We knew it would be fun, but we had no idea just how much fun! Having most of the family around was great all by itself, but then you add the snow, the pool, the indoor/outdoor hot tub, and the delicious traditional dinner, served family style, and the sun (yes, sun, here in the gloom belt of the country), and you have memories to last at least another year. And photos, if I remember to get them developed!
For a while, on Wednesday, it looked pretty iffy. It snowed, and snowed, and snowed. At one time, Lyra's husband called us to say they would still be there, but later than planned because of the white-out conditions. We worried about the youngest son and his family, coming up from the Washington, D. C. area, but as they didn't call, we hoped that meant they were still moving.
DB and I had a hair-raising drive over to the resort ourselves, and we only had about 30 miles to traverse. But we arrived safely, and set up a "wait station" in the lobby of the hotel. I had a book to read, but found it difficult to concentrate, even on one of Tami Hoag's cliff hangers.
The youngest group arrived first. "Can we shake a tree, Dad?" asked youngest grandson, as soon as they got out of the car. Well, we never did, as the trees at this place average about 40 feet high and are rather unshakable. But we played in the snow the next day, and again on Friday. Lyra and family arrived sooner than we expected, and the older grandchildren were greeted with great enthusiasm by the youngest ones.
Memories: Little Willie D. picking up snow chunks nearly as big as he and slipping and sliding on the snowpiles, trying to get his footing so that he could throw these gigantic "snowballs" at somebody. When he finally could balance enough to heave the snow chunks, they would land at his feet. Did he get frustrated or cranky? No, he would just start all over again, trying to pick up a big chunk, get his footing, and then throw the chunk. One time, after a particularly strenuous attempt, the snow chunk went sailing straight up into the air, about three feet, then came crashing down, narrowly missing his head.
He loved every minute of it.
His sister keeping up with the older two, balancing on top of the biggest piles of snow, throwing snowballs at Uncle Jackson. Lydia and Logan enthusiastically joining in all the fun. Walking back to the hotel with the 4 grandchildren, making snow angels. On Friday, the crew, minus Lyra, d-i-l, and I, who went shopping in the little village, went over to Pretty Bay and slid on the hills near our Dollhouse. They had another furious snow battle, and all came back covered in snow. That time the younger ones got to ride in Grandpa's truck. Willie D. thinks that is heaven.
Watching Maggie, 7 years old, swim like a fish, underwater, diving to the bottom, standing on her hands on the bottom of the pool. And all the "make believe" games she and her brother play happily together. And her amazing reading skills. And hearing her recite her "report" on hope chests. What a bright youngster she is.
Sitting outside in the big hot tub in the snow. Logan and Chard (our youngest son) climbed out of the hot tub to stand in the snow up to their thighs. The little guys were really impressed!
Brunch in the coffee shop, lunch in the bar, Thanksgiving dinner at the local elegant restaurant, Maggie saying grace, all the family telling one thing they are thankful for, raising a toast to the missing half of the family (the S.F. crew and our Mexican kids), the marathon cribbage games pitting Chard and DB against Lydia and Logan, the good conversations, listening to a theological discussion between Maggie and Willie D. about the devil and where he lives, watching the little kids roughhouse with Jackson, seeing what good friends the two big kids are, and watching Maggie make almost-three year old Margaret feel at home at the local family restaurant on Friday night. We had invited Mr. and Mrs. Priest and their Margaret to join us. The little one arrived crabby because she had to be waked up to come. Our Maggie sat next to her and they colored and had a good time together.
I am so proud of all the grandchildren. I love how the two oldest, brother and sister, are such good friends. And how they are so patient and loving to the younger ones. And the younger ones are such love bugs. We all were recipients of many hugs and kisses, and "I love you's", and "thank you Grandpa and Grandma." We also got many pictures drawn especially for us.
Oh, and Willie D. and I doing the kids' crossword puzzle at breakfast this morning. That kindergartener caught on quickly and wrote in tiny letters in the correct spaces. I had to help him spell the words, but usually just sounding them out was enough.
The two turkeys Maggie made for us in school are now ensconced on the Newport desk. I will hang up a couple of the pictures, and put the rest in the folders I keep for each grandchild.
And there are many more wonderful memories. They'll keep for another day.
Life is good. Thank you, Lord. Amen
9:27 PM
I'm sitting at the computer, a single malt Scotch at my hand, full of good food, and wonderful memories of this past week. When DB and I left the restaurant, it had started to rain. What a mess it could be in the morning, with the 25-30 inches of snow full of rain. Ugh!
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