My daughter, Heather, and her family (2 boys) left to return to SoCal, and my Arizona granddaughters (live in Prescott) arrived for a sleep-over. They wanted to sleep on the deck, but it's too cold, so I inflated an air mattress in the living room for them. The giant windows look out onto the deck and the forrest beyond.
So it's bacon and eggs and toast with milk for breakfast to fortify them for the day (church then play). Their mother, my third daughter, Kelly (below) is coming up today to hang out with us and to fetch her darling daughters home. Monday is a school day and Spring Break has ended.
It's been a busy week at the White Wolf Mine but I've had a lot of help - all the help that 8 young grandchildren can give. Grandchild #9, a boy, is still in the hanger waiting for an early September roll-out.
The sermonette is that no success in life can compensate for failure as a parent. That also applies to grandparents, doesn't it? Well, however you want to slice it, family comes first. Working hard is important, but children and grandchildren need time.
My daughters are all pretty. Naturally, they favor their dad.... we'll run with that. Anyway, the older kids are talking about building cabins here at the White Wolf Mine. There is room for that, but there is also the downstairs at the hovel in the meantime, for family and guests.
Next week, I'll be in SoCal, working, staying with the kids, and trying to stretch the time that I can spend with all of them.
Meanwhile, all of the children and grandchildren are anxiously awaiting the arrival of fishing season and wetting some bait as we float on mountain lakes in the canoe!