Every single one of us

The whole familia was together for a fabulous 24 hours before a few of them had to catch a flight home to Texas.  As the kids grow up and go to college and get married and graduate and have kids and get 'real' jobs in separate states...it only gets harder to meet up.  The last time we were all together was November 2011, and before that was December 2010.

Meet the newest granddog of the family--Sammy, the german shepherd mix.  What a good looking pup, I wonder how big you'll get.

And meet the girl in the jammies who gives me the title of 'aunt'.  She embraced Easter in all of its egg and candy-eating glory.

My mom was excited for these mini Easter cupcakes

Behind that red rose {thank you Jacob&Ashley} is the white rose I got from graduation.  The smaller bag of cadbury eggs is the bag I bought for myself a couple weeks ago to be sure I got some in case Z forgot to get them for me... The ginormous sized bag on the right is the one Z bought me lots of weeks ago to make up for forgetting to buy them last year...  I shouldn't have doubted you babe.

The calorie-loaded french toast, mostly thanks to its syrup.  I actually didn't have any, my stomach wasn't in the mood after my run that morning.  My loss.

Remember this post where I told you fun facts about Zuriel, including how he has sewing skills?  Well, we borrowed a sewing machine for a fews hours last weekend and Z took full advantage by patching up about seven pair of work pants.

And Monday morning, after the rest of my siblings and mom left, Tina curled into a ball and was out until the next morning.  

 I was looking for pictures of our egg toss we had in that 'dog park' area in our complex...can't find them.  But let me tell you, it was hilarious.  We also ate things besides sweets and eggs, I just forgot to take pictures for evidence.  

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-What's your favorite Easter tradition?  Do you eat food besides sweets?

I'm not sure on the first question...maybe a tie between the egg toss and the egg-coloring.  But this year I got eliminated in the first round of the egg toss, I forgot to take off my wedding ring before catching the egg.  

And some family members try to get away with sugary foods only, but my stomach is too weak-sauce for that.

My Valentine

Dear Valentine,

I love how you sweep me off my feet and into your arms.

I love that if I get into bed after you've already fallen asleep, you instinctively cuddle me without even knowing it.  I guess your subconscious is just as in love as the conscious you.

I love how excited you get when I make you your favorite cookies {extra raisins is a must}.

I love the way you look into my eyes and smile the biggest smile.

You're the greatest Valentine anyone could ask for.  And you're mine.  For eternity.

Love you forever and ever and ever,

The Luckiest Wife

Christmas gift suggestions

"To your enemy, forgiveness.  

To an opponent, tolerance.  

To a friend, your heart.  

To a customer, service.  

To all, charity. 

 To every child, a good example.  

To yourself, respect.”

- Oren Arnold

Happy late halloween

Work with me here...  I know it's November 11th, but I am trying--so very hard--to 'catch up' somehow with our happenings, which inevitably puts me behind schedule.  I am aware.  And, I apologize.  I'm sure sometime in the future I'll be more on schedule...story of my life.

Anyway.  Unfortunately, we didn't do too much on halloween.  We had plans of carving pumpkins, dressing up {possibly}, making fun halloween-ish treats, going to haunted houses, and going trick-or-treating.  Ok, totally kidding about trick-or-treating...

So last minute, Halloween night, we decided we would go to a straw maze.  Sounds fun and festive, right?  Well, I kind of sort of didn't want to go because honestly, I get scared pretty easy and there is a possibility for potential bad dreams {yes, I am an adult, and yes I am afraid of having bad dreams}.  I guess I forgot to mention that after 7:30pm, the fun and festive straw maze becomes haunted!  Ah!  We ended up going pretty late, well past 7:30pm, with some friends to the haunted maze.  And I got a few pics with my phone!

Enter the straw maze if you dare...

I told the boys to "look tough or something!"...I think Chris is flexing and I think Z is folding his arms?

In other news... My sweet mother-in-law sent me fun halloween socks! Ha I love them...super soft and comfy, just what I love for Idaho's cold winters.  She sent Z some workout socks--they're awesome socks, just not soft and comfy like mine  :)

We finished off the night eating way too much candy, just like we were kids.  We were on a sugar high for about an hour, then felt sick to our stomachs and crashed {and unfortunately had to wake up early for classes the next morning}.  We don't ever eat it, so I guess you could say we're "light weights" when it comes to candy-eating.....happy {late} halloween!