Spontaneous Reunion

Although the "reason" for our spontaneous reunion was very sad, the bright side was that we got to all be together for 10 days.

Ten days of fun...

So let's do a Top Ten list of our Ten Days of Fun...

Here we go. In no particular order.

#10 Leg Waxing
So Julianne has dove in, head first, into the world of wax. And she invited anyone who wanted to join, to come along. Alli and I were the only crazy-... I mean... brave... ones to actually do it. We had never done it before, and I think it's safe to say for both of us... "glad we tried it once... but never... again."


Jules did a very good job prepping us for this new experience... and bless her heart for sitting there for hours working on us.


I went first and screamed like a baby. So much that I started to wonder if my kids would worry about me. Sure enough, right after that thought came... so did Jaden.


Such a concerned child! After watching a few pulls, and realizing his Mommy was okay, he left... and in came Kaleb. But Kaleb was so sweet, he wanted to hold my hand.


Here's a little video of how much fun waxing your legs can be.

And here's Alli... only made a face... but not a single sound.



#9 Triathlon

It was fun to cheer on Dad and Alli...


David...


and Zak... (Don't you love his pink and black polka-dotted shorts?)...


...as they completed yet another Triathlon. What can I say, they're all a bunch of studs.

#8 Just hangin' out at Mom and Dad's









#7 Kaleb's Field Trip


Okay, this one doesn't actually classify as "fun." It was the lamest field trip I had ever been to. So not worth all the horse poop that accumulated on the wheels of my stroller. But Ethan got to come, so that made it better. At least we had ONE interested kid!


#6 The Big Bang Theory


Kare introduced us to this hilariously geeky, sitcom. It's kinda what we do. We find a new show on DVD, and just watch it together for hours and hours. It's so much fun.

#5 Multi-Million Dollar Embryo

Sorry... this one is secret.





#4 Leatherby's

The best Ice Cream Parlor. Just missing the husbands.


#3 Making Jewelry

Y'heard. Making jewelry. Julianne traveled with 6 cases full of beads, chains, pendants, tools and string... and taught us what to do. Here are the products of our labor.


Impressive, yes?


#2 Bottle Rockets

My Dad is the coolest. He did the best science projects for me in Elementary school... and Junior High... and he is still doing them today.








Check this out...

#1 Teaching Baby Nathan lots of new tricks

Like how to play with the blinds...


Where to find the snacks to dump all over the floor...


How to eat freezing cold food...


How to climb onto the fireplace...


How to eat big fruit snacks and scare Mommy to death...


How to use the doggy door...


How to use an iPod...



and even CJ taught him...

How to plop down on the floor and take a nap.


Only a couple more months till we can do it all over again. :)

Memorial Day

We went to visit all my Grandparents' graves. When we told Kaleb it was time to go, he said, "where are we going?"

Charles answered "To go see Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa."

Kaleb just stopped dead in his tracks and with wide eyes he said, "Are we going to heaven?"






My mom told me something that our friends the Collins' used to do, and I thought was such a sweet idea. She said that every Memorial Day, Barbara (the kids' Grandma) would take the kids to her husband's grave and they would wash the headstone and trim the grass surrounding it.

29

I got this card from my mom and dad. LOL! It's funny. More so for me than anyone else. It's an inside thing... you wouldn't understand.... or would you?...

I turned 29 last week... I have high expectations for this year. This is the year that my Dad wishes to relive over and over and over again. So I have a good feeling about it.

I love my birthday. It's the day that Charles will make this:

(the best Lasagna in the world... beef, sausage and pepperoni...mmmm)

...and this:

(the best cake in the world... Texas Sheet Cake...
but thicker cake, easy on the frosting... mmmmmmmmm)

Here's my card from Kaleb. I loved it because I don't think I'd ever seen him draw a family picture before. It was SO cute.



My card from Jaden...




Kare took Jaden with her to the grocery store that day and he told her he really wanted to buy me some tulips. He said it was my favorite. He looked everywhere, and couldn't find any so when he saw the blue ones he said he needed to get me those, because blue is my favorite color. So thoughtful! :)

The boys also picked out a game for "me"... Star Wars Trouble. Oh, how did they know?


I was super spoiled this birthday because I had all my sisters in town due to the funeral. My nephew Ethan got me this scented oil and burner...


And Jules also made me some jewelry... she's gooooood.


And Kare, Alli and my mom stayed up all night the night before to make me this quilt. Charles had asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I told him I wanted a huge quilt. One that our whole family could fit on comfortably for a picnic. He lucked out of that one! This one is perfect. Loooove it!


I was also surprised by a couple of my friends. Janica baked me some Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies... which were gone in like 5 minutes.


Julie (my racing buddy) surprised me with a water bottle... I feel so official now!


And my Mere surprised me with a visit from Texas! We went the Bombay House, I slept over one night, she slept over one night, we went to the mall, went on a hike, made an awesome chicken salad, and watched Freaks and Geeks and The Big Bang Theory till bedtime. I miss her already. :(


I also got texts and phone calls... Ahhhhhh, nothing like a birthday to force other people to make you feel special. :)

Thanks to everyone for the kind wishes and gifts. I have the coolest family and friends ever!