As per usual, we spent a few days in Mom’s neck of the woods, visiting and getting caught up – May 29-31, 2015
LUNCH AT MOM’S PLACE
Mom lives in a place with a super-nice gathering room where the whole family can get together. We all bring a little something and dine richly.
FOUR GENERATIONS
Mom, her children Camille, John (Grandpa Basil), Bobby, Joe and James, their spouses, their children and their spouses and nine grandchildren, and a cousin – close to thirty relatives showed up to share some time together on this bright and beautiful last day of May.
COUSINS
Levi and Micah are the oldest of the grandchildren/nieces/nephews/cousins and had a great time stacking blocks while young Josiah looks on in awe. As we were finishing our lunch, Levi put a box of donuts on a cart and brought it around the table so we could choose one for dessert.
A GAGGLE
Bob rounded up errant Alex after he escaped down the hall. Joe, Charity, Camille and John enjoyed watching the kids play.
PHOTO BOMBER
Aphia caught Joe in the act of photo bombing the shot, and Camille captured him inadvertently photo bombing via a nap.
APHIA
This year, Aphia was able to make the trip from Florida and it was a real pleasure to have special time with our oldest niece. The resemblance between John and Levi is striking, as is that of Camille and Aphia.
DOWN TIME
A little post-party down time at John and Darla’s was much needed for Darla and Aphia, who had spent much of the past two days at their mother/grandmother’s side. Dolora, 92 was brought home from the hospital for hospice care the day we arrived and stepped over the threshold into the afterlife shortly after we left town. We have many happy memories of Dolora and sadly, few photos. She was playful, artistic, spoke her mind and lit up a room.
FATHER/BROTHER JOE
As is the custom, Joe flew in from the coast and joined us for festivities and some road tripping.