REUNION!

This took place a couple of days after Thanksgiving 08'

22 years ago dad got stationed from Germany back to the states (Fort Drum, New York). Right before we were to go we got the news that dad's mom was very sick and not going to be alive much longer. Sadly Grandma Brown passed, fortunately after we were able to get there. That is the last time dad's side of the family was together.

My dad's half sister, Aunt Joan, was unaware recently that her son, Billy, was planning a surprise reunion for her and my dad. Just after Thanksgiving we were told to meet them at "Susan's Restraunt" in S. Carolina. By the way, it is a very busy, nice and yummy family place! Dad knew she was going to be there, but she didn't know we were going to be there. Mom, dad, David and I went. As she was walking in dad went up to give her a hug and I don't think she really knew who was hugging her at first. Then it clicked and she was very surprised! An old childhood friend of Billy's ran the restraunt so he was there to see him and his family too. We are actually related to him in our family tree too.

It was so exciting hearing the stories from their younger days. There was alot of different conversations going on at the same time so it was hard to keep track and hear everyone. Aunt Joan couldn't get over how much mom and I look alike. Billy also brought his grandson. He is too cute and such a loveable personality! It was a great time had by all :)

Oh, so BEHIND!!

I sure could do without the CrAzY part of this time of year. You know the time where everything is happening at once and you forget to do everything? Ya, I know you know that time of year! So now it is time to play catch up on here! I have a couple of things I wanted to post before Christmas but I never got around to it. So I am going to try and play catch up today :) So pay not attention to the date things are posted, but to the dates in the posting of when it actually happened.

Here it goes!!

Road Trip!

You know the day after thanksgiving where people with any common sense stays home away from stores and traffic...We took a 6 hour round trip road trip!! Ray and I took the 3 oldest boys to visit some of their biological family that was in Raleigh. Their Grandma Eckert was visiting from NY. She is a wonderful lady! Her and her husband were there through everything with the boys from the time while they were still with their family, through all of the years of foster care and on through their adoption into our family. Grandpa Eckert has since passed, but Grandma is still a big part of their lives even now. She has a son, Uncle Dave, that lives in Raleigh with his family. Every Thanksgiving she flies down to spend the holiday with them. This year we were able to meet up with them and spend a day catching up. She hasn't seen the boys since summer of 06' so it was a special day for everyone.

We all played "Baggo" for a good portion of the time we were there. It's kind of like a safer version of horseshoes. 1 point for each bag that lands on the board and doesn't touch the ground. 3 points for each bag that goes in the hole. First one to 22 is the winner. It is a very addicting game that is great for ALL ages to play! I will definitely be looking for that game to keep around here!! You like Dustin's throwing pose shot *lol*

We sat around and talked a lot. Uncle Dave's wife was there and so was her grandaughter, Mia. She kept everyone very busy :) She is such a cutie! Ray and I were taking the pics so this is how we got ourselves into them.

Uncle Dave is a police detective in Raleigh. The guys were all checking out his unmarked car. They were also checking out Uncle Dave's Toys...his four wheeler and Harley...NICE! In the house they checked out his coin collection. He gave each of them a Raleigh Police "coin".

Everyone had a WoNdErFuL time!

We are looking forward to the next time we can visit.