Reno

Lately I have been missing home, which is completely out of character for me. I don’t get homesick. I never have my entire life! But here I am wishing I was with my family more than ever. I blame it on our short vacation. It wasn’t long enough to do much with my family. It isn’t Idaho I miss, in fact today I am wearing flip-flops and capries. What I miss most is cousins for Lincoln. I love that we live right by Scott’s parents, but there aren’t any cousins (besides one all the way in Florida) for my boys to play with. It makes me incredibly sad. Scott and my favorite memories are having cousins around. My cousins were my best friends. Holiday celebrations were noisy, and we would sneak off down-stairs and play night-games and make-believe. There was always someone to hang out with and never a dull moment. Summers were spent running around outside and constantly playing games. I want that for Lincoln and Maverick, but no one seems to want to move by me. I guess a 1500 square foot house for $300,000 makes this place expensive to live? Still, I keep trying. There is a Boeing in Utah, so I am trying to convince Scott to look for a job there, but it’s a slim chance that it will ever happen. But I can dream.

Anyways…..

A couple of weeks ago, my little brother McKay got married in Reno and we flew down there for the ceremony. We left Thursday and returned Sunday night. We spent three nights in a hotel with my parents. Because of how expensive it was to fly, stay in a hotel, and eat ($900) we aren’t able to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. In other words, that was our trip to see my family. And it was short! Too short. I took pictures all day Saturday, and did wedding stuff Friday morning, so I spent very little time with my siblings. My older brother Randy, I got to see him and his family for five hours and I was taking pictures the entire time. When he said “goodbye” I started crying because I never get to see him! It had been a year and will probably be another year before I see him and his family again. And more importantly I love my niece(s) and nephew and Maverick is his little boy’s age. Anyways!

Waiting to get on the plane. First flight for Lincoln and Maverick. Of course I pulled a “Heather” and paid for Maverick’s plane ticket when I didn’t have too.

Maverick did awesome and only cried the last ten minutes on the way home. So thankful for my happy kids!

Lincoln had lots of fun and was glued to Papa Jones’ side the entire time. He even took Lincoln down to the casino late at night to play some games and win a toy. My other brother and sister came Friday night, so we got to hang out with them for a little bit. Lincoln loves his cousins and was devastated when I told him we had to go home so soon. He didn’t understand why everyone wasn’t coming to our house next. Maverick did so much better than I thought he would. I was terrified of how he would sleep. He has never really slept anywhere besides his crib(and his own room the past three months) and now he would be sleeping in a portable crib with five other people in his room. He did awesome! At times he can be a fussy kid, but he surprised both Scott and I and never cried, except a few minutes before bed. He is always observant of the world around him and was completely fascinated by everything that I don’t think he had time to cry.

Scott and I weren’t huge fans of staying in a casino. The smoke made me sick with a migraine and an upset stomach. I completely lost my appetite and I thought I had the flu when we were getting ready to board the plane until Scott pointed out I hadn’t eaten.

Anyways!

The wedding was beautiful. My whole family cried of course, and Tia’s family just smiled. We are obviously an emotional family! We are SO happy to have Tia in our family. I can’t help but think that every single one of my sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws fit right in with our family and are basically another child of my parents.

Here are a few pictures:

First kiss as husband and wife!

Getting married. I am so proud of my little brother. He has grown so much these past couple of years and is the sweetest and hardest working kid(I know he an adult, but not to me!)

Maverick was first on the dance floor. And was last to get off. He never left except to run around the room a few times.

Maverick discovered how awesome it is to put pencils in your shirt:

Charming the girls. He is such a little flirt. Every song I would find him in the arms of a new lady(complete stranger) dancing and snuggling with her. The moms and girls couldn’t put him down. (I actually genuinely worry about this. I don’t think it is healthy to have no stranger-danger, but that is for another post).Mom and son dance. I of course had to dance with both my boys.

All the single boys waiting to catch the whatever-that-thing-is-called.

My parents doing their toasts(sp?). This was my favorite reception I have ever been to(beside my own of course). The guests stayed the entire time, which means people actually danced and had fun. Don’t worry it is only sparkling cider…..unless Eleena tried to trick my mom again. My little niece kept taking sips out of random drinks, but I hear she slept great that night

A few days after returning, Lincoln and I were building a puzzle map. While I was showing him where papa and grandma Jones lived, I got sad and he quickly noticed.

Lincoln: What is wrong mom?

Me: I just miss my family

Lincoln: Yea, I miss my grandkids too

Me: Your grandkids?

Lincoln: Yea, Kolby and Ryker

Me: Oh…..ok

Lincoln: Don’t be sad mom. You have a family.

Me: Yea?

Lincoln: Yea, me, Maverick, and Scott are your family

I don’t think he could have said it any better! I am so blessed and Thankful for my beautiful family and no matter where we live or go, as long as they are by my side, I can’t be homesick.