A QUICK VISIT

We had a quick visit from Son #4 and family yesterday.  They came to town to look for a couple of items that they could not get in their small town for their new house, and also to check out the progress on our house.  I think they were pleasantly surprised to see Son #4's boyhood home in its new, altered state.

We also had time for some sidewalk art and blowing bubbles.

After that I fed everyone brownies and ice cream and Son #4 loaded the children up for their drive back home.  Sorry, Son #4.  I hope the children did not eat enough sugar to make them hyper for the trip!

ANOTHER WEEKEND VISITOR

This past weekend Son #3 and his pal, Nero, came for a visit. I bought Nero a new toy and he is investigating it just after they arrived.

Nero also liked to stand at our back door watching for squirrels to chase. He really put the fear into them when he was here, getting lots of exercise in our back yard. However, the squirrels quickly recovered as soon as Nero left. Sigh!

We had yet another birthday celebration for Mother while Son #3 was here. She was delighted with the unusual present he brought her that contained a bit of her family history. A hint? It was from a distillery in Kentucky that contains her maiden name. I think they were distant cousins of my mother's family. I do believe that was the most unusual present she received this year!

But, alas, Son #3 and his pal, Nero, had to return home and to work. We really enjoyed having him here, though! Hurry back--and I have to admit that my husband kept offering to adopt Nero, all to no avail!

WE HAD VISITORS!

Today we had visitors. My sister and her daughter and two children came over. My sister brought flowers for our mom and we went over and the children watched Mom knitting a scarf and then helped decorate her little tree.




Then we called my nephew and invited his family over so the cousins could play and we could have an impromptu Bar-B-Que dinner together. We counted and found four generations at the table tonight. What a blessing to be able to share this time amongst family members.






Of course, we took pictures and were quickly able to share them with my brother and his wife who are still at Mayo where my sister-in-law is quickly recovering (quite miraculously--thanks to many and their prayers!) from a kidney transplant about three weeks ago.

WE'VE HAD VISITORS!

Son #4 and family has been visiting this weekend. Miss Ella Bella and Little Brother kept us entertained for two days. Little Brother has grown a bunch and has the most beautiful smile that just grabs at my heart. He is trying so hard to talk and Miss Ella Bella has certainly mastered the art of conversation. We were watching the deer and I pointed out the buck with "horns." She told me that they were NOT "horns," they were "antlers!" Sigh! And she is only 2 1/2! I believe her parents are in for an interesting future with Miss Ella Bella to keep them on their toes. Little Brother is just sitting there watching and taking lessons so he can catch up with his big sister.








Granddaddy did yeoman's duty with Little Brother. They seemed to get along just fine while Miss Ella Bella went with me to visit the neighbors. She charmed them all with her conversation. At one house she asked to see the "pretty room" and took herself off to the daughter's room all decorated in bright colors. I'm not sure how Miss Ella Bella knew about that room, but she certainly knows how to make herself at home wherever she is!



Miss Ella Bella told Granddaddy that the deer needed food, so they went to put out food for the "poor starving deer!"

We had a great time and now the house is very quiet again. I look forward to their return at Christmas. What fun we will have then, but I have lots to do in the next four weeks. Whew!

A Birthday Girl

A wonderful thing about our family is that we believe in family get-togethers that help us stay in touch with each other in a wonderfully refreshing way. This past weekend my brother and his wife came to stay with us and help celebrate their granddaughter's second birthday. We had three fun-filled days of activity--eating, visiting, and watching Bela enjoy her two-year-old self!

My brother certainly enjoyed holding Bela, as you can tell from the big grin on his face, and playing with her during a breakfast gathering of family.

My brother's wife with the Birthday Girl. Thankfully my brother's wife is feeling much better and is now able to attend these family gatherings after being "grounded" for a whole year! We were so glad to have her with us again for the fun and festivities.

The Birthday Girl certainly enjoyed her birthday cake at the outdoor birthday party. The weather was gorgeous over the weekend and very conducive to outdoor gatherings with cool days, no wind, and little humidity. More good food and that delicious cake to finish up with! We all probably won't need to eat again for a week!

We tried a family portrait of my brother, his wife and their oldest son's family. About ten pictures later I finally got one with everyone's eyes open.

And no gathering is ever complete at our house without watching Bossy Mama and her girls come in to eat. Bela really enjoyed the deer and was amazingly quiet while watching them. Several times she put her fingers up to her lips and told us "Shhh!" to remind us to be quiet also. And one last picture of Bela sitting quietly in my lap outside for a very long time--just watching those deer eat.

Thanks to all who came and made the weekend so much fun!

Visitors This Weekend

My sister and her daughter-in-law came to visit with the children this weekend. The children had fun helping my husband put out feed for the deer and playing in our back yard with Daisy. We did not actually see the deer at our house, but walked down the cul de sac and saw them in the woods.

Today was a beautiful springlike day--just too pretty to stay inside! Our trees will be bursting into bloom soon if they can bloom without any moisture since we have not had any real measurable rain around here since last summer.


We really enjoyed our visit and hated to put the children in the car for their ride home.

Sisters' Weekend Together...

My sister has been here this weekend and we have had fun visiting Mother, shopping, eating out, and sharing Christmas and Thanksgiving pictures (kids and grandkids).

She and her husband visited their son and family in Korea for Thanksgiving. They loved touring and experiencing interesting foods and shopping excursions while there.

For Christmas they went to visit their daughter and family in California. They spent much time on the beach and enjoyed playing with their new grandson and big sister while there.

We are looking forward to a time when all of our families and these cute grandchildren can be together again.

(If you would like to see these pictures close up, just click on the picture for a full-screen view.)