miles love

I left Kansas with Rebecca, Michael, and Miles and headed to Chicago for the week. I know Miles is super cute and awesome, but it's really funny to see random strangers start talking to whoever is around him about how cute he is, and then trying to become BFF's with him. I get it, he's pretty awesome. It's also really clear that he truly is a babe magnet. (Michael's words, not mine. He may not have actually said babe, but it felt appropriate.) I was worried how awful the flight would be since I had a lovely morning of throwing up in my cousins yard. It wasn't too bad though because I was feeling much better, and Miles was nice enough to just lay in my lap half of the time reading books with me. 

The week went by way to fast, like usual. We spent everyday visiting different parks during the day, and then hanging out with Michael at night. It's so different visiting Chicago without my parents because then we don't have a babysitter and the three of us can't go out. It was still a lot of fun getting to spend so much time with them. I don't think Rebecca and I have spent 10 days together since she lived at home in high school. It was great, and we didn't get on each others nerves! (I guess I can only speak for myself. But really, how could she get annoyed with me? I'm pretty awesome.)

Getting ready for take off.

He loved playing in the baby pool on their deck. He kept slamming himself into the water and cracking up every time he landed. I couldn't stop laughing at him!

After our trip to the children's museum. He didn't want me to sneak any Cheerios while he napped. I like his style.

Did I mention Miles is on a soccer team? It was hilarious! He and his best friend Jack, next to him, could have cared less about actually kicking the ball. They were more interested in running the opposite way they were supposed to.

This was the closest he got to actually kicking it. He finally decided he would pick it up and hand the balls to me instead of kicking them.

 At the park before heading to the pool.

 Miles and I taking our typical photo shoot.

I took him to the park one morning and he was more interested in the ice cream cart bells. Luckily the man was nice enough to let Miles bang on them forever.

One of the last nights I was there I was invited to join Rebecca and some of her friends for their wine club. They are aware of my food issues, and one of her friends is just starting to have food issues so their theme reflected that. Wine clubs theme for the night was "Food allergy awareness wine club". Everything had to be gluten free and the wine sulfate free. It was awesome! I was able to eat everything except the cheese plate. 

There were about 4 more things that were added to this table as the night went on. Delish! All in all it was a great week. Sadly I won't get to see them again until Thanksgiving. Maybe they should come back to Texas for another 3 week visit!

huh...

While in Kansas I spotted an establishment while driving to my cousins house. On the way back I took a picture because I knew no one would believe me when I told them what it was called.

I'll give you a second to read the sign and digest what you're seeing.

What the hell?! It clearly has to be a family store and that's their last name. They need to think about changing their last name. When we got back to the hotel I asked Rebecca and Michael if they saw the store too, and her first question was did I get a picture of it? Duh. Who wouldn't?

advice from my aunt

I received this email from my Aunt Diane after reading my last post.

I have really enjoyed the pics you have sent from  your family reunion.  However, I have noticed a re-occurring theme......can you guess what it is?  Have you noticed you have a tendency to puke at your relatives house?  Now, I am sure they did  not mind - as I did not.  With your next visit to a relatives house, you might suggest them having on hand a few things they might not have thought of.......like a barf bucket.  You are welcome for this help.

In case you had forgotten the awesome stomach bug I got over Thanksgiving from my nephew, you can read up about it here or here. Obviously I didn't have a stomach bug in Kansas, but I appreciate my Aunts advice. Thanks Diane! I will make sure to send out a mass email to everyone informing them of what I require whenever I come into town.

family reunion part 2

Saturday night was the big anniversary party. My moms cousins Al and Carole were celebrating their 50th anniversary in style with all of the family and many of their friends. There was a lot of great food, drinks, and dancing. 

 Lori, Al, Carole, and Nancy

That's Cameron next to me, my would be husband if it wasn't illegal. Just kidding.

 Apparently in Kansas it's common practice to line dance to just about any song that's playing.

 My mom and the cousins.

As the night wore on we continued to drink and have a good time. About an hour before the party ended the bar was closing so someone came up with the great idea that we should get 2 drinks every time we got a drink so we would be good to go. Let's be clear here, I know I wasn't pounding my wine, but I also know I wasn't drinking any water. 

Skip to the next morning I woke up feeling terrible. I get the worst hangovers with wine and always forget that. I had to miss breakfast with the family because I was feeling so badly. My flight with Rebecca and her family wasn't until later in the afternoon so we went to Cameron's house when we got kicked out of the hotel around 11. 

When we got to his house and I got out of the car the heat hit me and I knew nothing good was about to happen. I took a few steps and then threw up in their yard. Awesome. Even better? I look up and look right at a giant window in their living room with Cameron and many of my cousins smiling and waving. I take a few more steps and throw up again. At least this time I was crouched down kind of behind a brick wall. Of course Cameron and his son Duke were looking right at me waving. I stayed down in their basement for the next few hours waiting for our flight and trying to get better. Luckily by the time we had to leave I wasn't feeling so badly anymore.

The weekend was so much fun hanging out with my cousins! And what better and classier way to go out than throwing up in your cousins front yard? I sure know how to say goodbye to my family. I'm also super classy in case you were confused.

family reunion

Last week my family and I went to Kansas City for a family reunion/50th anniversary celebration. We haven't seen my moms side of the family since Rebecca's wedding 4 years ago, so I was excited to see everyone and meet some of the new cousins. Our first night there we went to my cousin Nancy and David's house for pizza. They started a company called Prarie Fire Oven where they make pizzas in a wood burning oven. My gluten free pizza was amazing! I even tried a new kind of dairy free cheese that wasn't too bad.

The entire family.

 All the cousins.

 The original ones, minus Brooke and Trey.

The next day we went to a petting zoo that was really awesome! It was really big with tons of different animals. Miles LOVED it! I had a great time walking around with him making animal noises with him. I taught him what a chicken says. One of the many things I taught him while we were together. Before we got too far into the petting zoo Miles pooped so what did Rebecca and Michael do? Change him in an open field. Clearly the most obvious place to take care of that diaper.

You would think the goats never ate since they kept eating other people's clothes.

 Duke hating it. Of course I couldn't stop laughing.

That night we went to my cousin Lori's house for Kansas City BBQ. 

After dinner we watched an old tape she had of the youngest cousins putting on one, of many, shows. At this point (I was 5) I was in love with my cousin Cameron. I was convinced we would get married, and because of this I would go mute whenever we visited them. Rebecca finally broke my heart when she told me I couldn't marry my cousin. I finally started talking once I realized she was telling the truth and not just being a mean older sister. Anyways, I was an awesome Dorothy in the show we put on with Cameron interviewing me. The trip was off to a great start!

That's where I will stop today. To keep your interest piqued, I'll give you a teaser for my next post: someone threw up in my cousins bushes, and it wasn't one of the kids.