Its over

Back to normal tomorrow, back to work, everyone left. Travis and Jackie and their darling kids (Madelyn is on left and Jackson on right with Ames) spent the day with us yesterday and it was wonderful to get to know them a little better. Will went back to Austin this morning.

Now I need to focus on continuing my training for the half marathon in 2 weeks, and I am going to be doing alot of crocheting as I have had requests from certain grown children for crocheted beards. NOT gonna go shopping AT ALL for Christmas. Gonna get my little tree down from attic and put it up with my nativity scene collection and a few lights outside (but not today, too windy) and focus on the meaning of life and Jesus and family and relationships and just try to take one day at a time.

Thanksgiving 2011

The good part is that all my kids came over Wednesday and we ate black bean enchiladas and had a great fun time. I gave the guys crocheted hats which they loved and now want me to make hats with beards attached! We played games and it was wonderful. The other good part is that I got to visit with all my Larison nephews and nieces and the three kids to whom I am great-aunt, and was able to connect with them and have a great time, yesterday--along with seeing their mother, my dear sister! And looking forward to seeing Travis and Jackie and their 2 again today, since they decided to come to our house, yay!

The not so good part is realizing that my Daddy is really declining mentally and physically. He is even less connected emotionally to his own family and is extremely dependent on Connie and her family. Connie tried the one big family thing on Thursday and it was a bomb. Ellen and I had a good visit and Jeff and Lisa were there too and I was glad to get to commiserate with Lisa but Jeff got pretty smashed. I really wanted to drink, too, but had to drive so had a little wine myself when I got home. Anyway, I am glad Connie is there to take care of Daddy, but I really don't know when I am going back over there.

It was interesting to me to observe the difference between Ellen and myself. She really tries to do what I am calling "make nice" with everyone which is great because I'm not. I don't like that dog, I have never touched it or petted it and don't plan to. I am not going to give compliments about how nice the house looks and the multitude of Christmas decorations because I think Connie is just trying to impress everyone. The one conversation I had with her was very one-sided- it is almost impossible to get a word in edgewise and she just talks and talks about herself and stuff she has done for other people.

My youngest daughter Carol said she could really hardly stand being in the house and that is why she and Ames and their friend went down to the gazebo to play Monopoly.

Alot can happen in a year. But some of us are talking about having a picnic in the cemetary next Black Friday. We will see.