Bed bugs!

So every night when I put the kids to bed I say my little ritual. "Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite." Recently, Alex added a little line of his own. "Don't bite the bed bugs!" He's been saying every night for a week.

A Really Good Weekend

So this past week I got to spend a fun filled weekend with my siblings in Utah. It was Caitlin's mission homecoming a year and a half ago when we were all together last. Caitlin happened to been the occasion this time as well. She was giving her junior violin recital and having a bridal shower. Here's the rundown of my really good weekend.

I flew out Thursday morning and Patrick and Liesl picked me up from the airport. We drove to Patrick's new house/future guitar shop for a tour. He also serenaded us on his gorgeous instrument that he built himself at luthier school. For the layman, a luthier is someone who builds string instruments. In Patrick's case, guitars. He plans to set up his own shop out of his house to build and repair guitars. So, if you know someone who needs a custom guitar, you know where to refer them. I'm so proud of my little brother. He's come a long way in the last few years.

Then we picked up my dad at his office and headed to the greatest place on earth. No, not Disney World. Cafe Rio, of course, for their totally awesome, can't be beat, mouth watering, crave it all the time barbacoa pork salad. Are you salivating yet?

Next, Liesl and I headed to Grandma Ann's house. We had a lovely (I always use that word around grandma) time chatting with grandma and hearing grandpa's crazy, but true, stories. By accident we stumbled across some of grandma's clothes from the 50's, 60's and 70's and we put on a spontaneous fashion show. Though, only Liesl was able to fit into most of them. I guess my grandma was right when she said she had a little waist. Apparently she wore the orange polka-dot ensemble on her first date with grandpa. He must have been looking at her beautiful face the whole time.

We finished Thursday by visiting Carrie and her darling boys, including baby Tanner who was only a week old. Those have got to be the cutest cowboys/ninjas ever!

Friday was busy with shopping and getting ready for Caitlin's bridal shower the next day, but we did finish off the day with a girl's night binging on candy and watching Downton Abbey.

Liesl, Caitlin, Marisa, Me.

Saturday started with the shower...

...meeting my soon-to-be brother in law, Trevor, who I think is awesome...

...Caitlin's junior recital (she looked and played gorgeous)...

Tiffany, Paul, Liesl, me, Patrick, Caitlin, Marisa.

We finished off St. Patty's day by celebrating Patrick's 31st birthday and being serenaded by Trevor's bagpipes (seriously!). I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the cops. Those things are loud, but soooo awesome. Caitlin is a lucky girl, but Trevor is even luckier.

What a blessing it is to not only love your family, but LOVE being with them. The scars of sibling rivalry have healed and we truly enjoyed each other's company now.

Last, but not least, a big thank you to my wonderful husband and friends who took care of my four children. You're the best!

Daddy's Boy!

It's no contest. Isaac is definitely a Daddy's Boy. Granted, all my other kids' first word was daddy, too, but I attributed that to the fact that "da da" is more of a baby babble sound and therefore more likely to come out first. With Isaac, however, those sounds had purpose and meaning. With Rob working from home Isaac often gets quick daddy fixes and I noticed that every time we went upstairs and passed Rob's office Isaac started bouncing up and down and would excitedly say "da da". If given a choice, Isaac will almost always go to Rob. Recently Rob went out of town for two days. Isaac seemed lost. He even found a picture of him and pointed saying "da da". When Rob came home Isaac was thrilled and wouldn't let go of his dad. However, when I recently left town for 4 days I did not get the same warm reception upon returning. No matter. I still get the warm fuzzies watching these two share affection.