Mexico!

Thought I would post some pics from my Mexico trip...

The girls arriving... Maura, Lacey, Melissa & me

Family portraits anyone??? LOL...

Yes... we did hit the beach.

Last night goofiness... :)

Daddy's girls...

I just got back from my dad's house for the weekend. On Friday, my sister, my nephew Aidan, my niece Keely and I loaded up my sister's Honda Element and headed to East Texas. That Aidan LOVES trucks and will point out every one that he sees outside of the car window! (Ok... when he says it, it doesn't quite come out as "truck" but sounds more like some other word that rhymes with "truck" but one you don't want repeated!! Pretty funny.) And that Keely.... I don't think she could get any cuter.

We had 3 goals for the trip. 1) a quick stop in Athens to visit my step-fathers parents who had yet to meet sweet Keely who is now 8 months old 2) spend some time with my dad's parents who are ailing quickly and 3) spend some daddy/daughter time with dear ol' dad.

Goal #1 - check. Really good visit. Kids did great... although delirium started to kick in at the end for all of us! :)

Goal #2 - check. What a sweet time. (My grandfather has a tumor on his pituitary gland. He had surgery a while back to remove it but they did not get it all. I am not sure if this is affecting his memory/mind or if it is early alzheimer's or just age - I have heard conflicting reports - but some days he doesn't recognize people/family) Well, on Saturday, he knew us! I walked in and the first thing he said to me was "Hi Brookie!" :) And, he played with the kids! It was so precious. I don't know if he "studied" before we got there, but it still was so neat. (He has a tendency to look at pictures and names and study them so he can remember them.) I know that growing older is part of life but this is the first time I have seen it affect my dad. You see, my grandfather is my dad's hero. There has never been anything that my grandfather couldn't do... and now he almost seems helpless at times. And my dad has been there to help him through it but my dad has also seen his weakness. My dad is definitely not ready to let go... none of us are - but it is definitely hard to see my dad go through this. I'm just so thankful to the Lord for the beautfiful day we had with Gramma and Gran-Gran!!

Keely and Gramma...


Aidan playing with one of the many cars and trucks with Gran-Gran...

Goal #3 - check!! My step-mother Susie is in Florida until tomorrow with my step-sister Lacey and her new baby girl Willow so it was just Dad and his girls (and Aidan/Keely of course) for the weekend. It was kind of fun being in charge of all of the meals and all of the kids for the whole weekend (meaning no Susie to keep things going). It has been a LONG time since it was just Dad, Amy and me. The kids were great... and we made sure that dad had all of the time he wanted with them. If he ran an errand, one of us went with him. We just were together. Thats all I can say really. Most of the time after a family weekend, I say it was "too much family". Well, not this time. This was just what I needed. And I think it was just what Dad needed to... Thank you Lord for my wonderful sister!! Thank you Lord for my Daddy!!

Here's a pic of Keely checkin' out her silly aunt on the floor... :)