A QUIET HOUSE, and A FULL HEART

Well it's Friday morning and my feelings are all over the place. I am soo sad to see them go.  I already miss them, and know it will take at least a day or two to get back to my old routine. It almost seems as if I have been in another world (right in my own home!) as 10 days with 2 babies (and more at times!) can do that to you pretty quickly.  They are just soo incredibly sweet.  Soo many little precious things they said and did have been tucked away in my memory to be cherished.  They do say and do just the cutest things.  And hours of conversation with my girl and her hubby after the boys were put to bed at night was soo nice too. Yesterday (which was Melody's actual birthday) my youngest son and his family came up for the day, as did my middle son and his fiance.  My oldest son and his wife didn't make it as they both had to work, and they were all missed for sure. It was such a HOT day.  Our first one of triple digits in a while.  We were glad to be able to go over to the pool and enjoy a couple of hours swimming with them all.  The rest of the day was spent in our air conditioned house though, lol.  The 3 littlest ones all took nice long naps, and the 3 older ones read books and played quietly while us adults all visited and chatted the afternoon away.  We decided to get dinner and bring it in as it just sounded so much easier then packing up the bunch and going to a restaurant. We have a local Italian restaurant that delivers, so they ordered some delicious spaghetti and meat balls, and I had a GREAT salad.  My sons went up to the store and bought soda and cheese cake for dessert, and lit candles and insisted on singing to Mel again. It was nice.  Luke who is 14 months in a couple of days, and Vinny who is ready to turn a year in another week, and Sam who is just 2 kept us ALL busy, lol, and on our toes.  There is always so much to get into.  You do tend to forget that when they are not right under your nose like that. Luke could climb up on furniture quite easily, but getting down was a definite issue.  He would just step off and we'd all pray there would be somebody there to grab him.  SUCH a busy, busy, happy baby.  And then little Vinny is taking steps all over the place, but still just dropping to his knees and quickly crawling off when he wanted to get somewhere fast. They both LOVED the water at the pool, and slept nicely, and were just as sweet as they could be.  James and his family left about 8:30 and Mike and Mel packed up their suitcases and loaded up the car as they had to leave at 4 am this morning as they had another early flight. I decided to just let hubby take them to the airport this morning, so I said my goodbyes last night and slept in a little bit. The house is quiet.  I've put all the toys back away on their shelves, and folded the crib up and put it back in the closet.  The high chair and the booster seat are also stored once again, and the sippy cups are washed and in the cupboard on the top shelf. The sheets from the beds are already in the dryer, and all the extra towels are in the washer.  It will soon be as if they weren't ever here.   And while that fills my heart with a sadness and a longing, I also feel like it was time.  They were anxious to get back to their lives, and hubby and I are ready for our usual MUCH quieter, slower way of life. (smile) All is as it should be.  I soo enjoy our visits and times with them I can't really express it enough, but it also makes me appreciate that all the busyness of babies and little ones are part of my past, and this season of "grandma" is one of the best life has had to offer so far.  I get to love on them, spoil them just a bit, and then they go home for mama and daddy to work.  I expected to miss my sewing more then I did, but I am anxious to get to my routine.  I will probably wait till Monday though.  Today I am going to rest....and catch up the laundry...and give the house a GOOD vacuuming...visit around in Blogland....chat a bit on the phone...and probably take a nap. (wink!)  I will do my best to keep my head focused on how blessed I am, and how grateful for this nice LONG visit, and NOT on the fact that it is over, and they are gone.  Here are some pics I got.

STOLE THESE BEACH PICS FROM MELODY.  THEY WENT WITH SOME FRIENDS OF THEIRS ONE OF THE DAYS.  THE BOYS LOVED IT!

LITTLE BEACH BABY

SAM KICKING BACK AT THE BEACH

BOTH THE BOYS LOVED THE WATER!

THIS WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF THE TRIP.  DON'T KNOW  WHICH OF THEM IS CUTER HERE.THEY SOO ENJOYED EACH OTHER

LITTLE TELLA

VINNY IS SOO COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER.  FLOATED AROUND WITH GRANDPA

SAM ENJOYED SOME INDEPENDENCE WITH HIS FLOATIES

SOO SWEET

THIS SWEET LITTLE FACE NAPPED ON GRANDMA A COUPLE OF TIMES! LOOK AT THOSE LONG LASHES, AND THOSE SWEET LIPS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!

THEY BOTH TOOK A COUPLE OF NAPS THIS WAY!  LOL

MELODY JUST SENT ME THIS PICTURE.  TWO SLEEPY BABIES ON THEIR LAYOVER IN VEGAS, LOL

Well that's it for now.  I am looking forward to a relaxing week-end.  Some more birthday celebrations are around the corner, and a backyard sleep over for 3 of my grandsons is coming up as well.  Life is good, and God is awesome!  Blessings to you all!  Debbie