family weekend...

much of my family converged in Hico this weekend to accept some personal things from my Papa and Yaya and get the ball rolling on emptying their house so a tenant can move in. their rooms at the health care facility obviously can't accommodate all of the things a family tends to collect in a home over the years, so a lot of things had to be given up. they seemed pretty at ease doing it - I think my Yaya is just relieved to be 'getting it done' so they can move on and not worry so much. it all went really well, and it was wonderful to see so many of my family all together for the day! so many fun, sweet kids and precious babies!! observe:

my cousin M with Yaya:



M's good boys:


R & Yaya:



me with R's cuddly baby, Ross:



R's handsome redhead, Blake:





thankfully, there were enough babies for everyone to have a turn:





my cousin's wife, K, and her adorable twins:



their oldest daughter, sweet Alyssa:



my sister-in-law is pretty.



and here's Morgan... she was fun, crazy energetic, semi-wild, in love with Mama Mia, and I couldn't get enough of her.







Lulu, look at this pecan!



I'm skeptical of what you wish to do with my pecan.



Mama & Yaya on the swing:



Yaya's fur... which I did NOT bring home with me:


my cousin and her husband, and my dear auntie:

Yaya's backyard:

and, of course, the Texas sky.

it's hard that Christmas most likely won't ever be in that house again. I grieve with my grandparents their loss of freedom, the frustrations of growing older and having your health decline. but they're enjoying the care center - the staff there treat them so well - and we're all being brought together in new and different ways because of this and having to grow into different roles. Though we all have our own lives and families, there's a lot of love between us and times together are becoming more precious, I think. I'm blessed to still have all of my grandparents with me... so really, there's much to be thankful for.

-m.y.