Peruvian Invasion

With the little sleep I got the night before the party, I was dragging.   With my son and his family belongings, I had to clean my house all over again.  They left a trail of damage along the way.  It would not be a problem on a normal day but when I get additional guests whom I haven't seen or haven't seen in over 30 years its a dilemma.

Since the kids came so late and their internal clock off with the change of time zones, they went down for a nap.  All four of them.  It was a good  thing.  I was able to do more  without them being underfoot. 

Liam

I also got a blessing.  My dad called and said he wouldn't be in until 4 because they got a late start.  They were coming from New York.  Everyone else would get a good nap in, I can cook a little more, and straighten up the house.

Zoe

Bill got the drinks, ice, and helped get the bar ready.  Donna Marie showed up after her kids woke up from a nap. It worked out for everyone with the time change.

If things could go wrong, well, they kind of did.  The beer we got was not the best.  Instead of Corona, it was Corona light. Didn't know there was a different.  I am not a beer drinker.  I like vodka so if it is like that, yes there can be a difference. 

We ran out of chicken.  The only thing that my parents can eat.  We ran out of the other food as well.  I couldn't ask anyone to go for a run because either they were drinking or didn't know the area.  I had wished I hadn't had anything to drink because I would have run out. 

Then it started to rain and we sought shelter in my home.  A few stayed behind to help me bring everything inside and keep it from getting wet.

As much as I was looking forward to seeing them, it still felt weird.  I know they are family but there was a little disconnection.  I don't know why I held back.  I should have been a social butterfly and talk with each one like a proper host but I was trying to make sure every thing was tidy, beer in everyone hands and trash thrown out.  At least, that is what I keep telling myself.   I guess I could have put that to the side and let it go but it was different. 

I normally am able to talk to each one and go from room to room .  Keeping an eye on everyone and  laughing and carrying on. I did  this with my little family but I couldn't quite extend it to the others.

I wish I had enough food.  Wish I had enough liquor. I wish I had drank a few more glasses of my libation. Wish I socialize more.  Where's that genie with those wishes?

Bill and Uncle Juanito

I did talk with my uncle. It was great with him but I didn't do it with the rest of them.  I sure regret that.  I only hope I get another chance with the ones that live in New York.  I'll have to work on that. 

My mom and dad were very happy. It meant allot to me to see them content. 

There was one moment that everything was good.   I looked around and everyone was smiling and talking. 

Why do I always put myself in a bystander mode?  Why do I not participate? I want to be a part of it.  I want to feel like I belong.  I am so use to being an outsider that when an opportunity comes up where I am not, I don't know how to act. 

The liquor was starting to run out and I knew it was getting close to them leaving.  Funny how when the liquor dries up people see it as an end to the party.  Lol.

Bill made a few rounds of shots.  It sure livened the party and we heard lots of hoots and hollers. A parting shot so to speak. My parents even had one each.  That was the most hysterical thing I have ever seen. They do not drink outside of beer and with their medical conditions they should not have partaken but they had a good time.  I'll let it go for now.

We ended on a high note.  Shots are always a winner.  Bill, the perfect party partner, saved the day.

Dad, Danny, Donna Marie, Me, Sean

Bill on top and Denis on the bottom

We said our goodbyes and they went on their way. 

Not the perfect Hostess Abbie

The Arrival

I had the most busiest Friday of my life.  I worked a full day and I wanted to give the house a final cleaning.  Sean and his family were coming in late.   I get a call not a half hour after I started the clean sweep.  It is my dad,  "Are you ready?"  I blink and say with hesitation "yeah".  "Good, we will see you tomorrow at noon."  "Great, see you then!"  I think I passed out for a second. 


After I recovered from my initial shock, I go into overdrive.  My dad likes to wait until the last minute to tell me his plans.  I had asked him all week to let me know when he and his family would be arriving.  I was hoping he would have given me a full day notice. 

My Dad and his brother Juanito

I hadn't bought the extra food or beverages for the party.  I know  I had to get the house ready for the extra guests.


Thank goodness for Donna Marie!  She went to the store for me to get the extra party supplies.  I wouldn't have had the time in the morning to do all the needed to be done.

With the lack of sleep and the babies, I honestly didn't think everything would be ready for the party.  Bill went out in the morning to get the liquor.  Boy, did I want to partake as soon as it came into the house.
I cleaned until it was time to pick them up at 1 in the morning.  We left early which was a good thing.  There were road construction and one accident on the way to the airport.  We arrive just in time to meet them at the door.

I squealed with delight as soon as I saw them.

Sean told me Liam did very well on the plane ride.  What an angel!! 

While Zoe not so much, I don't know what to believe.  Look at her smile.  She looks like an angel :)

Bill couldn't wait to get her out of the stroller.

Bill carried her all the way to the car.  He didn't put her down until we had to drive. 

Denis waited for us back at home.  He couldn't wait to see his brother and his family.  

We stayed up for a few hours.  I was so exhausted but I was very happy.  I had a very long day ahead of me. But right before I past out on my pillow, I felt I was in heaven. 

 Abbie

So it begins

I have started to preparing for the most amazing august.  I have the diapers,extra towels, and drinks.  My family is here from Peru.  I will be seeing them very soon.  My daughter will be celebrating her birthday.  My grandson turned five years old.  Or as I would like to say a whole hand full.  I have to baby proof my home. 

Sean and his family will be visiting us.  S wanted to spend the rest of her maternity leave with us.   I am so honored for her to choose to do so. I am looking forward to helping them as much as I have helped my daughter.  Trying to cram in so much in so little time.  I can't wait to get to hold  my Liam.  Hopefully I can contain myself until he and Zoe get here.   I have a lot of love that has been bottled up for them. 

Since they will be here almost a month, I want her to roam without fear of hurting herself or breaking something. I do have a lot of knick knacks.  I won't be with her most of the time. I have to work and my son won't know where there is potential or hidden dangers. This way she will not hear the word no all the time. She will be free to roam.  Peace of mind is what I am going for.

My house is starting to look bare.  It reminds me of when my kids were little and they would rough house and things would break.  So rather than keep yelling at them and waste money, I just stopped buying things and waited until they were older to resume the decorating.

I am exhausted.   It sure looks different.   My mom may not be happy with this impression I will be making.   If I have to decide between the safety of my granddaughter vs the first impression for relatives, my grandchildren will always come first. 


I had to clean my boy's room to make way for all of their belongings.  Denis, my youngest, helped me quite a bit. He helped me dodge anything that would incriminate my son.  I didn't want to shatter my illusions of my perfect angel.  I have heard stories of what young men can have in their rooms.  I didn't want to tempt fate.  Not that I had anything to worry about.  ewww and hmmmm and hahaha

They have plenty of room for their things. All it needs now are  occupants.  I am so looking forward to seeing them. 

Patiently Abbie

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Tomb Raider

My men in their natural habitat.

They are playing a video game and just relaxing.

They are in total concentration mode.

My oldest boy is so serious when it comes to his video games.

I stealthily move about them.  So I can get these candid shots.  I didn't want to disturb them in their  environment.

My man loves being in their company.

He watches, eats, and chit chats with them.

It had been a long time, since they were together.  I just had to capture this moment. It will be awhile before it happens again.  My son has to go back to Colorado in a few days.

Before I went upstairs, I turned to look and reminisce of a time long ago.  A time when my angels were itty bitty and watching their father play Tomb Raider. 

It is funny. I remember when Bill would play Tomb Raider on a 13 inch screen.  We would all huddle around him on a love seat. This family time would take place in the tiniest room in the house.  It didn't matter what the situation was, we would always have a way to be in a cluster.  As they grew older and bigger, we would have pillows or foot stools so everyone can have a seat.

Tomb Raider can be very stressful. It can be more so, when you have four other people telling and screaming at you to watch out for things. Watch out for the boulders! Jump right now!  Ohh, you fell on the spikes or better hurry up or you are going to drown! Fun stuff like that. I laugh about it and Bill can laugh about it now.

The kids always looked forward to Dad playing the video game.  It was our version of game night. Great times. Sigh.

I quietly left the room and headed upstairs, knowing I hadn't interrupted their time.

Ninja Abbie