SISTERS

Kim, Cookie & Me on Jennifer's wedding day 2005

My week in Ohio is coming to a close. Tomorrow Felicia comes into town with Zach to spend Father's Day near his father's final resting place. Then Cookie will spend a couple of days with Kim.

I haven't done much but sit in the house with Kim sometimes just while she sleeps the day away hopefully taking the edge off of her immense grief by taking some of the lonliness out of her empty house. When she can we run errands. I drive and she tells me where to go; the doctor, Post Office, Grocery Store, bank, cemetery.

The one good thing about the week is the time my sisters and I have spent together. Not doing anything, just talking and sometimes just sitting quietly or sharing a bag of dark chocolate Chex Mix and sometimes crying. We were never close as kids but in recent years as bad things happen we have been there for each other. Just being there and becoming friends.

I don't feel I am done here but I need to go back to Maryland to see my sweeties including my biggest one, Tom. Jennifer flew into Ohio today to drive back to Maryland with me. Kim,even now being the big sister, insisted I couldn't drive myself back, even giving me her credit card to buy her plane ticket (which I didn't take and that made her angry LOL) It seems right to have Jennifer with us though like she has been with every other crisis. I leave her in good hands. I'll be back, a sister's work is never done.

Loss & Celebrations

As sad as it is there is nothing that brings a family together than a funeral. We all met up in Ohio to celebrate Andrew's life and there were SO MANY people. He knew he was loved but in the end it just wasn't enough.

It was so great to see all the little ones running around after all the sad activities were over.

The wonderful people at the church had a beautiful lunch set up for us and the kids all met us there. There were 13 children ages from 9years to 1 month.JackMy SIL, Susan

MacieSusan with all the kids. She has no grandchildren but is very good at it.My SIL, Susan with her MotherMy SIL, SueAnn with her new grandsonTom's brother, Tim, and his daughtersMy brother, Mark, and his daughter, Michele.My sister, Cookie, and her daughter, Crissy.Thomas & Jen and their families camped out at Charlie's house for the duration.Papa and Piper.Most of the kids at my brother Matt's house.

My brother's house

Charlie turned 31Wyatt made Daddy a giraffe picture from his hand print.Jack and GramsSamiWyattPapa brought dinner.Sami loves "babies".Lily found herself some dinner.Uncle ShawnAislinn and her cousin Benjamin. Our oldest and youngest great niece and nephew.
Grandpap & Grandma Ruth with their 6 great grandchildren

A Visit from My Sister

Look who rolled into town on their Harley. My sister, Cookie aka Nancy, and her husband Ron from Ohio.and this is what you need when you take a 3 day trip on a motorcycle. They were very well organized.They also brought a couple of pictures of our new great nephew, Benjamin, who was born on the anniversary of our mother's death. A much better way to remember May 9th.

Here he is with his big sister and Mommy, who braved an airplane 10 DAYS after giving birth. Crazy or brave, I'm not sure. LOLThe trip was going so well they skipped the hotel halfway through and showed up a day and a half before we were expecting them. So we had all day Saturday with them. We took them (and Ella because Ella needs to be in the middle of everything) to breakfast and then over to see Jennifer and the kids.Jack took to him right away and the "kids" played. We think Jack remembered him from last summer when they played at the campground we stayed at in Ohio. He doesn't seem to remember that in the midst of all that fun he fell into the fire pit. Thank goodness. I hope someday I can forget.Even Lily took to him, showing off her new ability to stand up all on her own, actually taking her first steps the next day.I think she still prefers her PapaThen we took them to a little town on The Chesapeake Bay.First stop, Bomboy's for ice creamI just realized I didn't get any pictures of my sister and I together. I avoid the camera, puts on 10 pounds.The we visited a restored light house keepers house. Thomas, Natalie & the girls met up with us there.Wait, here's a picture of Cookie & I, FROM BEHIND! I knew pictures put ten pounds on you.

Then we stopped by the lighthouse and then walked around the boardwalk.

Natalie & EllaWe ended up at the Bomboy 's across the street which sells candy.By the time I thought about taking a picture of our candy stash there was only one piece of chocolate left. Then we took them took a local restaurant for dinner. We also went to a great local Italian restaurant for brunch after church on Sunday. That ten pounds is starting to sound like it's not just an optical illusion doesn't it?Then to the main event. Since Cookie is Lily's godmother, they came for Lily's first birthday party.Jen put us to work before the festivities. Wait, another great picture of my sister and I!Aunt Cookie & Lily. SWEET! I need to do a whole separate post for the party.Good Bye Cookie and Ron, thanks for coming!