"Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! " - Dr. Seuss

I had a weekend filled with love, family, fun, and a little sadness. 

Saturday was my 62nd birthday. I never like to make a big deal out of my birthday. I don't want anyone to get me gifts, just a happy birthday greeting is all I need. This year I was a little sad. You see every year on my birthday  I get a phone call from my Mom and when I answer she would not say anything she just starts singing the Happy Birthday song to me. I would laugh and when she was done we would have a talk about my day. It was not a big deal but something I grew to expect. So Saturday, every time my phone would ring, I would get a little jolt of thinking,  Oh it's mom calling me, even though I knew it wasn't her

because she has been gone for 5 months now. It is funny how you think you are all okay and then the fact that she has died hits you all over again and you find yourself in tears....

But enough of the sadness, time for love, family, and fun!  

Sunday was Easter so I volunteered to host it for the Rugroden side. Since my children did not have anywhere else to go I invited them also. We had a house full. It was so fun to have everyone together, young and old! The above picture is of me and all of my grandkids. They are all growing up so fast! I love spending time with them. 

We had an Easter Egg hunt this year for the first time in a long time. Since 2020 we have not really had a big gathering for Easter so it was fun to have one again. Josie, Liam, and Carey took on the task of hiding the eggs for the younger kids to find. It was so fun watching the joy on the kid's faces as they found the eggs hidden all over the lawn. I think they all had a full-on sugar rush. 

We had so much great food that everyone brought! 

Cassie is missing from the group photo because she took it. We managed to almost everyone in the living room to eat. 

The little kids got to sit at the "big" table to eat. 

Rick made his world-famous chocolate cake. 

It was fun watching the younger four kids get to know each other and play so great together. It was also great that we could chase them down to the almost complete basement to play and be very loud. Who knew 4 kids could make so much noise. 

Sadly I did not have my Dad over. His memory/Alzheimer's is getting worse. It would have been way too overwhelming for him to be there. He has good days and bad days....The other day he asked me if I was his daughter, I fear that the day will come soon when he doesn't know who I am at all. But for now, with a little reminder, he remembers who most of us are. 

It was a good weekend...

Sharon