Full moons, flu shot and haircuts...

That's my day today...after they've all gone home from our wonderful Verter-thanks-mas Day week-end..


I miss them all already..

...here's Gerri and my granddaughter Alyssa....

... grandson Brian and his (our) sweet Tessa...


....Lisa and April...


Handsome Chris and our April...

Ophelia could not make an appearance this year..so she sent over her contribution..her fresh eggs..lovingly decorated by Oliver, Brahm and Brooks from next door..


The presents were ready and wrapped...with Kobe, Angel and Dot checking them out...

Emily got a beautiful necklace made by Auntie Rachael..but because this was a White Elephant game..didn't have it for long....

Jeff ended up with a set of retractable back scratchers..and he and Rachael gave a "high five"..

Chris tentatively opens his gift..ready for one of us to grab it away...

"Supper's ready.."

Yes, that's beef...prime rib. Yummy with Mr. B's famous smashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet horsey sauce, April's baked beans and my favorite...GREEN OLIVES!

We need to use 2 tables and one is round., and one oblong...so it always looks like an exclamation point (!! )

I don't know what we'll do when all of the kids grow too big for the "kid's table"..Brian used to be there, but now we have to "borrow" neighbor kids for the table..

What a grin! That's Oliver for sure..

Time for the "group shots"!! Chris, Emily, April, Brian and Alyssa

Brian & Tessa

Hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil...yeah..right..

Ah..all my loves in one place..well, most anyway. Ella and Connor aren't here..but they were in my heart..

Didja ever notice how you "un-pose" as soon as the photo is snapped??

Well, today they all are home. Back in school. Back to work. Back to routine.

And I miss them more that I can express. It's always so hard to say good-bye. And in this economy, we don't know how soon we'll see each other again.

That makes it all that much harder...

But, even though it was quick, and tiring on the travelers, I wouldn't miss one minute of it..

..any minute I can spend with my family is worth all the good-byes..

But it's hard. So hard.

So, it's full moons, flu shots and haircuts...back to routine..back to "normal"...and a heart full of great memories.

Hope you enjoyed them as well.

-me