Bother Me Tomorrow, Today, I'll Buy No Sorrows.

The trip home on Sunday was much more difficult than the ride out to Moline.  I didn't sleep much during the entire visit so I was pretty tired when I hit the road. I took an extra stop to eat and I rested my eyes for about ten minutes shortly after Cleveland. About an hour and a half outside of Albany I felt like I was jumping out of my skin.  That was sure a lot of fun.  At an hour outside of Albany, just when I thought I couldn't drive another mile it started getting foggy and rainy.  Oh joy.  Not only do I hate driving at night, but rain makes it ten times worse.  I had to make one final stop only 22 miles from home just to clear my head (and bladder!).  I was so grateful to make it home in one piece!  I slept most of yesterday away and have just been trying to catch up around the house today.  I know I can totally make the trip again by car, I just want to make sure I get plenty of sleep before setting out.

Ok, so for the fun stuff:

Here's my Mama, makin' her gardens beautiful:

Get this, Sister is living at home until her new place is ready in a few weeks.  In the meantime, Charlie has taken to guarding her when she sleeps at night.  He's very protective of his family.
We all had fun at the shower:
In our parent's backyard, way back in the corner, is the infamous pee pond.  Here we see big-boy Landyn following in a great family tradition:
  Dude, those are real freaking flowers.  How beautiful is that??

When I first arrived, Sister was helping me unpack my car.

Sister: Do I have to wait until Saturday to open my shower gifts?
Me: Well, yeah.
Sister: How come?!?
Me: Because I know it will drive you nuts.

I caved because I'm a good sister and she opened them the next day.  She later wrapped them and then acted surprised when she opened them again at the shower.

Our lovely Grandmother crocheted a beautiful blanket for the baby.

When Sister Sally Francis was younger she never strayed from the perfect look of the white t-shirt and blue jean.  A very sweet friend made sure she could pass it on to the wee one with white onesies(sp?) and jean shorts.
Babydaddy Jon was bopping Kennedy in the face with a balloon...and in retaliation she made the following threatening chalk drawing
Don't mind the backwards 'J' - it's the stickman with the missing head that should concern us all.

On my last night there I walked Charlie and brought his present back home with me.  I left it for The Dad under his bar in the garage.  When The Dad returned and was hanging out at his bar he thought that maybe there was a dead mouse in the garage.  He tore through the cupboards and drawers hoping to find a dead Mickey while nine of us who were in on the joke were busting up on the patio.  Eventually he thought he'd figured out the problem - opened salsa in the fridge.  Hmmm...that still didn't stifle the smell.  And it seemed to get worse when he was behind his bar.  He dug through the shelves on his bar a few times - not once noticing the black sack of dog shit right under his nose.  Alas, eventually the jig was up and I was caught.  He told me I moved up to daughter number one status.

I will miss you guys!  Love you so much!!