We spent a week in Chicago for the holidays. After celebrating for weeks before we left (Luka's birthday, Luka's birthday party, Roscoe's birthday with our family and with Ray's family, Christmas with both our family and with Ray's family) we celebrated even more when we arrived (Roscoe's actual birthday, Christmas with Dad and Christmas with Mom). And what better way to celebrate than descending on Mitchel and Heather's house and crashing there for the better part of the week? For those counting, that makes 6 adults and 10 kids in one house. Well, 10.5 if you count the bun in Karen's oven. We went in knowing there would be chaos and passing germs and cousin fighting, but lots of great memories and it was even better than I hoped. I just loved having the chance to hang out with the Grown Folks and get to know better the Growing Folks. Without this week, I may never have known the smooth moves that Connor breaks out at dance parties or that Brody gets the evilest/cutest twinkle in his eye when you tease him and he teases you back or that Winston can catch and throw a ball like most 3 year olds and Kyle and Uncle Ray-Ray have the same humor. I wouldn't have heard Brynn's sweet voice asking Luka, "how'd you get so cute, cupcake?" or seen what a good helper/sippy cup retriever Ramon is or what a contagious smile Jayce has. I would have missed Roscoe crying every time he left his cousins and asking where Troy was after we left. I got to see Laura and Jesse and the girls and their beautiful new kitchen (which we are already planning to steal ideas from...). Roscoe and Jesse had a drum off and Tessa and Hadleigh tried on all of their princess dresses for us. Unfortunately, Traci and Tom's whole family was recovering from the stomach flu, so we didn't get to hang out with them (and then by some spiteful bad luck Roscoe ended up with the stomach flu the night before we left anyway...not fun) Thankfully Traci and I got to sneak away for a girls lunch like we were half our age again. This is the best trip I can remember because instead of running around the whole time we mostly stayed put and just enjoyed each other's company. It was very hard to say goodbye. It was great to be home, but after a couple days I found myself wishing we could pop back over to H&M's and hang out some more! Maybe I can convince someone to move to CA (Joel can campaign for a CO commune, I will campaign for someone to move to CA and maybe, just maybe, we will all end up closer together somehow).
The trip there:
HAPPY!
not happy.
Maybe if she slept on the plane (or at night) she wouldn't be so tired...
Roscoe's birthday tree! Thanks to Ahmoo and IL cousins for the festive decorations:
Christmas-ing:
Dance Party (imagine the lights out, loud music and glow sticks...):
Four-wheeling and tubing and trampoline and swingset fun:
Roller rink flashbacks:
Making memories:
Tessa and Hadleigh:
Let's see how many years the 10 of them can fit on the same sofa:
Poor stomach flu Roo on the way home:
Trying to entertain Lu while we wait for the perpetual airport delays:
Sweet Rocs recovering from his rough night (and week of fun):
