Good Times, Good People

Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Seann and I headed to Michigan to visit and celebrate the 28th wedding anniversary of my grandparents. We managed to get non-stop flights both ways which dramatically reduced travel time. Unfortunately, that's also a loooong time to be on a plane. On the way to Michigan they changed our plane and we ended up on one of those huge planes that has two aisles with seats in sets of 2-4-2. That plane had little TV monitors in the seat back in front of you so you could watch a movie or TV show or even play games. But on the way home we were back in the smaller plane that didn't even have overhead TVs. Nothing. For FIVE hours. It was excrutiatingly boring. Both Seann and I were exhausted. I tried to sleep but couldn't. We worked on crosswords, chatted and I finished my book. I was so ready for that plane to land.

But who cares about the flights, right? Let's get on with it.

Seann and I stayed with Heather. She apparently put her poor little daughter to work like a dog because the house and yard were sparkling. She even painted the front porch! Who does that? Her cute house and well-maintained yard put me to shame and has inspired me to get off my duff and make some progress on our own home decorating/yard landscaping. I've gotten so far as watering my wilting houseplants. These things take time, man.

After landing, Heather took us straight to Grandpa's house for a little pre-party party. Because when you travel all the way to Michigan you might as well make the most of it. And a lot of us were travellers. All 12 kids and many of the grandkids (and great-grandkid) were there. There were many people I hadn't yet met in person (but had met on Facebook!) and many who I hadn't seen in ten years. It was so much fun to chat with everyone and just hang out and feel all the McNamara/O'Donnell love.

We got to see lots and lots of Ally. She is so grown up! Time goes by way too quickly. She'll already be in first grade next year! She and Seann played Hangman on the front porch for a looong time. That kid can really spell! She also loves the iPhone. Stacy's boyfriend had his on him and by the end of the night, Ally was playing games while Judson napped, I mean, watched.

I am so glad I went and wish we could do things like this more often. Yet another bummer of having everyone live in different corners of the States.

There were lots of cameras flashing, as well as some semi-professional shots done. I don't have those yet, but here are a couple I do have. (I stole a couple of these off Kevin's & Nora's Facebook pages. So sue me.)

Stacy, Grandma Barbara & me

Getting all lined up for a huge group shot. This is only about half of us.

Judson showing Ally the ropes.

My sweet niece.

Mom and her girls.