VJG 06-24-12 Family Guests

[Valerie (wwt)]

VJG   06-24-12  Family Guests

My gifts this week are centered around giving gifts for our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

• Cleaning our home in preparation for their visit.
• Making up a warm and cozy bed for them.
• Buying groceries for while they are here.
• Playing checkers with our (almost 9 year old) grandson Ryan.
• Listening to him tell us stories about the Greek Gods that he enjoys reading right now.
• Enjoying dinners around the table with our daughter and her family, and  with our sons and their girlfriends.
• Making cookies with my grandson Ryan this afternoon.  He loved that.  I had him do everything, each and every step.  I even showed him how to clean as you go, a lesson my Dad taught me.  I showed him the safe way to do everything and he was a very good listener and seemed to understand why.  He used the hand mixer for the first time in his life and hopefully it won't be the last either so he can continue to make cookies for his loved ones, with his Mommy's supervision, of course.

This is it for now as they just arrived last night.

I received a special gift from them too:  They bought tonight's groceries and Kathy made her special meatloaf, green beans, and cooked up the corn on the cob that we bought earlier this week for when they visit.  They even set up the table with another leaf and extra chairs for our boys and their girlfriends.  It was great that they wanted to make dinner for us in our own home!  Kathy said she didn't need my help so I could just sit back and relax!  How delightful!

We all had a good time visiting during and after dinner tonight.  Right now Kathy, Jeff, and Ryan are visiting some of their friends and their children.  This gives Gerry and I a welcome opportunity to enjoy some relative quiet before they get back and the whirlwind of activity resumes.  I love our family but the break in the noise is so nice too.

Update 06-24-12:  Here's a picture of Ryan as he made the cookies with me.

[Valerie (wwt)]

Thanks Lefty.  I DO have a nice family, but we work at making it good.  It's worth the effort.

[Lefty]

You sound like you have a nice family!

[Valerie (wwt)]

Wow!  Who featured my blog post?  That's quite an honor!   Thank you!

[Valerie (wwt)]

Thanks Ladies!

[Linda]

That does sound very Norman Rockwell-ish! Seriously though, despite all the other struggles you have going on in your lives right now, I would imagine that the joys of having a close-knit family who enjoys being together, sharing memorable moments with your grandson, being together with those who love and support you would be priceless. I like that you're so honest about enjoying the break too!

XOXO

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Have a wonderful visit! xoxo

[Lois55 wwt]

I am so glad you have  your family visiting! Your week and day already sounded busy, a good busy! Enjoy this time together, and the great memories that go with it!

[Dawn wwt]

ah...summertime, time for vacations and family visits! it sounds like you are all have a good time so far :-)  lots of gifts, both given and received. how special to have supper cooked for you for a change! enjoy your time together. Hugs, Dawn