What a lovely Christmas story you've told with multiple families all visiting you and your wonderful children. Reminds me of my younger years when we had many relatives and friends visiting us. I wish you a most memorable and productive new year, 2024. I love to see your children evolving from little tykes to older and ever-changing personalities Just hope the world becomes a bit calmer and more peaceful. Looking forward to watching your Blogs and reading your Substacks during the new year.
May you have a fun time next Sunday Eve, but watch those hangovers. They can be rough! Maybe you should try some of that Zbiotic before you imbibe? Cheers, Jerry
Love your newsletter and it is often a highlight of my week. You can really tell how much the kids have grown this past year in the two family photos near the end. Thomas, you have shared how much you do not like the gym but wow you look great and can see the result of your hard work in that same photo. I also love your willingness to share the good, bad and ugly of life and makes us readers really feel part of your journey. Wishing you all a wonderful 2024.
Wow, looks like Y’all had a wonderful day with all the Family and Kids. I fixed Ham, Seasoned Green Beans and PJ’s Sweet Potato Casserole (PJ, it was Delicious by the way ) with Rolls and homemade Pumpkin Pie, and just enjoyed myself.
Sounds like a beautiful way to spend Christmas! Love to play family games. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is so good, you will not be disappointed! Much love to you all and wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year! 💙
Wow, your Christmas pretty much lasts three days, which is more than ours ever did! The days of big family Christmases are pretty much in the past for me, with my mother now in an assisted living facility, my sister homebound, and my nephews hundreds of miles away. I was still able to have breakfast with my mother Christmas morning, but after delivering some of her presents to my sister, I just went home and spent the rest of the day by myself. (That’s not quite as grim as it sounds, since I listened to Christmas music and watched a number of YouTube/Patreon videos and very much enjoyed them.) No big Christmas dinner, but since last year I ended up cooking a bunch of food for basically just my mother and me, it was nice to have simpler meal preparations on Christmas Day. Anyway, it sounds like you had all sorts of fun activities and delicious food. Enjoy the chance for a few days of rest and relaxation as you recover, and have a Happy New Year as well.
Hi Lane! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you! So glad you're part of the Vino & Vent family - you always have interesting things to share! See you New Year's Eve, hopefully! Kyle (chrisand kyle)
This is a true story from our early days together (me and my partner Chris).
Over 20 years ago, I changed my name. Mainly because I didn't have any family near me where I lived so nobody really knew anything about me, and because I never had much of a relationship with my father, so I didn't feel obligated to keep his name.
Soon after I met my current partner Chris (soon to be husband) and moved in with him, I told him this story:
"I was married, you know." He said "You were? I didn't know that!"
I said "Yeah, but she died." He said "What? How? What happened to her?"
I said "She died from eating poison mushrooms." He said "OMG, I'm so sorry!"
I said "But I married again, to my second wife."
Ok, so now he's thinking "What have I gotten myself into?? This guy changes his name, was married twice, maybe he's some kind of psycho??"
"Yeah, she died too, you know." He said, "Oh, oh."
"Yup, but she died of a fractured skull." "Wow, what happened?", he said, thinking she was in a car accident or something.
"She wouldn't eat her poison mushrooms."
I had him going! He believed me right until the end!
What a warm, wonderful family Christmas. It warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye(not a bad thing) to read about it. This "old guy" with grown kinds and six grandchildren appreciates you so much.
I agree with what the others have said, your love of family is contagious! You guys are so full of life, it actually spreads to your readers! Thank you for being you and for being here!
(PS. I'm going to resend a letter to you that I mailed in early November. It obviously got lost.)
Kyle that is probably the sweetest thing you could have said. thank you SO much for reading. and yes, please resend the letter! I don't think we received!! xoxo
Truly Christmas is meant to be celebrated this way. Love, family,,laughter, good food and especially the joy on the little ones faces. Your story filled me with the Christmas Spirit of present. Thank you for the best Christmas present I have ever received. Blessings to the family and for a wonderful New Year.
Christmas was so fun for your family and mine. When everyone gets along it makes it that much better. Your family is beautiful and l see everyone pitched in to make it special. My niece and her husband had their first baby in November and he was the star of Christmas. We had a wonderful meal and sat by an outdoor fire afterwards. Now I’m celebrating the rest of the twelve days of Christmas ending when the Maji arrived and have the epiphany meal on January 6th. This is my first year doing this. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love, Billy
a new baby sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. congratulations to them. enjoy your new tradition, Billy, and happy new year!! xo
It’s sounds like you had the best holidays! I spent a few days with my family doing almost the same. It was the perfect balance of relaxing and fun! Love hearing about your traditions. My family also has our classic movies we watch and food dishes that we cook. It’s that kind of nostalgia that makes the holidays so special! We also started doing secret Santa a few years ago and I couldn’t agree with you more! It’s so much more less stressful but also adds that element of surprise to the holidays that makes it fun! I, too, am looking forward to a “lazier” week. I need a mental and social reset haha 2024 is going to be a busy one but I am so excited and ready for it. I can’t wait to continue following along with you all in the new year!
Every Christmas Eve we make our own homemade sub sandwiches and have shrimp and a huge charcuterie and we also watch It’s a Wonderful Life as well as National Lampoons Christmas Vacation haha we’ve done that for as long as I can remember. Christmas Day I bake an amazing breakfast casserole for the whole family and we watch Elf and A Christmas Story. I can’t remember a Christmas where we didn’t do that!
What a lovely Christmas story you've told with multiple families all visiting you and your wonderful children. Reminds me of my younger years when we had many relatives and friends visiting us. I wish you a most memorable and productive new year, 2024. I love to see your children evolving from little tykes to older and ever-changing personalities Just hope the world becomes a bit calmer and more peaceful. Looking forward to watching your Blogs and reading your Substacks during the new year.
May you have a fun time next Sunday Eve, but watch those hangovers. They can be rough! Maybe you should try some of that Zbiotic before you imbibe? Cheers, Jerry
means a lot to have you here with us, Jerry, reading and watching and following along. so much love to you!
Love your newsletter and it is often a highlight of my week. You can really tell how much the kids have grown this past year in the two family photos near the end. Thomas, you have shared how much you do not like the gym but wow you look great and can see the result of your hard work in that same photo. I also love your willingness to share the good, bad and ugly of life and makes us readers really feel part of your journey. Wishing you all a wonderful 2024.
aww, Tim!! just made my day. thank you SO much for reading Okay McKay! looking forward to sharing even more in 2024. love to you, and happy holidays!
Wow, looks like Y’all had a wonderful day with all the Family and Kids. I fixed Ham, Seasoned Green Beans and PJ’s Sweet Potato Casserole (PJ, it was Delicious by the way ) with Rolls and homemade Pumpkin Pie, and just enjoyed myself.
Wishing Everyone a very very Happy New Year !!
ahhh wonderful!!! that sounds so delicious, Thomas!! happy new year to you as well!
Sounds like a beautiful way to spend Christmas! Love to play family games. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is so good, you will not be disappointed! Much love to you all and wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year! 💙
I can't wait to dive in. thanks, Rebecca, and happy new year!!!
Wow, your Christmas pretty much lasts three days, which is more than ours ever did! The days of big family Christmases are pretty much in the past for me, with my mother now in an assisted living facility, my sister homebound, and my nephews hundreds of miles away. I was still able to have breakfast with my mother Christmas morning, but after delivering some of her presents to my sister, I just went home and spent the rest of the day by myself. (That’s not quite as grim as it sounds, since I listened to Christmas music and watched a number of YouTube/Patreon videos and very much enjoyed them.) No big Christmas dinner, but since last year I ended up cooking a bunch of food for basically just my mother and me, it was nice to have simpler meal preparations on Christmas Day. Anyway, it sounds like you had all sorts of fun activities and delicious food. Enjoy the chance for a few days of rest and relaxation as you recover, and have a Happy New Year as well.
Lane, please tell your mother we're thinking of her and sending her (and you!) so much love. xoxo
Hi Lane! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you! So glad you're part of the Vino & Vent family - you always have interesting things to share! See you New Year's Eve, hopefully! Kyle (chrisand kyle)
Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year
A story for you!
This is a true story from our early days together (me and my partner Chris).
Over 20 years ago, I changed my name. Mainly because I didn't have any family near me where I lived so nobody really knew anything about me, and because I never had much of a relationship with my father, so I didn't feel obligated to keep his name.
Soon after I met my current partner Chris (soon to be husband) and moved in with him, I told him this story:
"I was married, you know." He said "You were? I didn't know that!"
I said "Yeah, but she died." He said "What? How? What happened to her?"
I said "She died from eating poison mushrooms." He said "OMG, I'm so sorry!"
I said "But I married again, to my second wife."
Ok, so now he's thinking "What have I gotten myself into?? This guy changes his name, was married twice, maybe he's some kind of psycho??"
"Yeah, she died too, you know." He said, "Oh, oh."
"Yup, but she died of a fractured skull." "Wow, what happened?", he said, thinking she was in a car accident or something.
"She wouldn't eat her poison mushrooms."
I had him going! He believed me right until the end!
We still laugh when he tells others about this!
Merry Christmas! I read Evelyn Hugo back in 2018 and it’s STILL one of my favourite books ever. Enjoy!
oh my goodness I cannot wait to read it!!! my SIL adored it and recommended it!
What a warm, wonderful family Christmas. It warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye(not a bad thing) to read about it. This "old guy" with grown kinds and six grandchildren appreciates you so much.
John! six grandchildren. you are so blessed. happy holidays, friend!
I agree with what the others have said, your love of family is contagious! You guys are so full of life, it actually spreads to your readers! Thank you for being you and for being here!
(PS. I'm going to resend a letter to you that I mailed in early November. It obviously got lost.)
See you New Year's Eve, hopefully!
Kyle that is probably the sweetest thing you could have said. thank you SO much for reading. and yes, please resend the letter! I don't think we received!! xoxo
Christmas is another way to spell Love. The McKay house is full of love. Happy New Year
I love this so much, larry. Thank you ❤️
Truly Christmas is meant to be celebrated this way. Love, family,,laughter, good food and especially the joy on the little ones faces. Your story filled me with the Christmas Spirit of present. Thank you for the best Christmas present I have ever received. Blessings to the family and for a wonderful New Year.
Merry Christmas John. sending you all the holidays magic and cheer!!! xoxo
Christmas was so fun for your family and mine. When everyone gets along it makes it that much better. Your family is beautiful and l see everyone pitched in to make it special. My niece and her husband had their first baby in November and he was the star of Christmas. We had a wonderful meal and sat by an outdoor fire afterwards. Now I’m celebrating the rest of the twelve days of Christmas ending when the Maji arrived and have the epiphany meal on January 6th. This is my first year doing this. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love, Billy
a new baby sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. congratulations to them. enjoy your new tradition, Billy, and happy new year!! xo
Thank you
It’s sounds like you had the best holidays! I spent a few days with my family doing almost the same. It was the perfect balance of relaxing and fun! Love hearing about your traditions. My family also has our classic movies we watch and food dishes that we cook. It’s that kind of nostalgia that makes the holidays so special! We also started doing secret Santa a few years ago and I couldn’t agree with you more! It’s so much more less stressful but also adds that element of surprise to the holidays that makes it fun! I, too, am looking forward to a “lazier” week. I need a mental and social reset haha 2024 is going to be a busy one but I am so excited and ready for it. I can’t wait to continue following along with you all in the new year!
ok Edison now I need to hear what movies and food you make during the holidays!!
Every Christmas Eve we make our own homemade sub sandwiches and have shrimp and a huge charcuterie and we also watch It’s a Wonderful Life as well as National Lampoons Christmas Vacation haha we’ve done that for as long as I can remember. Christmas Day I bake an amazing breakfast casserole for the whole family and we watch Elf and A Christmas Story. I can’t remember a Christmas where we didn’t do that!