Winding it Up

January 1st we hung around the house and took it easy. I did laundry, Andrew made another lego kit with Jake and Jackie while they also colored with Lilly. Billy and Jeanette ordered pizza as our last supper, or rather lunch, together before Jake and Jackie's flight back to California. The rest of the day was easy and calm. Billy played the Wii with Andrew. I hemmed Jeanette's pants and packed for our departure the next day. While Jeanette had her shoes off to try on the pinned pants before I made the stitches, Lilly decided she wanted to try on the high heels. I think she walked in them better than I do! Of course being able to hold on to Jeanette was a help. It certainly was a foreshadowing of thing to come kind of moment. I hope she doesn't grow up too fast.

On the way back to Georgia, we stopped again to see Russell and Sandy in Gainesville. We had dinner with them and said our goodbyes filled with tears over the possible outcome of the surgery Russell would be undergoing the next week. Before we left, they asked if we'd like to stay the night there. I'm so glad we were able to do that!

It was a restful evening, and we met for lunch the next day so we could see Sandy too. When she went back to work, we went with Russell to a park so the kids could play for a while and we could talk. We had some good conversation and both Rey and I were able to say and learn some thing we had wanted to. I hope Russell was able to do the same. I told him that it felt like being family felt like family to me and I thanked him for the things I saw in Rey that I knew had come from him. It was a good afternoon and we left with a feeling of satisfaction.

It was a long drive home. It is sad to leave such a wonderful vacation, but good to be in your own bed. I don't think Jeanette will ever have a difficult a time convincing me to do it again.