Life as it should be...

with Andrea, Luke, and Augustine in Fort Collins!

My sister Andrea and her family came to visit this last weekend and we had the most wondeful time!  You may already know that Andrea is my best friend and an amazing sister and I am always wishing that she lived here.  It will probably still be a few years before they move here, but in the meantime little visits are so exciting for me!

I picked them up from the airport on Friday afternoon (should have been morning but of course their flight was delayed..)  Anyway, we started our time together with a delicious homemade dinner of chicken with shrimp salad.  And for dessert?  Yummy white wine and homemade oreo mcflurries outside by the fire pit.  So much fun!  Andrea and I talk multiple times a day, but actually getting to talk in person was so surreal!  She knows every detail about my life, every new outfit I buy, etc...but being here she actually got to see the outfit, or see Tavian's new silly face, or the new toy I bought him!  Pretty sweet!

Saturday started with Mckenzie and Dylan's soccer games.  They both did great!  My other sister Ellen and her fmaily were also in town and it was great getting so much of the family together and watching the cousins play together.

After the soccer games Ellen, Andrea, and I brought our kiddos to a pumpkin patch by our house.  We weren't really interested in all the festivities offered, but  we thought it would make an adorable photo op...and it did!

The rest of Saturday was spent planning for a big dinner celebration for all our family.  It was somewhat stressful because I was the hostess and I have never had that many people come over!!!  There were going to be 16 adults and plenty of kiddos!  Luckily everyone was bringing a dish to share.  My extended family happens to be amazing cooks so we had TONS of yummy Italian food.  Of course I forgot to take any pictures...so lame!  The weather was perfect so we were outside the majority of the time and the kids and boys kept busy playing cornhole.  Everyone left around 9 and just when I was thinking that bed was around the corner, Andrea asked if I wanted to go meet up with Audra (one of her high school friends) downtown.  I said yes, which is total proof of how much I love my sister!  It takes a lot for me to  not go to bed early!!!  No pictures from downtown either :(, but it was a good time.  (I have a side story about it that I will post at another time!)

  

We met all the fam at Panera early Saunday morning for some delicious brunch.  Normally we go to mass at 730 but we were all pretty tired from the night before so Andrea and I went with our families at 12.  We got home in time for the Bronco game at 2.  The rest of the family met up at our house in the afternoon so Ellen and her family could say goodbye to Luke, Andrea, and Augustine before they left to go back home to Gillette.  That night I met some of my high school friends for a quick dinner at The Rio because Annie Pitner was in town.  I ended up getting to see Annie, Kalin, Whitney, Carly, Ashley, Syd, Esther, and Megan.  It was great getting to catch up with everyone...even if for only a short time!  I went home and got to continue hanging out with the rest of the gang with beer and corn hole.

Monday was probably one of my favorite days!  Cole took off work so that we could go up to Estes with Andrea and Luke.  It was such a fun time and the weather and scenery were beautiful.  We started with lunch at Wapiti Grill, walked around town, stuffed our face with the best ice cream at Haleys, and then ended the day with mini golf and Go Carts.  Too much fun! 

We drove home in the afternoon and had one last dinner with all of the family so everyone could say their goodbyes. There was more cornhole and more fun. And, after they had finished their dinner, we gave Tavian and Augustine a bath. One of the cutest things ever! Wouldn't you agree?!??

We ended the night just Andrea, Luke, Cole, and me and a game of Chicken Foot.  The days went so quickly and I am so bummed that they are gone.  I already miss them so much...I mostly miss all the laughing that Andrea and I did together.  Like maybe when she nailed me directly in the temple with her elbow with massive force?  Oh yeah, that was so funny!  Oh wait, it wasn't.  It was only funny to Andrea.  She laughed until she cried but I just cried!  Lol..at least I can laugh about it now.  Miss you sister:)  Til next time...