Look At The Cuteness!!! Look At It!!!

It is always a blessing to be able to go home even if it's only for a week. My last visit home consisted of shopping, playing with the nephew, going to the temple, playing with the nephew, attending one of my best friend's weddings, and playing with the nephew.
See the theme? I played with the nephew a lot. I regret nothing! He has gotten so big! Last time I saw him all he was able to do is cry at me and poop his pants. Don't get me wrong. He still does that but he can play now! It is so fun! I've never seen a happier little guy. His giggle makes you all happy and giggly too! He's happy even when his aunt who is clumsy in all things baby tries to put his diaper on backwards. In my defense, he started rolling and I just grabbed. It's not my fault that the diaper happened to be backwards.
Oh! And the kid can eat! You have to stop feeding him because he won't stop eating. I think he totally fits into the family food dynamic. Except his mother unit gets upset when he has half a can of soda. In me and Corki's defense, he ended up wearing half of it.
Ok, enough of my bragging and excuse making. Here are some pictures of the kid. Seriously, look at all the cuteness! Look at it, I say!

He didn't know what to do with me when I got in the car.

It took me half the car ride home to get the kid to smile. I only got one after I started undoing the car seat straps.

Great Grandpa "teaching" the kid to walk.

It was okay with him because he got to be closer to the puppies.

Not that the puppies stayed away.

The kid has a soda addiction. He fits right in with the family.

Hurry finish! Mom just walked in!

Good thing Grandma had a birthday. We like cake!

Most importantly we like frosting. Must of learned that from Grandpa.

Our favorite toy is Monkey. Aunt Jessie did good choosing that one out. In fact all the favorite toys are the ones Aunt Jessie bought. Favorite aunt? I believe so.

We tend to tackle Monkey most days.

Mmmm... Corn. Or maybe it's the butter left on the corn?

Aunt Corki is the favorite other than Grandma. I'm going to have to learn the Froggy song for when she's on her mission.

I love that he is cuddler.

He also likes some air time,...

...kisses...

...and horsey rides.

Helping Aunt Corki with the laundry.

I think he's just going along for the ride.

Tigger is the new favorite toy. I think the kid doubled his toy count with this trip home.

He LOVES his books! Totally related to his Grandma and Aunts.

Sometimes you can't turn the pages fast enough for the kid. Kind of like you can't feed him fast enough.

We like Grandma a little bit.

The one and only time he decided to like Great Grandma the whole time we were there.

I don't know who was more worn out. Grandma or Conrad?

Our little card shark "helping" Aunt Corki.

Mmmm... Black Cherry.

Almost had it.

In the airport waiting for our flights. Fortunately for his mom, Aunt Jessie flew out last.

Unfortunately, he was upset leaving Aunt Jessie at the gate. Don't worry, Conrad. I'm coming to your house for Thanksgiving.

Good thing Aunt Jessie has some mad pipette skills in the absence of the sippy cup.

Think he likes soda?

 It was awesome being home but it was even more awesome being able to go to my friend Robert's wedding! I'm so happy for him and Maegan! Way to go, buddy!
It was also awesome because I was able to go the temple with Corki when she received her endowment. My whole family was able to go. It was so cool being in the temple with all of my sisters! It would have been even better if Navar could have come.

I love my family and it was so good to spend time with them! Now to leave you with some more cuteness. This proves that me and the kid were friends by the time I left. It's amazing the power of bribery.

Yes, I can get the kid to giggle on demand. Awesome super power, right?

Back in Baltimore...

Home was amazing! I ate good food, played outside, visited friends, played outside, hung out with the fam, and played outside. In case you haven't noticed a trend here, I MISS OUTSIDE!

One of my favorite pics from The Onion: Scientists Discover Portal to the Outside.

 I miss hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, running in the hills, kayaking, camping, horseback riding, and spelunking! I miss mountains! Don't get me wrong. I miss my family and friends too, but I miss outside. I go running outside here in Baltimore when the opportunity and daylight allows. But it's not like running at home. For one, it doesn't cool down to 45-50 degrees at night so running in the morning is not as enjoyable. And second, I miss the variety of the terrain. Most of Baltimore is flat. No inclines or hills. Which is sad.
Sorry! I'll quit sulking now. I'll just say that home was awesome! It was fabulous to hang out and see my family. I got to eat new potatoes straight from the field! Peas and new potatoes are my favorite! I was also able to visit with my friends that are still at ISU. I miss Ryan, Sam G., Robert, and Sam P.! How can you not miss the short jokes, slurpee/ Farr's runs, taco Tuesdays, sugar runs to Mocha Madness, corny science jokes (You're a Dewar, Sam Plesner!), hiking to the pillars, and talking about everything and nothing at the same time?  I'm a visual person and I like pictures and funnies... So tada, some of the things we talked about in pictures...

Of course when friends get together you talk relationships. Thank you Emily Kimball for giving me a way to pictorially explain dating life in Baltimore!

Science jokes! I get the rules now! Long live The Big Bang Theory!

Ok, we only kinda talked about technology. And by talk, I mean we bashed on the use of smartphones. Yes, I have a smartphone but it's a love/hate relationship. I just think this picture is hilarious!

 But all awesome vacations come to an end and it's time to start school again. Consolation prize: Awesome things on sale for back to school! Shirt woot, I love you! You can't start a new school year without a nerdy shirt or two...

Dr. Adorable Love Potion

The Questionable Table of Elements. Look closely my science/nerd friends. What do you see?

And I always find something somewhat nerdy in the how to decorate your dorm room section of the store...

Superheroes will ALWAYS be awesome!!! Now I just need to find a superhero lunchbox.

Too bad starting school comes with prepping bunnies for labs and making over 3000 agar plates...

There's No Place Like Home

I've only seen The Wizard of Oz once but there is a part in it that rings true. Dorothy clicks the heels of her ruby red slippers together and says "there's no place like home." There really is no place like home!
My family is so awesome! I've also decided that it's better to get sick when mom is around because she took way better care of me than I would have of myself.
We've played games, laughed until we've cried, eaten until we're stuffed, and I'm steadily making my way through fixing everyone's computer. Did I mention that I met the puppies? I met the puppies. I really want one of my own!
The best thing of all: we went and saw the new Harry Potter movie! We got such a great deal! $5 a ticket! I remember most of us going to see the first one 10 years ago (10 years! Has it really been that long?) It was perfect! I ended the Harry Potter era just as I began it, with my family. And yes, the unicorn blood in the first movie still looks like the ink from one of grandma's gel pens. I'm proudly a part of the Harry Potter generation so I'm sure I'll read the books at least once a year and my kids (if I ever have any) will too. But even I have to admit, there is a small empty place in my heart now that it's all over. :(
I made my first from scratch red velvet cake for my sister's birthday and I thoroughly thumped my brother-in-law my first game of pinochle against him. I also helped my sister sew the baby blanket she's making for my first niece or nephew (and by help, I mean I stepped on the pins she dropped with my bare foot).
It's been an awesome week already! I can't wait for the next three weeks!
We may not have a lot but together we have it all.