Let the 42nd of July Party posts begin!

The 42nd of July party was wonderful! I spent 4 days napping, eating, swimming and doing nothing. I knew I was walking back into a bunch of old memories, but I was completely bowled over by the presence of love from Bill's Dad -Jim, and George, their dog. It was thick! Bill and Lis's kids may have never met him, but they are slathered in his love every time they visit that lake cabin. He is there and happy, and it was not what I expected to feel at all. He was buzzing with excitement when I got there, but when the grand kids arrived, he just sat back like a proud Grandpa and enjoyed! It was amazing and wonderful, and apparently I am not the only one who has felt or mentioned this.

We have all gotten older. The wild running around and drinking has slowed to a crawl. The joking, laughing and talking is still what we do in excess now. As if you can have excess for that! I am constantly amazed by this group of people and their ability to see things from different viewpoints, talk about it, and still get along smashingly. And the laughing and jokes! The fun we have, the ease in which we have it, well, I have missed that, especially since moving to Oregon.

Bill and Lis have 3 lovely and wonderfully behaved children who's humor will make you pee yourself silly! There family reminds me of mine; all the jokes and chatter and bonding. I think this is the longest I have been with kids and not been annoyed at any point. The 'three A's' as we shall call them, are 17, 15 and 9. This is my first introduction to one of the 3 As. Littlest A was helping to empty the car, and I came out to the landing to see this. This really made my day!