A House-Full

You know the feeling you get when all your company leaves? And the house is waaaay too quiet? And there's no one to talk to until your hubby gets home? (Well... that's not entirely true... I have Dom... but sometimes he just screams.) That's how I feel right now. Last week we had a house full of family. I LOVE having guests. That's what makes living so far away from home bearable. (The sunshine helps too.)



Our cousins JonPaul and Cortney and their two sweet little girls came all the way from Sacramento to stay with us and catch up. We absolutely love these guys. They are our kindred spirits, I'm sure of it. Maybe one of these days they'll move on out here and we can be together all the time. That would be great! Here's hoping.

We seem to enjoy a lot of the same things, and live a very similar life... only we live it 15 hours away from each other! Wah. It was so great to see them and have them stay with us for a few, short days.

The time flew by, but Rich and JonPaul were able to steal a few minutes to solve the world's problems.

Rich's brother, Jim and his wife, Leslie and their cute kids drove all the way here from Utah at the same time! Yes, a house-full. There were 12 of us. (Technically, there were 13 if you want to count the baby {boy, I think!} in Cortney's tummy!) It was a blast!

Rich and Jim enjoyed the time they were able to catch up with each other. Awww... brothers.

Twins, no? Haha... Jim looks like the Italian side of the family... and Rich? He looks like his Dad. :)

I was so lucky to be able to get a little one-on-one time with Leslie. Whenever Rich and I go to Utah, she and I see each other, but amongst all the chaos that is our wonderful family... Leslie and I never have spent any time alone together. It's funny, but I feel like I know her much better now... and Rich and I have been married for 8 years!

Our days were spent on walks, at the park, eating out, riding bikes, playing with sidewalk chalk and playdough, hanging out on the deck, and down in the playroom. Our nights were spent staying up waaaaay too late and playing Scattergories until the wee hours of the morning and thinking up nifty inventions that would make life easier... or at least make it smell better! Haha! OK... I'm regressing. Our cousins Jen and Thayne and their kiddoes, who live in Surprise, were also able to come out a couple of times and hang out with all of us. It was so great of them to drive all that way, only a day apart from visits. Thanks guys! We also had a surprise birthday party for Leslie and we all had a wonderful time eating yummy cake and ice cream. Anyway, this group of family was soooo much fun and I'm so blessed to be a part of it. Come back ANYTIME you guys, seriously... I'm lonely out here! ;)

Here's some pictures of their stay...

This is Miss Skylar...

... and Little Miss Stella

... Ryker (Dom's BFF)

... and this is Sweet Jo!

... awwww.

P.S. THANK YOU, all of you, for cleaning my kitchen and thank you JP for cooking breakfast! And thank you kiddoes for the free "therapy" in the basement, as Jim would put it. ;) I needed some! Haha!