Weekend of "Hi's" and "Goodbye's"

We went to see my parent's the third weekend in February.  They had some of our missionary friends staying with them, and I really wanted to see them.  We have known Bro. Steve and Mrs. Tonya Rutherford since 1994 when Mom and Dad went to Australia on a mission trip.  They have been very good friend's ever since.  They are missionaries to Romania right now, and we only get to see them every 2 to 3 years.  SO I was real excited to see them, and for Brailyn to meet them!  She had a blast!  She warmed up pretty quickly and just hammed it up the entire time we were there!

Playing on the couch with my mom(left) and Mrs. Tonya(right).

Playing with Maddie Dog!  They were both in action if you can't tell!



Taking my dad potatoes!  She found the basket where mom keeps them and one grab one and run and take it to him!  I don't know how many he ended up with!

We left on Saturday night to come home.  When we got home, I called mom (as always :))  and she told me that my great-grandmother, Maudie Ross, had died that afternoon.  They had just found out.  Mamaw was 94 years old.  She was my dad's grandmother.  She has been down for awhile.  Her daughter, Barbra, my Grandmother's sister, died back in September.  She was slightly mentally retarded, and Mamaw took care of her.  After she died, Mamaw just let go it seems. I think she held on so long because she knew she had to take care of Barbra.  She was a very strong and good woman.  Now she is in heaven celebrating with family and Praising the LORD!  Brailyn only met Mamaw one time and that was Christmas last year.



Five generations!  My dad, my grandmother, Mamaw, Brailyn, and me!

  

My brother, sister, and our kids with my Grandmother and Granddaddy at the funeral.



This is my Grandmother and Grandaddy with their sons and all their kids and our kids!  My uncle(far right) just got back from his 3rd or 4th time in Afghanistan.  He has two daughters, who are 15 and 13.

Even though we hate the reason, it was nice to all be together for a while.  We went back to mom's and dad's on Sunday afternoon.  My sister and her family got there that night, and my brother and his family got there the next night.  The cousins had a blast playing together.  I think they are going to have fun at their Gramma and Pop-up's house!

Playing on the couch with James.  He taught her how to climb on the couch while we were there!  Oh joy!

Picking flowers for Gramma!

Loving on James.  I don't think he was to thrilled! 

Lovin' on Anna!  Now she ate it up!  She would say "Oh, Sweet Girl!"

James was helping pick flowers!

Playing on the air mattress!  This is where the big kids sleep!  I think it was the highlight of the trip!

All 5 playing on it!  Brailyn got knocked off shortly after this! HA  She retaliated and knocked the younger ones off later on!

She loves Anna!  They were dressed alike for visitation.  It was unintentional but so cute!

Brailyn and James

After a long weekend, this was the look I got on the way home!  HA   Actually she was an angel all weekend!  We gave the kids early naps before lunch, and she didn't even fall asleep on the ride home.  She would give me mean eyes for a minute, and then just bust out laughing! She's a mess!