Wow...

Can I say it again? Thank you! Your words & prayers are so appreciated. I don't even know how to express my gratitude to you guys for your support.

I have to say that this has been a LONG week. Honestly, I think the whirlwind of being surrounded by family has kind of cushioned the reality of it all. I've so enjoyed seeing everyone and spending time with family that we only get to see few & far between. But, by spending so much time with family, I've not spent a lot of time alone with my emotions, my grief. I obviously don't regret being together. It's just that now I'm stuck with myself. Ha!

From the time I got in the car to come home, pretty much instantaneously, I felt that what I said about grampa wasn't adequate. Preparing for the service, making plans, rummaging through pictures (pretty much celebrating his life) has just renewed and multiplied my adoration for him. Anyway... I don't know where I'm going with any of this. Just that I wish there was more that I could say. For the time being, I suppose I'll just bury my nose in his shirt & relish in the scent of his cologne. It makes the memories (and the tears) come flooding. Maybe I'll find something more to say later...

And, on with this post. I did take lots of pictures while I was away. Not as many as I thought, but still enough to make my head spin when I think about the proofing. These first few are just hanging around my sister's house. Down time...

Sweet Kyden:
LOVE this one of maniac Cam.
Camden playing the guitar. :-)

If anyone can rock the side ponytail, it's DEFINITELY Emma!
Okay, and can you believe this!?! It SNOWED! LOTS! I mean, when we packed up & left on Tuesday, it was probably 70 something...maybe 80...I don't know. I don't really remember. But, either way, I totally was NOT expecting snow! We got more snow than we got all winter! I couldn't believe it. Probably between 3 - 4 inches! I was totally NOT prepared for it at all, and of course the girls wanted to go out & play in it. I had to run to a local resale shop & buy WINTER clothes. In APRIL! (Insert eyeroll here.)

My niece & nephew when it first started:


Maya after it had been snowing a while. Look at that ground! Seriously...can you believe it!?!

And, on to coloring Easter eggs. These were taken with the dreaded flash as we colored Easter eggs at midnight. I know, I know...what kind of parents are we!?! Like I said...it's been a long week.
I LOVE these three of Camden. Dyeing the Easter egg.
Eating the dye, of course! Haha!
Look at those hands. And, somehow, the entire bottom of his FOOT was blue after this.
These next few are from when we were hunting the eggs. Of course you recognize Maya, but that second cutie would be my cousin Katie's son Kru. Katie & her family came from California. Though the circumstances stink, I'm so grateful that we got to see Katie & Aaron and their two little ones. They have a new addition to their family. I'm a dork, though, and I apparently didn't take any photos of her. But, I think I'll see them tomorrow, so you can expect some then! :-) While I'm at it, the only other little one that's missing from this post is Josie Jo. She's a stinkin' CUTIE, but she seems to have hit the age where she just will not look at the camera. (I know that stage all too well with Maya.) Anyway, I'm hoping to get a few of her tomorrow, too.

And, a couple of the bigger kids. I gotta say, Rob & Robert...I'm LOVING that red barn!

Here's one of Summer. (Remember? She's my niece that's "too cool for school?")

And, my cousin Luke Duke. (Okay, so "Duke" is not officially a part of his name, but I'm sure you've noticed that I love nicknames.) Luke seems to be under the impression that Ninjas are better than Pirates. Whatev, Luke, whatev. You're young yet...you'll come around.
And, finally, because we're gluttons for punishment, Curt & I stopped on the way home to get a few bluebonnet pictures. Honestly, I've not always been a fan of them, but I feel obligated to get some every year anyway. I actually kinda like this year's. The girls were BEYOND cranky & tired. (I guess that's what coloring Easter eggs at midnight gets ya.) But, they made it through & were actually fairly cooperative.





I have OODLES & OODLES more, too, from the past few days. I don't know that I'll ever get around to posting them, but this is a good sampling. I do have one, though, of my mom wearing, ummm...how should I say it? Hooker shoes. With her socks. HAHA! Okay, I know this will need a little explaining because otherwise mom will be MORTIFIED! Heather has these shoes. SHE has labeled them "hooker" shoes. Not me. Anyway, we coaxed mom into trying them on one evening. She was a good sport and even allowed photos. Ha! I'll have to post one of those, won't I!?!