You Can Go Home Again!

It was a very busy day for all of us.  We had to make it to piano, oboe and pack for DeKalb.  Doug wanted to leave as soon as he got home from work and we did our best to be ready.  He ended up staying a little longer than he thought, but we had everything done by the time he pulled in and were on the road by 5 p.m.

Traffic was light on the way to DeKalb.  Our plan was to make it there by 7:30 central time so that we could join Phil, Carl, Marina and Dan's family for dinner.  We had no problem making it there on time.   It had been over 2 years since the last time all of the Heinisch boys and their families were together at Carl's home.  I didn't really think about that until we sat around the table eating pizza and sharing stories.  So many shared memories - not all remembered by each member of the family, but fun to hear just the same.

The guys headed to the basement to play pool after we ate.  Addie and Meg spent the rest of the evening searching through the house looking for crafts that they worked on when they were last together.  They were sad to find none of them - especially a beloved "football" game that they drew on poster board with their feet and toes as stencils with Grandma.  The bonus for them though was the photographs that they found from Dan, Phil and Doug's childhood.

After several hours of catching up and a lot of laughter (and trash talking from Uncle Dan), we headed to the Hampton Inn on the other side of DeKalb.  Carl had paid for two rooms for us, which Meg and I really appreciated.  Cal tried the fitness room, Doug ironed, and Brett, Meg, Cam and I played Oregon Trail.  Meg talked about her Grandma Heinisch a lot once the boys went to their room.  She found it sad being in the house, but was happy that everyone was together again.  Jeanette would have loved knowing that all of the Heinisch grandchildren were measured on her wall and we got each and every one of them to smile in the picture on the stairs - priceless.