Family...

So, this weekend my Carter family is coming home!  My Daddy was one of eleven children.  My Uncle Freddie died in the Korean War; my Uncle Everette died of lung cancer; my Uncle H. M. passed away several years ago; and my Aunt Eunice recently passed away - that leaves seven.  My Aunts - Maxine, Catherine, Estelle, Juanita, Geraldine... my Uncle Eddie... and Daddy.  My parents live in the house that my Daddy was raised in.  Every six weeks, all the Carters come "home" and visit for the weekend.  Some people think that's weird, and they ask if we ever get tired of it.  The answer is... No, we don't.  I was very close to my Daddy's family growing up, and I am elated that Ava gets to have that same experience with (most of) them.  She'll still call them by the wrong names sometimes, but they just laugh and answer her anyway.  I am thankful for them.  Every day.

People always ask, "What do ya'll do?"  That question always baffles me.... what do you think we do?  We sit around... talk, eat, drink coffee, eat some more... and we laugh.  A lot.  My Daddy's family has the best sense of humor of any people I have ever met.  All of them.  They have a way of telling you the same story over and over again, but in your mind, every time is like the first time. 

My Daddy is generally a quiet person when he's out and about.  However, it is almost magical to me the way he comes alive when he's around them.  He laughs, and tells jokes - he is extremely quick-witted for those of you that don't know - and he picks on his older sisters like nobodys business.  They're like children again... and they all love it.  =)

Uncle Eddie is the baby.  Since he had his stroke, everyone is even more fussy and protective of him.  What he wants, he gets.  We're all so happy he's alive, if he wants to drink coffee from sun-up to sun-down, then that's just how it's going to be.  It's very endearing, and can even bring tears to MY eyes, and that's not easily achieved.  He can walk now with a cane, but he's got a scooter for longer distances.  Steven made him a little metal "loop" thing that he's going to weld on his scooter that will hold his cane.  His scooter also came with interchangeable color plates.  The red ones are on there now (of course)!  Steven is going to take the silver ones and "Georgia them up" for him. 

Maybe I forgot to mention that we are all die-hard Georgia fans.  If you ever tried to talk during a game, or change the channel (or root for the "other" team)... you would never forget this.  My Aunt Eunice had a saying, and I can't lie... I miss her, a lot, every day... and I'm a little misty-eyed as I type this... "My favorite football team is Georgia... and whoever's playing Florida."  =)

They all have their little quirks, and their own way of doing things, but who doesn't?  That's what makes them special to me.

They'll be here soon... and I can't wait!!  =)  They're excited, too!  After all.... they've got cupcakes waiting on them!!