Eerily Quiet!
The wandering half of our family is now on their way to Chicago. They plan on hitting their downtown hotel sometime around midnight. Tomorrow, they will tour a couple of places, then head for southern Ontario, where they will visit Doug's family. They will be spending another day with us on their way home to Edmonton.The last empty Coke can has been put in the recycling. The last wet towel has been hung up to dry. The last family-sized load of dishes has been run through the dishwasher. The extra table leaves have been removed from the kitchen table. The population of our home has been abruptly cut in half. The house is too quiet. I can actually hear the TV in the living room. I prefer the steady stream of happy voices.
I've lost my voice....talking 18 hours a day tends to affect me that way. The dog is catching up on the 4 days worth of naps he's missed. L and I are exhausted! SME and Doug's internal clocks are set to their night-shift lifestyle. L and I are geared to the day-shift. The kids are teenagers and have no problem staying up late, and sleeping until noon.
With 3 teenagers in the house, SME and I were unable to get enough computer time to blog. We barely got time to check our emails! This means that I'll still have to teach MYSELF how to post videos. I'll get to it....eventually.
We haven't taken a picture of the 4 of us since SME left home, 7 years ago. So, before they left, we had Aaron take a picture of us. Z thoroughly enjoyed razzing his "little" sister about her height. He's now her "big" brother!I have several more pictures to post and stories to tell. Right now, I think I need a nap. L and I return to the rat-race of work tomorrow, and need to be semi-alert.
Labels: Family
posted by tshsmom @ 2:07 PM
25 comments
25 Comments:
Great pictures! Glad you got to have the family visit. Our house is also too quiet after visitors leave. I like the noise and fulness with lots of people around. I think it comes from growing up in a large family.
Boy do they look alot alike yet. Just wow. You cant tell me they arent related just like my girls. Its scary. You know if you would have told me they were going ot Chicago they could have stopped here in GB on there way. But that is ok. We will get together another time. Glad you had fun with them though.
Most excellent post, tshs! Happy to see your beautiful, loving family. It goes by so stinkin' fast, doesn't it. Ah, but the echos will remain for some time....and they're stopping by again.
Thank you so much for the news. So happy for you all.
Thanks VV! I'm an only child, but my Dad had a large, noisy family. I guess that's where I learned to associate noise and fullness with love. ;)
Tweets, we didn't know that's the way they were going until last night. Doug has been trying to figure out the shortest route all week.
I'll be posting a pic of the 3 kids later. You wouldn't believe how much Z and Aaron look alike, and they're not even blood relatives!
Cherie, the time flew by! We spent all that time planning, then WHOOSH, it was time for them to go. :(
We created a LOT of great memories...and pictures!
Do you know which way they are coming back??? If so you can have her call me if they are coming back this way through Milwaukee and so forth. We arent that far off the highway they will be taking. Or you can call me. I know it sounds like I am desparate but I just wanted to see her for a few minutes if nothing else. LOL.. Well recoupe and we will talk later.
Tweets, I don't know which way they're coming back. Doug said they'd probably take another route home, just to see something different. He changed his mind 50 times before deciding on the Chicago route. :0
They don't have a cell phone, so I can't contact them. IF they call, I'll give them your message.
handsome family! but question. Does SME alsays have that look that says "I know an ironic little story and I'm not gonna tell you" look on her face?
I like holidays with lots of relatives over. I'm sure family gatherings are nice when everyone gets along.
Great pics! Thanks. Sounds like you had a great visit. Get a good nights sleep!
Looks like fun! Hope all have fun in Chicago! There's always a street festival in some neighborhood nowadays!
What a beautiful family! Yeh, the teenagers came to visit here too - they are sleeping - I gave up at midnight!
Anyway, lovely family - glad you were able to spend this time with them. It does kind of wear you out, but oh, isn't it worth it!!!!
Sounds like you guys had fun! It's funny - you are a bit like my mom. She actually likes having me around. I always thought when I was younger that she'd be happy to be rid of me. As far as the family noises, I totally understand. I grew up around a lot of family (and had a lot of extended family around in summers), so my little family is very quiet in comparison. Maybe the baby will make up for a little bit of it. :-P
GWB, pretty much...unless she's pissed off. ;)
Hammer, it was GREAT! We raised a very loving kid.
It's a totally different story when we get together with L's family. We're always on edge, waiting for someone to go into a rage. :(
Monica, I slept like the dead last night! Good thing, because we were nuts at work today.
Laura, I'm anxious to hear what they decided to take in. They were still disputing this when they left.
Thanks Gardenia! It was totally worth it! I'm used to going to bed between 9 and 10, not 2 a.m. I feel like I've been run over by a truck. ;)
Notta, we'd probably drive each other nuts if we had to live together all the time. I just wish we lived close enough to see each other more than we do.
Wow, sounds like you guys had a heck of a time. I only hope when my kids get as old as yours they like spending time with us. :)
That's a great family photo of you all! Nice to put a face to blogs! I am SO GLAD you had such a wonderful time together. I know it's hard living apart from your family. And BTW, did SME visit a salon and get a new do?
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW that is ADORABLE!!!! Thanks for posting the pics!
Glad you guys got to get together and relax.
((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))
They will Scott. You and Crystal are good parents!
WC, SME had $50 put away for a new "do". Then she decided to save the time and money and have Mom cut her hair. I cut while Doug directed. ;)
She has her hair pulled back in the bottom pic, so it looks completely different.
Bridg, the only problem is that we kept "relaxing" into the wee hours of the morning. I'm not used to that. :(
We didn't want to waste our precious time together sleeping.
Well, it's quiet, but your schedule is probably back to normal by now. I'm sure you missed them by the time they backed out of the driveway.
Squirl, yup, we're back to the grind. Waving good-bye is tough! :(
Parenting can be a no-win situation. We raise them to be independent, then we mourn when they leave us.
Ohmigosh! Is that Z in the second picture? He's so bleedin' adorable!
Yup, that's our sweet "little" boy! Of course he's cute; he looks like MY side of the family. ;)
I know exactly what you mean; it's always waaay too quiet after the kids leave our place, too.
I think we'll have time to post some vids on our return trip! Plus you should have your voice back by then, heh heh.
Sucks that I can't give Z noogies anymore...
GWB, I'm easily the least photogenic person who ever lived. If I don't look like I have a secret, I look stoned or half-dead or maybe just mentally deficient. ;D
You're very photogenic!! You're just too self-conscious!
My voice was back to normal by Saturday. Why am I the only one to lose my voice? I'm not the only one talking.
I agree with Tweets, your kids sure look alike. I can't believe they've already come and gone; when it seems that the last time I logged on, you were waiting for them to arrive!
LC, their baby pics are practically identical, until Z sprouted a head full of curly blonde hair.
I can't believe how quickly the time passed either! :(
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