Family Vacation Day 19

Today my Sis, Bernd and my 2 nephews are supposed to come back from their California Round Trip. By the time I got up there was still no news an that. After breakfast I had originally planned to take my Mom to 'Central Park'. Before noon we still had a medium Santa Ana event going on. Fairly strong wind gusts and kinda on the cool side, so I decided that we just stay at the house and that would give me time to get some more yard work done. I pulled weeds for about 1 1/2 hours. The strong wind gusts helped to keep the temperature down and that helped. Around 12.30 I decided to take a break...was hot, sweaty and slightly itchy from the weeds. When I checked my phone I found out that Bernd had called and had left a voice mail, letting me know that they would be back by 4 pm.

After I had time to cool down a little I started with lunch. Made something fairly easy. Roasted some Peppers and Cucumber and then just put in the rest of the left over from the Veggie Penne and that made for a delicious lunch.

After Mom had taken her afternoon nap I got a phone call from my Sis confirming that I had gotten the voice mail. They also were stuck in the I-5 in LA, but were already past the junction with the 101 to possibly get around the traffic jam...and I wasn't going to send him on criss-cross trip through LA. After that phone call I left for Sweet Water Farms to pick up some bread, since we had run out of it. I got back and about 20 min. later my Sis, Bernd and my 2 nephews arrived. Way earlier than I actually expected, considering the friday afternoon traffic jam in LA.

I guess the best way to describe their arrival would be with a MASH analogy: "The peaceful quietness was suddenly interrupted by herd of screaming kids". Took me a little while to get used to that again. Daisy was actually the one who appeared to have the least problem with that. Around 6 pm I started to prepare dinner. I made a Carbonara Style Paste Sauce for Bernd, Kenny and I. For my Mom, Sis and my 2 nephews I roasted mixed veggies and broccoli and than added Tomato Sauce. While both sauces were simmering on the stove I started the Penne and prepared the Garlic Toast. Had to use garlic powder though, since I had run out of garlic spread. By 7.30 pm dinner was finished. It was quite yummy. Just in time since Daniel was getting a little grumpy and needed to go to back urgently.

About 20 min, after Daniel had gone to bed Kenny got back from work and had some of the Penne with Carbonara Sauce as well. Later my nephew Leonhard got to play video games for several hours on our Wii. By 11.30 pm everyone had gone to bed and that ended day 19 of the Family Vacation.