SAD DAY----DEPARTURE DAY

This morning Ronnie, Amy, Lisa and the babies went to Mass with me. It was so nice to share Alice and Anthony with all my friends there. After that we came back to the house. I made blueberry buckwheat pancakes and we ate breakfast on the deck. Then sadly our little family had to head home back to Portland. We will miss them, as you can imagine.

I did get a chance to take a four generation photo and one of the family of four.

SUNDAY IS FUN DAY

Another beautiful day today. We all got up, had a nice breakfast (check out how much Anthony would like his daddy's food). He settled for playing with Dad on the floor. Next Lisa, Ronnie, Poppi and I took the babies for a long walk. Amy, who had been up almost all night with Alice and Anthony, took a little nap at this point.

The rest of the day we hung out around the house. But just notice all the fun we are having. Ali enjoyed her nap on the "lovesac". Ron and Amy just sold their's and are now considering buying another one. The babies love that thing. Mother and I were entertained by the both Alice and Anthony on the lawn. In the afternoon we had spaghetti, of course.

We enjoyed sitting on the deck, drinking wine and visiting in the evening. I think Anthony loves pinching Poppi's cheeks. How about that for role reversal? What could be better than playing with babies all day? Amy looked so beautiful holding her son at bedtime that I couldn't resist taking her picture. Lisa and Alice are pretty cute also. OK, you are right. I love my family.

SATURDAY WITH EVERYONE

Today was just lovely. We awoke to the sound of those sweet babies. We had a chance to fill the pool and put on their bathing suits and watch them try the water. How cute is that?

Then this evening Ron and Amy went out to celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary. They went downtown and walked around and had a drink before dining at Chataulin's.

We were lucky enough to have Anthony and Alice all to ourselves. Lisa and I played with them inside and outside. We gave them their baths and were the first to feed them carrots. Do they ever love carrots? They kept grabbing at the spoons and gobbling up the food. As you can see carrots ended up everywhere. After that we played with them some more. Anthony ended up taking a short snooze on the "Lovesac". So too cute! Mother was able to have a few precious moments with Alice.

AMY, RON, ALICE AND ANTHONY ARRIVE

Yea! This afternoon Ron and Amy brought Alice and Anthony down to Ashland for a visit. Alice and Anthony got to meet their great-grandmother for the first time. How wonderful!

We sat in the backyard and enjoyed the perfect weather. The babies tried out our new swing. We had pizza. What else? It's Friday night after all. I can't tell you how exciting to have this beautiful family with us.

Little Anthony may look like the Pearsons, but just for a moment his smile matches his Poppi's here when Poppi is holding him.

Biennial Haircut

Well, guess what? Today I had a little style done to my hair. It has been nearly two years since I have been to the hairdresser. I really only had it layered and straightened. But for me it is a unique move. It took the hairdresser nearly an hour just to straighten it. I probably never will be able to do this myself. Lisa was with me all the time supporting and encouraging. We came home after and had salads and wine on the deck. Lisa snapped this picture. So I thought I would share it.

THE PERFECT GIFT

I couldn't resist these snapshots. Lisa brought her Grammie two aprons back from Italy, one with a list of all the pizza names and pictures and one with the pasta types and their pictures. Grammie has been asking forever what pasta and pizza is like in Italy.

Also while she has been visiting she has been teaching Ron some of the recipes that I had never learned, like pasta lentils, pepper pork and sauteed mustard greens. So here she is in the kitchen doing one of her favorite things-----cooking.

FRIDAY NIGHT PIZZA ON THE DECK

It's Friday night and we enjoyed pizza on the deck. Just as we were about to pull one out of the oven our neighbors stopped by. Lisa teased them and said they came because they smelled the pizza. Anyway it was impromtu and they stayed for wine and dinner. They are new here from the Bay area. Their names are Michael and Sean. Very nice people. Michael works in Medford and she, Sean, works for the Shakespeare festival. I missed getting their picture, but here is one of Mother, Ron and Lisa.

DINNER WITH LISA, FRIENDS AND DAIQUIRIS

Last night the Chambers, Dick and Sue, came over for barbecued hamburgers. Ron and his mom made some potato salad. Sue made Orange Fluff desert. Ron started us off with his famous daiquiris. We had a lovely evening. Lisa pointed out to her Grammie that we have known the Dick and Sue longer than we've known her. That would be 30 years. How special true friends are!

OUR TOWN

Last night I took Lisa to the Oregon Shakespearean Theater to see "Our Town". It was the first American play to be presented at the outdoor Elizabethan theater. It is also a play in which I had a leading role in high school. So it holds a special place in my heart. Before the main play we attended another short outdoor performance done in Bollywood style. We had a wonderful time. It is such fun to have Lisa home.

And yes, Lisa did bring back some adorable clothes from Italy and even a few dresses from Barcelona. There is also a bikini that covers very little, supposedly the Italian way. Even Lisa questions this suit. It was a gift from an Italian mother. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of that one.

LOOK WHO'S HOME

Am I thrilled or what? We picked Lisa up at 1:40am on Friday. She is here at last. She was able to see her Grammie. I also included a picture of Ron and Mother at Starbuck's. We are so blessed!

RICK, MAY AND NICO'S LEAVE US

Today is Monday and Rick and May took Nico back to Portland. However, before they left we played around with him all morning. We captured him doing the "tap, tap, tap" part of an old child's game. He was also going wild playing with his keys. I love seeing his new teeth. He actually had his third tooth break through during the night last night, so he can be seen drooling on many snapshots. I especially love the photo of Nico with Mother. It was sad to see the sweet family leave us. We probably won't see them for another month. That is even sadder. But we are ever so grateful that they were able to come and visit.