My family has way too many birthdays the first week in October: My sister, my nephew, my niece and a brother. Everyone was calling for their special day: let's do this, let's do that. The calendar was getting jammed packed. Of course, Mary Beth and Melissa were coming for the weekend, but couldn't be here during the week for the other stuff.

Then as I looked at the plans, there was no way Bruce would be able to keep up. So being the oldest and having full veto power-lol, told Mary and Melissa to just come on Friday, early afternoon.

My brother Michael moved in with my brother John, after John's divorce. Niece and nephew wanted to finish high school where they lived, so stayed with their Dad. Now that Brittany has a baby, little Izzy has her own bedroom at Grandpa's for when she visits and Grandpa babysits and the boys live 15 miles from me, in Milford, where we grew up.

Friday night we met here and had a pizza party. Several friends also dropped in and then the Milford group headed home. Saturday Bruce, Mary, Melissa and I headed to Milford. Recently the state of CT built a beautiful boardwalk along the beach we grew up on. CT took 1/3 of our shoreline in Milford under eminent domain back when I was in high school and never did a thing with it except cut it off from the public. Now apparently there are some funds to allow this handicap-friendly 2 1/2 mile board walk. And it is a beautiful walk, right on Long Island Sound.

Melissa had Facebooked that they would be in town, so a few friends and cousins met us. Little Izzy at 19 months walked the entire boardwalk-no carriage for her. She's a big girl! She was a little put out that Uncle Bruce had a pretty sparkly red scooter, but seemed to understand that he could not hold her and steer with one arm. It was very precious.

From there we went to lunch at a family restaurant right on the Housatonic River and the weather was so perfect we were able to eat on the outside deck, off in a corner where Izzy could run and not disturb any other diners. After that we returned to our prospective homes for naps, downtime.

We met back at our house for happy hour and dinner. Mary Beth and Brittany cooked and the boys brought salad and dessert. I had stored my deck furniture for the winter in anticipation of Hurricane Irene. But when you are with family, it is about the company, laughs and love; not about the furniture or lack of. After dinner it was cupcakes and presents for the honorees. Mary Beth and Melissa left Sunday morning and my trooper Bruce, took a long and well-earned nap.

Our poor Kira is just glad all the festivities and people are gone.

Today was a down day being a holiday. Things back to normal: laundry, refridge clean out and going over the mail and paperwork I let go for a bit. And then off to work for me.

Our fall foliage is at about 50%, but the beach was gorgeous and the weather 77 degrees, sunny. Bruce tanned all over again and looks so healthy. And for me, just the connection with the family. No dramas-just enough time without over-doing. Leo said Bruce talked about it all night. Good times.