to get things back to normal for the Villhauer household, although I was dreading having to take all the Christmas decorations down. I did make it to the gym for a short easy workout, and threw my third load of laundry in the dryer before going to bed at 8:00.
Friday 1/3 - I was up just after midnight and finished and
posted last weeks (Christmas) Blog at 3:45 am. Then I went back to bed
for a few more hours of sleep. When I woke back up, I saw that Britney had posted this, 'One last honkytonk' at the Nashville Airport. Bah, ha, ha... Wah!
I had a 9:00 telehealth visit. with the genetic counselor. Because of family history and my recent colon cancer, insurance will cover my testing. Yay. The geneticist will be looking at the multiple genes associated with Lynch syndrome, and also because of paternal history of breast cancer they will look at the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
Once off the phone, I saw that Britney and Juan Carlos had made it to their second gate with plenty of time to spare and the second flight was on time. I was so glad today's travels were going much better for them, than when they flew here (taking them 41 hours).
After feeding chores at the ranch, I took down all the Christmas decorations at the ranch house and stripped the bed. I did two more loads of laundry before bed.
Joe helped me put flea medicine on the three cats. I'm not sure I care for this new medicine (Catego) because it leaves a greasy mark on their hair. And Mama Styx acted rather lethargic (or maybe just mad) the rest of the evening.
We got word that Juan Carlos had gotten Britney safely home. That brought me great peace and joy.
I tried to start this blog, already a week behind schedule, but was too tired and falling asleep at my computer. I gave in at 7:30 and went to bed.
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