24 posts tagged “family”

Last Sunday some of my family stopped by and wanted Jay and I to go shopping with them.  We only went because they promised I could do this...

 

 

 

 

And then Jay got to do this...

 

And we also got hang out with the coolest baby brother in all the land...

 

Gone 17 years today.  Missed and loved.

 

My sister Marianne and her husband Randy both got laid off and obviously that makes paying the bills a little difficult.  This week they and the three little ones that I adore and their 3 boxers moved into my dad's.  My dad has lived alone since I moved out six years ago and since then he has gotten really set in his ways and wants everything as exactly how he likes it.  I was wondering how it was going to go. 

Two nights ago I got a phone call:

Me: Hello?

Dad: mKc?  I was just calling to tell you that I am surrounded by little people.

And then in the background I heard an eruption of giggles and happy shrieks.  Then Dad giggled.  He GIGGLED.

Me: How do you like it so far?

Dad:  This is the first time in the last six years that I've come home from work and the house hasn't been quiet as a tomb.

I could actually HEAR him smiling.  Wouldn't you be?  If you lived with these guys?

 

 

 

 

Jay and I decided that this year we would have a New Year's Eve party because we were sick of going to overcrowded bars and all of our friends were complaining about it too.  So we told everyone about the party a month before hand and everyone was pretty excited.  So excited that most of Jay's friends bailed on him and he was pretty disappointed. Most had good reason but one of them was a pretty blatant blow-off to go to a wine and cheese party.  But oh well, people are going to do what they want to do.

The good news is that two of my closest friends were here and some other good friends of ours. My dad, my sisters and their husbands and my uncle came and they all (my fam) stayed the night so as not to drink and drive. My family really made the party fun and I was glad they were here. 

My oldest sister Marianne, who is the sweet, well behaved one who isn't much for drinking because she's got three little ones, brought a two liter of Diet Coke and a bottle of Rum.  She had herself a couple of rum and cokes and some of these little shots called Little Beers.  After about two hours she was the giggliest 35 year-old mother of three anyone has ever seen.  She was dancing and singing.  (All the kids were being babsat over night by my mom.)

At the same time, Angie, the sassy and sometimes not well-behaved one, had a few drinks herself.  Some time after the new year she went upstairs and didn't come back down.  I mosied upstairs to see where she was.  I found her sitting on the couch next to Marianne with tears coming down her cheeks.  This is the conversation that followed:

Me: What's wrong?

A: I miss my baby.

Marianne (drunk): That's totally normal the first time you leave them over night.

Me: This is the third time she's left her.

Marianne (Still drunk and looking at Angie with big ole eyes): Then why are you crying?!

Angie (busted out laughing): I have no idea!

Here's a photo taken in the midst of that conversation...

Angie is the blonde on the left and Marianne is on the right.

 

 

 

Earlier in the night I told my cousin that since both of my sisters were drinking that I was wondering which one would cry first.  Later that night, after Angie went to sleep, Marianne giggled to me, "I won the bet."  She very proud of herself for out-partying Angie, our family's resident party-girl (although she's not so much since she had the baby.)

However in the morning the first thing Marianne said was, "Why is the room spinning?"

And Angie laughed at her and then gave her some hangover remedy tips.

Ahh...sisters...

 

This morning my Aunt Paula died of lung cancer.  She was so brave and put up a pretty impressive fight and relied so much on her faith.  This is going to be so hard on my mom because she is very close with her.  Aunt P was her oldest sister and really helped my mom out alot. 

My mom comes from a family of 13 kids and Paula (the third oldest and first daughter) really made an effort to keep up with all of her siblings even though they are spread out all over the country.  She made the trip from Minnesota to come to my wedding.

I'm really sad for her two daughters.  The youngest one quit her job and moved in with my aunt to take care of her, such a selfless act of love.

I really hope she is in a better place.

 

My mom on the left, Paula in the middle, Mary on the right.

 

The happiest little boy I know turned 2 last week. 

 

 

 

My sister always buys the kids a cupcake or a little cake on their actual birthday and has a family party for them on the weekend.  These are pictures she sent to me from her phone.  He's such a little ham.

 

My sister Angie is 8 months pregnant and last week she sprung a little leak.  We thought her water was starting to break but it wasn't.  However, I think it will only be about two weeks before she has the baby.  So this weekend I wanted to take some photos of The Belly in all its glory.

 

 

The next day I met her and the fiance at her house so I could take some photos of the two of them.

 

 

We were cracking up trying to take these because it's difficult to move her around for the cuddling.

 

 

 

This one was an accident and it's a little blurry but it's one of my favorites.  Her belly is so big when she lays on her bed that you almost can't see her face.

Awwww!

I can't wait to meet the baby.

Me and the whole fam went to the Indianapolis Zoo the weekend before last.  Here are some of the pics.

 

 

 

 

The kangaroos got into a bit of a disagreement with the emus and started hopping all over the place.  This was the biggest one and it was scary.  It came hauling ass at the fence we were standing near and bouncing off of it, Matrix style.  I thought it was coming after me.  And all this time I thought they were cuddly and motherly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had never given much thought to cow teeth or their hairstyles until I saw this guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby brother petting a shark.

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favorite picture from the trip.  We didn't make it to the dolphin area until the zoo was pretty much empty.  When I took this photo it was just me and my brother in there and the dolphin came down to say hello.  My brother was so excited about this moment and I am really glad that I was able to capture it.

The baby shower went well.  They got alot of good baby stuff.  Casey's mom, Betty (Casey is the baby's dad and my sister's fiance) let us have it at her house because her house is pretty big and can easily fit the 30 people that were invited.  She also wanted Casey to be there to help open the gifts.  Since Casey had to be there he had my dad come too and they hung out with Jack, Casey's Dad.  His dad is pretty funny.

 

I thought it was really cute how Casey was all into the baby stuff.

 

 

 

This is a picture of me and my mother-in-law.  She's a cutie.

 

My sister Marianne and I went inside to cut the cake when Angie was about done with the presents.  We also decided to sneak and eat our cake before she got done.  We totally got busted.

 

Baby Mama and Baby Daddy.

 

Baby's Mama and Daddy and Baby's Grandparents

Then we took some family pictures.  Funny how in person my dress was really cute but in pictures, because of the pattern on the stomach I look totally pregnant...

 

 

Me and my besties

 

Dad trying to dodge a hanging decoration...

 

How cute that the baby's grandpas both grew sympathy bellies...

 

This is the happiest that I have ever seen my sister and I am extremely grateful for that.

My baby brother just turned 13 and to celebrate his entrance in his teen years, which I am sure are going to turn my Mom's hair completely gray.

 

 

Mom (not CM!) and Blake having a laugh.

 

 

 

Mom and Dad aggitating one another...