Grandma and Grumpa more Idaho.

"Grandma and Grumpa more Idaho."  That's the first words I heard this morning as the boys woke up. Visiting family was a success.  Such a success that Dawit refused to leave the check in desk at the airport..  I think he finally realized that the family was not coming home with us.

Before we left for Idaho I made books for them that would show them where we going and who would be there.  I could not wait for all 7 cousins, my brother and his wife and my mom and dad to meet these 2 little boys.  They hit it off the moment we got together.  Hugs all around as they met the 2 new James boys.  And tears all around as my mom and dad hugged and kissed Dawit and Israel like they had not seen them in a long time. 

The boys learned how to pedal a bike, jump off a dock, tubing, eat strawberries right out of the garden, pet a horse, find the bull, cross a cattle guard, and charm the socks off their great grandmother!

They also learned some new phrases.  I'm gonna,  Okay?,  what is that,  and the best is, "more Idaho please."

Family is precious and should never be taken for granted.  I look at these little boys and wonder what family life was like for them.  They loved their great grandmother(my moms mom, who is 94)  It was like they already knew her.  Did they have a strong relationship with older people?  Did they follow their older brother around and ask to be held by their sisters?  Did their mother before she died snuggle them at nite and sing to them?  Did their dad toss them around and wrestle?  All questions I will never know the answers to.  Again, family is precious and should never be taken for granted. 

Sometimes pictures tell a better story.  This is my family who  I will never take for granted.  They are precious people who I wish I lived closer to.