~The Dust Has Settled~

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!  Our son and his family (they live in Omaha) arrived mid afternoon on Thanksgiving day, our two daughters and their families also came and, while the turkey was baking, we had time to sit around and talk for a few hours before putting the rest of the dishes in the oven.  We have our dinner in the evening as our youngest daughter and her family go to her mother-in-law's for the noon dinner.  Works out great as there is plenty of time to get the meal ready.

Our dining table isn't large enough to seat everyone, so the younger ones sit in the hallway at the card table for their meal.

Mr. Dufus, J.W. thinks he's too old to sit with the younger ones and there's not enough room for him at the table so we compromise by letting him sit at my desk, which is near the dining table.

It is such a blessing for me to have all our children here with us enjoying a wonderful meal, having great conversations, laughing much, talking about our families and the "old" days.

When the out-of-state cousin comes to visit, the other families come over every day to take advantage of their time with us.  The toy closet is in the long hall and this is where they can spread out and play.

I love it when the older boys take time to play with the baby of the family.  I don't think that the 'little boy' in them is gone yet and they enjoy being able to play and act silly.  The older boys, who are brothers, even wanted to spend the night on Friday so I had to find enough blankets and such to make them pallets in my sewing room.

The kids are more dressed up on this day as my daughter-in-law took family pictures on Saturday.  It was quite an ordeal as we wanted outdoor shots but it was cold and raw, so the photo shoots had to be done in short sessions allowing everyone to come inside and warm up.  The Christmas tree is already up, which has never happened before but I'll tell you more about it tomorrow.

My son and his family left for home on Sunday.  It was a busy weekend full of great times and wonderful memories but I think everyone was tired and worn out, ready to get back to their own homes and rest.  Our home is quiet again and the dust is settling.  It is taking me a couple of days to recuperate but it is always so worth it.  I am thankful that my children are able to come home and look forward to spending precious time together.  Now it's time to start decorating the house and getting my Christmas shopping started!

Have a blessed day ~