I like going home, it's just a good reminder of who I am, I LOVE MY FAMILY and it helps me look at things in a different way. It's undeniable that Omahans are different from Chicagoans. When I go home I have to remember that people think you are rude if you just breeze by them. I have to remember that the clerk at the check out does in fact want to talk. Also, if I walk into a bar/ restaurant or really any place where lots of people are gathered, my siblings will know someone. The cars are bigger, things are much more spread out and I am allergic to most things there now. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? I mean I know I have lived in Chicago for 6 years almost, so I guess now, without fail my allergies act up when I go home. It's bizarre.
This weekend was a blast though. I got in late and went to Barrett's with the siblings, then stayed up until about 3am talking with my mom. According to my siblings, when I am home, I make my mom exponentially goofier.
On Saturday, we went to my soon to be sister in-law's bridal shower at my cousin Beth's house, which is so cute! Then we went shopping and got our dresses fitted. It was fun and exhausting, so exhausting in fact that my mom did not think she could make it to the next room, so she looked at my dad- who is in a wheel chair that we call "The Red Roadster" because he had surgery, no worries he is recovering well- and said, "Can I have a ride to the next room?" and this is what followed: (sorry about the laughing... you will want to turn the volume waaaay down if you can...Kelly and I could not keep it together...)
Yes, they do in fact run into the doorjamb in the end.
So after that, Bill and I went and saw Monsters vs. Aliens in 3-D. It was pretty awesome. I cannot deny it.
The next day, my mom and I went to the grocery store to get food for our big celebration of Dan and Bill's birthdays. I love family dinner, and now with every one's significant others, it's getting bigger and bigger! (there are more people to make fun of). We grilled out, but because it was raining we had to grill in the garage with the door open (the garage now smells DELICIOUS). My mom and I cooked all day and that's when I noticed this little gem of a decoration in my parents kitchen:
What I want to know is how on earth I was the first one to make a joke about it?!My Mom loves to decorate for the holidays... if you have ever been at our house at Christmas, you know what I am talking about. Its pretty awesome. We are a winter wonderland. Easter decor in the kitchen is getting pretty close though.
Anywho, we have dinner. It's delicious. Everyone is making jokes and telling stories. Then it was time for the game. Oh yes, there is only one way to properly celebrate a 29th and 26th birthday- Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Duh.
My mom and I saw it in the dollar aisle at the store and thought that we just could not, NOT get it. So, we taped it up in the hallway and set the stakes at this:
Winner would have the Title of Favorite Child of The Week (yes, this was open to anyone in attendance, Jim's girlfriend is usually the favorite- we call her "number one" all the time, I think she even signed my birthday card that way) and the surprise gift which was a statue of a crazy squirrel, holding a sign that says: Welcome to the Nut House. I wish I had a picture of it, bc it's really the freakiest garden statue ever.
After blind folding and spinning 9 people ages 19- 33, the game was over and Bill won the title of favorite child and the coveted freaky-ass statue. It was a good night.
Other notable events: my mother is convinced we are all going to get the Swine flu and she almost killed me while driving several times. So the Swine Flu does not scare me. I made it back to Chicago in one piece after driving with my mom, THAT's an accomplishment.
All in all. hOmaha was a great time. Now on to an excellent Chicago summer!
