Kids and Grandkids...

We had a great opportunity before I left to get together at Val and Dave's. Since I was flying out of Bellingham on Thursday, September 3rd, the Murphys took me down to Val's on Wednesday evening. We had a great pizza dinner, yummy desserts, and, most importantly, a chance for most of us to be together!

We had a great time, and a great opportunity to take lots of pictures of kids and grandkids! I was in heaven!

Nathan - all dressed up and ready to go!

Cathi and Nathan

The N.D. Murphys! The oldest and the youngest, at Auntie Valarie and Uncle Daves. Note Nick's "gerber baby" hair-do! Or, for the youngsters reading this - his "faux-hawk"

Patience and Jordyn, intently watching cousin Hailey playing World of Warcraft - is this a good thing?

Lindsay, Jake and Madi arrive! Here's cousins Dylan, Nathan and Lindsay! Aren't they gorgeous? What - me prejudiced???

More cousins! Here's Hailey and Nicholas, too!

And Lindsay's baby, Madilyn - our first great-grandchild! No, that doesn't make me feel old - it's having a daughter who is a grandmother that makes me feel old!!

More gorgeous grandchildren and a gorgeous great-grandchild

Expanding the picture - here's Cathi with Nick, Dylan, Nathan, Lindsay with Madi, Grandma and Hailey. Note that Patience is assisting with Hailey's computer game!

Now we have Cathi, Nick (who scooted out of the picture!) Dylan, Hailey, Nathan, Lindsay, Valarie and her granddaughter, Madi!

Introducing Nicholas to Madi - neither of them were impressed!

Miss Madilyn Rae - or, Madi for short.

Patience and Madi, playing with Madi's karioke machine.

Nicholas David Murphy, who turns one year old on September 24th.

Patience playing the drums

Jordyn loves Madi! The girls really enjoy playing together.

Golf, anyone? Madi and her golf clubs! I think that this shot may have been painful for Uncle Don!

Patience, Madilyn and Jordyn

Sean, Nathan and Dylan - very serious!

Ok, this is better! And more of the expressions I'm used to seeing on these handsome young Murphy men!

And here's the youngest Murphy - and he wasn't sure that he wanted to be in this picture!

Cathi, a jammied Nick, Don and Jake

Nathan, Valarie, Hailey and Lindsay.

We were missing Uncle Dave, Cody, Kelsey and Grandpa! Can't wait till the next time that we are ALL together! If the Air Force cooperates, Cody will be home for Christmas, and hopefully Nathan and Kelsey will, too.

By the way, Cody left yesterday for a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Please keep him in your prayers till his safe return.

Thursday morning Val took me to the airport in Bellingham for my trip home. I got the LAST seat on the flight to Seattle! There was lots of room on the flight to SF, so no stress there. It was great to see Lee, but we sure miss all of the wonderful people in the pictures above.