Life Comes in Cyclones

...to borrow a phrase from James Herriot.

Actually, the quote is "trouble comes in cyclones," but not all that happened in the past 24 hours is trouble, just life.  And good life, too.

On Thursday afternoon I was out doing some much needed grocery shopping when Ed called to say that his sister, Debbie, and her husband, Jeff, would be up here on a quick trip, shipping a car to their kids in Alaska, and needed a place to stay overnight on Friday.  Of course I jumped at the chance to have them stay.  We don't get to see them very often, and Jeff had actually never been to our house in WA!  So...that was sudden, but wonderful.

That also meant I had to very quickly clean out the guest room which was currently being disguised as the catch-all Christmas-cyclone-has-struck room.  This included moving furniture, by the way, too...but I was happy to do it.

The room was ready, the guests were eagerly anticipated.

Then on Friday at about 12:15 pm, Erin called to see whether I could come get the kids because she and Aaron "have sort of a work emergency."  Well, I'll say!!  Alligator Soul, the restaurant Erin has worked at and with for over 6 years suddenly (as in from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm, same day) closed it's doors for good.   Since she and Aaron do all the promo and etc. for the restaurant, they were the ones the owners came to in getting the notifications out that the Soul was no more.  Sad day for all of us...even though life does happen.  So I ran up to North Everett and picked up the grandkids - who were almost literally thrown into my car, things were so rushed - and we came home to catch our breath.

Then later, the phone rang again.  It was Ed.  Guess what, Jeff and Debbie have their son, Cody, with them.  Okay.  We love Cody!  A very welcome addition.  Also, guess what?  It would be nice for the kids to come eat dinner at our house, since they've had such a strange "day off" -- and very welcome, I must say - instead of coming over on Saturday morning to see Jeff and Deb, as originally planned.

So...Throw a Muppets video in for Charlie, get lots more chicken out of the freezer (thank goodness for Costco chicken thighs!), rush around like another chicken who has lost her head, and bingo!

Dinner for nine, on time, with a very, VERY nice visit and time as a whole family.  SOOOO glad to see Jeff and Deb and Cody - SOOOOO glad our kids feel comfortable and relaxed here.  SOOOO glad I had all that chicken in the freezer.

SOOO glad we have the family we do...

Jeff and Deb and Grace and Charlie, with Aaron in the background

Cousin Cody with Charlie, looking at pictures of Cody working on a crab boat

Auntie Debbie and Charlie check out the Christmas scrapbook.

Grace is just adorable...nuff said.

Watching the Muppets Christmas Carol, but NOT the scary part!!

AND, to top it all off...this is who visited my suet feeder this morning before Jeff and Debbie and Cody left for Oregon.  The first time I have ever been able to get a picture of him...

"My" pileated woodpecker.