Good Times and Birthdays and Family, Oh My!

A long awaited visit with family and especially to see both my nephews whom we hadn't seen for over a year finally happened this past weekend. Our arrival on Thursday was just in time to catch my sister-in-love, Susan, performing with her musical ensemble at a local nursing home. This group of cheerful people played and sang for almost an hour to all the residents' delight. They so enjoyed singing along and many of them knew all the words to all the songs. 

"Oh goodness! Look who just came in!!"

Billy, Crystal and Hunter all the way from Seoul!!

(The above pic is a snap from a video that is absolutely adorable, 

but somehow is now lost in cyber world! Dang!)

Want to cheer up the residents in a nursing home?

Just bring in a baby or a puppy.

They LOVED Hunter and her dancing.

It was heartwarming to watch them clap and reach out for her as she showed off her moves.

 Hunter has been living in Seoul for all her life. 

She just couldn't get enough of some real soul food at a local BBQ - 

gimme those sweet potato fries!

 We got to help Grandma and Grandad babysit

while Mom and Dad enjoyed a night out together ... alone. 

 This girl likes to eat.

Grandma loved feeding her.

Grandad, too!

Saturday

The cafe where we had breakfast Saturday morning displayed a sign I had not seen anywhere before.

I like it!

As we waited our turn to be seated for breakfast, 

this darling little girl's mom consented to my taking a pic of her.

Too cute that she was wearing same outfit as Howie's!

Howie wants to know if he wears his costume as well as that little girl above.

My sweet sister Roberta and her lovely daughter, Robyn.

They love to shop, so we went to the mall for a while.

Just to look.

All the rains in Texas had caused Chase and Julie's flights to be cancelled on Friday, but thankfully, they were able to make it in late Saturday.

At the airport

Saturday night at the House

 My brother Phil and his son, Chase building a fire.

 Being avid football fans, these three were 

trying to find a way they could be outside and watch the game, too.

What do you do in a deal like that?
You bring the TV out to the patio.

 DH is happy inside with TV and a blanket.

Hard at work keeping the home fires burning ...

the fire pit and the grill!

Hunter's First Birthday 

Isn't she the sweetest thing?

Such a happy girl.

That's me (the edge of me) holding a candle 

while everybody sings Happy Birthday,

Hunter, Julie, Crystal and Susan.

Time to open presents.

This OSU Daddy loves his baby girl!

So in keeping with those OSU colors ...

we thought she could use an orange tutu!!

Nothing cuter than a baby in a box.

(Howie isn't used to someone else getting the attention!)

 Everybody wanted a chance to hold this precious girl!

You can see my sister is all smiles loving it!

My "mean" sister would not give her up even for a pic!

See how her smiles turned into that look?

What about this look on Uncle Chase's face?

Is he ready to be a Dad one day?

Aunt Julie keeps Hunter well supplied with bows.

Sitting Pretty

I so wanted to capture some autumnal colors.

Tulsa is such a pretty city with its hills and trees.

As we left, I got the bottom pic.

(The two above it are two from my friend in North Carolina

just because I want some fall colors here!)

I really can't say enough about the loving hospitality while we were in Tulsa. We stayed with my sister and her husband, Don, the entire weekend ... thank you Don and Roberta. We all spent a lot of our time with my brother and Susan. They outdid themselves working so hard to create the warm atmosphere outside and inside and accommodate everybody. The food was FABULOUS!! They were constantly moving here and there to make things just right for everybody present. 

Susan asked me to take a photo for their annual Christmas card!

I think I did all right!

Crazy good times this weekend and wonderful memories.