All In The Family

Last weekend, around 4:30 Saturday morning, the kids were out of their beds, and in mine. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have been allowed ... but we were in South Bend for the weekend, Daddy was in Colorado for a wedding, loud revelers screaming 'Go Irish' had been clamoring outside of the thin walls of my parents condo all night, I figured I had no choice but to open the door to my bed and let the kids in.

When I woke up (and I use the term loosely as I never really fell asleep that night), Mary was curled up on one side of the bed, Bobby was nestled in the middle, and I found myself trying not to fall off. As dawn shed its soft light on my slumbering little angels, I gushed. Man, did they look cute.

A couple minutes later, Bobby started stretching his little body out, opened his eyes, rolled over and popped up into a plump sitting position. He looked a little confused. Where was he? Out of his house, out of his bed. He looked at me, smiled, now reassured in a sense, and said perfectly clearly, 'Mama.' 

I gave him a big cuddle and my heart melted.

This whole week, he's been saying my name more and more. It's mostly when I put him down, and he wants to get back up in my arms. It's the one word he needs to know; that has all his needs wrapped up in it. He says 'Mama,' and I can't help but scoop him up.  

***

Last weekend, while Bobby was learning his first lesson in genealogy, Mary was getting a broader education. On Friday night, as we read through our collection of Halloween books from Aunt Dee Dee, Aunt Joyce, and Aunt Amy, I told Mary that we were going to meet lots of people from our family over the weekend.

Mary knows the word family well. And will frequently say that Mommy, Daddy, and Bobby are her family; that she wants to go back home to her family; and that she's loves her family. Kills me. It's when we start to extend the definition of our nuclear family unit that things get a little confusing.

Our family is also ... Nana, Opa, Erin and Joe. And Aunt Dee. They're all here with us. Uncle Adam and Aunt Laura and your cousins couldn't make it; Mimi and Opa are back in Chicago, so are Ellie and Joe. 
Aunt Claire and Uncle Trent too. 

So far, so good. Saturday morning. We enter the Log Cabin on Notre Dame's campus.
Who's that?
That's Cousin Chris - Daddy's cousin. And that's his wife, Kassen who is also one of my best friends from college. A Shamrock Sister let's say.

Who's that?
Well that's Great Uncle John. He's our neighbor remember?
Who's that?
That's cousin Meghan, and Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Tim. Or are they your cousins too? 

Who's that?
That's Mia, another Shamrock Sister. And those are her babies. 

And that's Lam, one more sister, and those are her babies. 

And who's that?
That's Father Mark. He's Aunt Laura's Uncle. He's the one who loves Mickey Mouse!

Who are those peoples?
That's Opa's Brother, your Great Uncle Jim, and his wife and some of their kids. And their kids. They're all cousins.

And who's that baby?
Oh ... that's a very special, new part of our family. That's your very special third cousin, Everett. 
Oh. I like him. 

Back home, Mary might have remembered a couple of the names I told her. Uncle John, cause he lives a couple blocks away. Baby Everett because it was his party. Aunt Joyce, Aunt Amy, and Aunt Dee Dee because their names are on Mary's favorite books. But based on the knowing smile she shared with each new family member she met last weekend, I think she gets that there are a whole of people out there, connected to her by branches, vines and leaves on an ever-growing family tree. And that those people will be there to love, care, and cuddle with her. For me, it's an incredibly comforting fact.

For now though, Bobby. Mama (and we'll work on Dada) is the only name you need to know.

God Bless all of the people that I call family.

And God Bless little baby Everett. 

Lo.  

Family Adventure

I guess I'll just write off the past two weeks as a blogging hiatus. I got a cold; work was busy, then busier; there was nothing novel on the menu; and in general I felt like I was lacking in adventurous moments. But after walking down the hall of a hotel built around its hot springs in 1900, dressed in only a towel to use the communal bath I feel like I'm definitely back in adventureland.  

I should back up though - the adventure actually started last Thursday, when we boarded a flight bound for Bozeman, Montana to attend the second family reunion of the summer - this one representing Peter's side of the family.  
The Location: Paradise Valley, Montana
The Players: Hennebrys, Hesserts, and Maddens, (oh my!)
The Genre: Non stop, wild west, cowboy-inspired adventure
My Role: The sharp shooter's wife

Act I
Our arrival. (I wore my cowboy boots for effect.) We gathered at the Hessert Ranch, explored the land on the Ranger, and anticipated, then welcomed the arrival of each family member. There was hiking that afternoon, followed by trap shooting and my first rodeo in the evening. There was a big poker game that night, but my geriatric bed time kept me away from the saloon.    

Act II
The day started with breakfast at the local bakery. Then we were all off to swim in the Boiling River at Yellowstone. For a girl who grew up swimming in pools and soaking in jacuzzis this was a first.  We did a driving tour through Yellowstone that afternoon; saw elk, antelope, buffalo, and coyotes. Then that night, we gathered once again at the Hessert Ranch for Manhattans and Whiskey Sours in mason jars, a wonderful dinner, a photo shoot, and some charades around the fire place. 

Act III
Breakfast at Wildfire Bakery again, then fishing in the alpine ponds on the famous Story Ranch - home to the original settlers of this part of the country. That afternoon the group jumped in tubes and floating about 7 miles down the river. Again, a first. I'm used to amusement parks filling the void for this kind of activity. That evening brought live bluegrass music, a barbecue, and a bubbling brook.

Act IV
This was the shortest part. We did an early morning soak at Chico Hot Springs and ate all we could for breakfast at the hotel's buffet. Peter and I liked the look of things around this place, so signed up to stay here for the remainder of our vacation. Everyone got on the road after that and the 2012 family reunion officially came to an end, but with thunderous applause from the crowd.

The thing is, despite the high drama of the setting, the perfectly cued bluegrass music, the most tender flank steak under the mountains, the constant comedic relief provided by some of the biggest characters, and the quirky costumes, it was all real. No one was acting. This is just how amazing, original and fun Peter's family is. And I couldn't be happier to be a part of it. 

Adventures in Montana Part II starts now ...

Lo.