What a trip!
I think I've just now recovered from our trip South. I thought halfway through our trip that I must have been nuts to subject us to all that car time. Don't get me wrong - I WANTED to be on that trip. It was an important event not to be missed. The Buckleys were all together for the first time in a really long time! I just probably would have rethought the MODE of transportation. My poor son spent way too many hours in the car seat. He was a sport about it, though. 
As for the gathering, the burial of Mom Mom's ashes was really nice. It was emotional, but knowing that we were all together sharing much of the same feelings helped. The great-grandchildren reverently placed the first of the dirt back into the hole along with some flowers. Mom has a great picture of that (see below).
Jimmy and I spent time at Daddy's grave. It's always an overwhelming thing to be there. And even more so as we get older and realize that life is way too short. I think that was the predominant feeling among us all at the gathering. Life is too short and we, as a group, need to do a better job of keeping in touch and gathering periodically. We are all busy, but that's not much of an excuse. It's the only family we have. I've long felt very disconnected from the Buckley's as a result of Dad's death so early (he was 49 in 1994). I know that most of that is self-imposed. But I'm going to turn over a new leaf. I'm home and have only one little excuse (his name is John Harrison) to not keep in touch. With email and this blog, I will hopefully keep the family ties TIED up tight. Check out all the pics from the Buckley reunion on the WebAlbums. The children had such a grand time together (and the adults enjoyed it, too). I love the sound of children laughing!
Here's a link to Gio's pics from the weekend: http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll20/bryan_giovana/BUCKLEY%20April%202008/?albumview=slideshow
I'll amend this post and add other links from the weekend if you send them to me.
-EBP-
Overall the trip was really good. John Harrison met all my side of the family except two of my cousins (Chrissy & Lisa). We saw the Buckleys in Mission, saw Betty and Ed in So Padre Island, and Charlotte and John in Corpus. JHP slept through most of the driving and only got really fussy one time when he was waiting on Momma to pump him some lunch. 
I do think that he missed some of his "routine" that we have established at home, though. Mom and Dad really missed that swing and those fishies! JHP is still working on learning to fall asleep and stay that way during daytime naps. He sleeps well at night and is getting to be easier to put to sleep, but during the day it's hit and miss. JHP did enjoy seeing all the new faces and Mom and Dad enjoyed showing him off to all my relatives. He enjoyed a good long nap under the trees in Krysti's courtyard in the papasan chair on Saturday. It went downhill after that, however. He seemed to have a bad bout of gas and I think the activity got to be too much for him. He wouldn't nap and feeding him would be the only thing that seemed to quiet him. So we went back to the hotel and worked his little legs to help him pass the gas and then he and I took a bath. That seemed to relax him a lot. After another feeding, he slept for SIX hours! He was much happier in the morning! You'll find more pictures of him napping in the WebAlbums.
I do think that he missed some of his "routine" that we have established at home, though. Mom and Dad really missed that swing and those fishies! JHP is still working on learning to fall asleep and stay that way during daytime naps. He sleeps well at night and is getting to be easier to put to sleep, but during the day it's hit and miss. JHP did enjoy seeing all the new faces and Mom and Dad enjoyed showing him off to all my relatives. He enjoyed a good long nap under the trees in Krysti's courtyard in the papasan chair on Saturday. It went downhill after that, however. He seemed to have a bad bout of gas and I think the activity got to be too much for him. He wouldn't nap and feeding him would be the only thing that seemed to quiet him. So we went back to the hotel and worked his little legs to help him pass the gas and then he and I took a bath. That seemed to relax him a lot. After another feeding, he slept for SIX hours! He was much happier in the morning! You'll find more pictures of him napping in the WebAlbums.As for the gathering, the burial of Mom Mom's ashes was really nice. It was emotional, but knowing that we were all together sharing much of the same feelings helped. The great-grandchildren reverently placed the first of the dirt back into the hole along with some flowers. Mom has a great picture of that (see below).
Jimmy and I spent time at Daddy's grave. It's always an overwhelming thing to be there. And even more so as we get older and realize that life is way too short. I think that was the predominant feeling among us all at the gathering. Life is too short and we, as a group, need to do a better job of keeping in touch and gathering periodically. We are all busy, but that's not much of an excuse. It's the only family we have. I've long felt very disconnected from the Buckley's as a result of Dad's death so early (he was 49 in 1994). I know that most of that is self-imposed. But I'm going to turn over a new leaf. I'm home and have only one little excuse (his name is John Harrison) to not keep in touch. With email and this blog, I will hopefully keep the family ties TIED up tight. Check out all the pics from the Buckley reunion on the WebAlbums. The children had such a grand time together (and the adults enjoyed it, too). I love the sound of children laughing!Here's a link to Gio's pics from the weekend: http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll20/bryan_giovana/BUCKLEY%20April%202008/?albumview=slideshow
I'll amend this post and add other links from the weekend if you send them to me.
-EBP-
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