Fabulous Family 8/29 - 9/5/2010

Fathers and Sons

Colin McNicholas, Patrick Braswell, Quinn McNicholas, Jim McNicholas and Liam Braswell reading "Hands are not for Hitting" Ummm..

Colin, Patrick, Quinn, Jim and Liam.

Colin, Elizabeth, Jen, Aunt Betty , Liam, Patrick, Helen, Chris, Uncle John , Quinn and Jim

Liam

Elizabeth Chuck Karen Patrick Jim Jen

Colin Leigh Quinn

Ashley Chris Helen

Last week was very special with visits from my family who live around the country and around the world. Early in the week, my daughter Elizabeth stopped by for a few days on her way to Washington DC to start grad school. Daughter Jennie and son-in-law Jim visited from Tbilisi, Georgia (the country) with my wonderful but busy little grandsons, Quinn (3) and Colin (9mo). My son Patrick and daughter-in-law Karen came over from Asheville with my sweet and also busy grandson, Liam (3) and my step (but just like a real one) daughter Ashley, husband Chuck and beautiful granddaughter Leigh, who live in town, were here, too. Their paths crossed on Sunday the 29th for only about one hour but we managed to be here all together. It has been several years since we've accomplished that feat. Of course a family photo was mandatory.

We had very special visitors on Tuesday. The children's Great Aunt and Uncle drove from Lexington Kentucky to get a chance to see the children and the grandchildren. Aunt Betty and Uncle John Hembree were one of Kelley's (the children's father) favorites and that special feeling lives on in all of us. We love to visit and never have enough time to get "talked" out. Another group photo and we almost got everyone looking forward.

The cousins were able to get together several times during the week and they really enjoyed playing together. Notice the title of the book that the fathers are reading. Quite timely. Also notice the fancy black and blue splint on Quinn's left arm. His fingered got smashed between two bowling balls in Italy and he has a fractured middle finger. He has been very brave.

Elizabeth is now in DC staying with friends while she looks or housing. Classes have started. Jim and the boys flew to NY to visit Jim's brother Ed and his wife Nancy before flying back to Georgia on Saturday night. They are home and dealing with jet lag, trying to keep the boys from sleeping all day and staying up all night.

Jennie stayed over the weekend and then flew to DC for a business meeting. I enjoyed visiting with her and helping her shop for many of the staples she likes to take back to Georgia. She flew to DC on Monday and arrived back in Georgia this morning.

The house seems so quiet now. Of course that may also have something to do with the fact that it is 5 am. I can thank the steroids that I got today at chemo. Chemo updates to follow.