Family Dinner #1...with the added fun of the Brooks!

 

We got an unexpected treat due to an unexpected death.  Tony's nephew, Paul Brooks, passed away so quickly on December 26th, after just shortly before that finding out that he had cancer.  We had so recently spent time with him and Tony when Tony's sis-in-law, Carla Brooks, passed away.  Janet and Tony were both able to come down for Paul's funeral and they stayed with us.  We were excited to have them stay since usually they had stayed with Carla or Paul on other trips down.  I'm not at all happy either of them has passed away, but it was fun to have Janet and Tony here this time!  Ferf invited everyone over for a Family Dinner on the Sunday after New Year's at the last minute and Janet and Tony ended up being able to come with us!  Not all of the family was able to make it, but those that could did, and we had a great time! The night before Supe and Beacher and kids had come to our house, so they got to visit with them too.  Such wonderful people.  They, like all the rest of us, aren't getting any younger, so it was good to get to spend this time with them.  Tony says, "I'm 84, and going for more!"  Janet is 79.  This last year has been a hard one for me and my siblings health wise.  Marilynne has knee replacement, Janet had lots of very painful trouble and finally had a nerve ablation to take care of it, and Denny is not in good health at all with lots of lung problems.  He's been in and out of the hospital and is not in good shape at all.  So, seeing siblings is getting to be a pretty big priority it seems.  So, I'm very glad they came to visit even for a sad reason!