All Happy Families are..

The Holidays! So here it is, the grandfather and grandson preparing a wonderful dinner for ten. They made stuffed pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, carrots from the garden, bread made by a son, asparagus and lettuce salad fresh picked a few minutes ago. The smallest boys set the table and lighted the candles.

It has been a wonderful day in the glorious crisp weather with everyone being outside. The two youngest grandsons made an obstacle course we all had to run through. Then, more guests arrived and the three small boys were allowed to set off in the golf cart. Eleven, eight and seven (I had my reservations about this!) Half an hour later three small boys came running back to announce that the golf cart was stuck! So older brothers went out in the truck to investigate. The golf cart had been driven into a pond and was mired in the mud. And then the truck was stuck. So the tractor was needed to pull everyone out. No damage to humans or machines, a great adventure. Meanwhile there was a bonfire going to burn a pile of wood scraps and the flames were pretty high.

We contained the bonfire and the vehicles were all back and cleaned from the mud so everyone jumped into the truck and we went out to see Quincy's Museum on the far edge of the property. Since yesterday there were a few new additions to the museum - a new cow skull and an extremely dead armadillo, complete except for the buzzards. The boys were so delighted with all the dead stuff and bones in the museum. The adults in the party had one sniff of it and were out of there. This museum is a very ancient small cabin that was once occupied by a dentist at the turn of the last century. In its new iteration as a museum of bones and fossils this cabin takes on a new life.

Then we all picked oranges from the sour orange trees, cut them in half and drove in search of the cows who love oranges. The kids love throwing fruit to the cows who drool extravagantly as they eat. Such a satisfactory afternoon all told.

I love this wild family of mine. I love seeing the little boys hunkered down over their new Christmas books and Legos. I love coming upon the older ones late at night intent on making an art film that involves many items laid out upon the hearth. I love seeing my radiantly pregnant with twins daughter-in-law who amazes me with her beauty and competence. I love my son and daughter who are the parents of such great kids. I love being connected to a large family and many friends.

For now, we hang on to being the parents/grandparents who always have been there. So far we have energy and health, but I know that this time of life is fragile and I celebrate every moment.