Home sweet home!

Dear TX, while we are gone visiting family and friends in ND and MN, please make sure to remember to change your thermostat to at least 80 degrees or below before we return!!!  Thank you!  Of course I'm probably dreaming, but hey it doesn't hurt to ask right!?  If not, i'll try to bring some of their wonderful fall weather back with me! :)  Stepping off the plane into ND, we were happily surprised by the cool breeze and the fact that we didn't have to use the AC in the car!!  (This was the starting of my post while I was home for two weeks!  Since I wasn't able to finish it there, I decided to continue it in TX!)

Yes TX, we are back!!  The weather, friends, family, etc. were all so wonderful while we were home!  I guess you could say the weather wasn't the greatest for some people back in ND/MN at 60-70 degrees, but I loved it!  I am a sweatshirt girl at heart and would take wearing pants and long sleeves any day!  However, as I left ND with my sweatshirt on, it suddenly was not necessary upon arriving in TX!  I do admit, it was nice to see the thermostat in our car read 90 degrees for a change!! 

Our trip back home was full of visiting with family and friends, my grandma's 90th birthday party and a visit to Ely MN to see my sister and her family!  We had so much fun seeing my brother and sisters families, I wish we could do that more often!!  The kids had such a great time playing together!!  My parents recently went to Alaska and brought back matching t-shirts for all of their six grandkids!  While we were home, we were able to take their pictures together wearing them!! 

My Grandma's 90th birthday was almost like a

family reunion!  All my aunts, uncles and cousins were there!  I can't remember the last time everyone was together like this!  It's amazing to think how this wonderful women created this family!  During this time, the girls got the chance to ride a horse,

4-wheel and run free on the farm!!  After the fun birthday weekend, Andy returned to TX for work.  The girls and I decided to stay back for a while longer and continue to visit. 

During that time we decided to head to Ely, MN, where my sisters family lives, for the Harvest Moon Festival!  My parents, their two dogs, the girls and I camped for the weekend!  It was so nice to be able to let the girls run around, ride their bikes, roast smore's at a real campfire and just get dirty!! 

The Havest Moon Festival was quite the experience, including the All American Lumber Jack Show!  At the end of their show, they encourage the kids/adults young at heart! :) to participate in log rolling!  My sister and I wanted to challange eachother in this event, but my niece got sick, so she couldn't make it!  So instead she sent my nephew Gabriel (log rolling pro!) in her place!  Gabriel rocks at this sport and was a great coach!  It was a lot of fun and thankfully he let me win! ;)  It was a fun weekend!

To end our fun stay home, we ventured out to an apple orchard!  The girls had such a fun time picking apples!  Laila kept telling us she only had two apples in her bag and needed more!  She was super excited, she didn't realize she was putting the apples in all the other bags and forgetting hers!!  But in the end she did fill up her bag!  Lainie only picked one apple and was very attached it, not letting it out of her sight!  She wasn't letting that apple go anytime soon!  Apple picking was my favorite part of my birthday!

Lastly, I celebrated my (hold your breath :) j/k) 29th birthday!  We had a great time visiting with our families and eating cupcakes!  I think the girls enjoyed the cupcakes the most!!  It was a great day!!

The girls and I flew back to TX early Saturday morning!  I couldn't of asked for a better flight with myself and the two girls!  When we arrived at the airport, we were greeted by Andy!  He was super excited to see all three of his girls!!  Laila went straight for a big hug!  She wouldn't let go!!  Lainie was so happy to see him and gave him her best hugs!  Laila was super excited to see all her dresses in her closet and Norman, so we headed back to Nacogdoches!  It is so nice to be back!  

After getting home, I was happily suprised by a new pair of cowgirl boots Andy got me for my birthday!!  I love them!!  Watch out TX!  Anyways, it was a fun time, but now it's back to TX adventures for the time being!  Til the next!!