Belated

Last week my brothers celebrated their Birthdays. Randy turned 39 a day before Daren turned 30. Actually my Grandpa's Birthday was last week too. He turned 92.  And I was just going to post a few funny pictures and have a few laughs but then I got to thinking...and you know what happens when I do that.  (Can anybody say overly introspective?)
See, in the last year I've had more face time with my brothers than all the years in the last decade combined.  Make that two decades. 
Randy came home on furlough and we climbed Mount Katahdin with my Dad. That was a really big deal for all of us.  He was in the States for a year--in Indiana--but still, we got to see each other a couple of times.  We spent Thanksgiving together with Cindy and the kids--my favorite holiday to be with extended family.
And then, how do you describe seeing your baby brother for the first time in a decade?  Truly there are no words.  We had such great talks together and I felt like all the years of distance just faded away.  He's all grown up now and I love the feeling of tenderness (carinho) we share for each other.   Now he seems to think I'm the one who needs to be taken care of.  Daren is sweet with me that way.  And to see him being an Uncle...melt my heart.  He loves his nieces and they ADORE him.  And we got to welcome Aunt Vivi to the family too!  She is so lovely.  We miss them terribly.
I miss you all terribly and Daren--you said you were coming this year.  And I don't think I've seen plane tickets yet!!  You know you could make my Thanksgiving EXTRA special and Grace would love to have Uncle Daren and Aunt Vivi see her in the Nutcracker! Do you know what Black Friday is???  Ask Coralie because she is very knowledgeable about the subject.
So instead of making fun I thought I would make nice and post some of my favorite pics from the year of you guys.  Miss you all and wish I were there with you.
B