After the After...

Saturday evening my sister's son, Mike, and his wife, Ashlyn, and family came to visit. The Marx family stayed till Sunday morning so these cousins could meet each other and share a possible once-in-a-lifetime visit.  The Hurst family came to see Papa. They would leave Monday to visit their other great-grandfather. The cousins had so much fun playing together Saturday evening. Claude brought Papa out and Papa delighted in all these little people and their antics.

Sunday morning Claude, me and the Hurst family prepared to go to Church together.  The Marx family would leave after we were gone.  Time for one really good picture in front of the tree.   

Claude purchased chocolate coins when he was in Frankfort. He stopped at Rebecca Ruth Candy and got these for the kids.  

After church we stopped at Papa's so he could show the kids his wall of pictures. Then we brought Papa out to the house.  Lunch was sandwiches from the left overs.  Then we all got comfortable and headed into Sadieville to see the sights.  The kids enjoyed playing in the caboose, strolling down to City Hall which is the original train depot, and a visit at the Rosenwald School.  Papa stayed in the car except for the Rosenwald School.  He kept comparing it to the Double Church where his mother went to school in Winnfield, Louisiana.  It was also a one room building but about twice as long as our Rosenwald School. It was used by two churches on Sunday and as a school during the week.  Claude led the way through the Kentucky countryside to see Double Culvert.  Papa was very happy for the little journey. 

Papa was ready to go home after that.  I took him home.   The children put on a talent show for us in the basement.  Then we read their books of choice before time to get them ready for bed.  

Mike and Ashlyn were getting their laundry caught up and finished it while we had what we affectionately call 'adult swim' in the evening.  

Monday morning the Hurst family left.  After they were gone a few minutes, we noticed Ashlyn's camera sitting on the counter.  I called and told them to turn around and we would meet them at the Sadieville interchange of I-75.  Lots of memories on that camera.  

Claude and I went on to Georgetown and purchased Papa's groceries. Then took care of some things for Papa before enjoying a quick lunch prepared by someone else and outside our home.  We stopped at Walmart and got our shrimp for our New Year's festivities.  After a tiny nap, we thought we would start taking Christmas decorations down.  Claude started on his outside lights and I started inside the house while washing the linens and towels from the Christmas visits.  We surprised ourselves by sticking with it and finished all the decorations and the trees inside and outside the house.  Tired but it felt good to get that done.

That is a wrap for another Christmas.  Full, fun, sick at times, family, memories, all the elements of a good Christmas.  Now, on to New Year's Eve...