F-A-M-I-L-Y

As I have grown older I have realized how important my family is to me. Now, when I come home, I spend all of my time with my family, and I still feel like it's not enough. I love and laugh every second that I am with them that before I know it, my time is up...tomorrow morning my time is up. I wish so badly that the Seattle airport suddenly closes and I am stuck in Texas for a couple of more days...or even a few hours...I will take what I can get.

For those of you who don't know, my whole extended family is in Texas, all of it, every bit of it, so when I come home, it's like a family reunion and I love it. I always, without fail, seem to have adventure after adventure with them.

Examples:

1) I sneaked Mr. Beyonce to Texas. My parents gladly took him in as part of the family, and let me just tell you, the dogs love him. I took him Christmas shopping, and my mom created poses for the pony...Imri, you would be so proud.
2) While doing aforementioned Christmas shopping, a large, tall man almost fell on me. Yes, he fell almost directly on top of me. My mom laughed, and explained it was because he could not see me. She always finds a way to remind me of my height.
3) While trying to find a gift for my stepsister, we approach the hair curler stand to browse. While deciding on a gift for her, the salesman took my hair and curled it. My face cringed and my mom laughed, and the salesman was left confused. Later, when we returned to by her gift, he remembered us because of my hatred to have my hair touched. We laughed...
4) Receiving the most beautiful painting from my brother. Seriously, amazingly talented. I wish I could have half the talents he has.
5) Talking current events and politics with my dad. It's a favorite past time, and it gives me motivation to constantly keep up with the news.
6) Bowling with my dad. I try to down play my competitiveness, but when I play a game with my dad and my brother it just comes out. We all come by honestly in our family. It will be the lowest scoring bowling game, but probably the highest competitive game you will ever see.
7) Christmas Eve at my Aunt's. Ever since I was little, my German side of the family has always gotten together for this holiday. I've always looked forward to it and I still do. We all dress up in Sunday dress, and celebrate this holiday with one another. When I was younger, my cousins and I would sing Christmas carols to entertain the adults. Now, we sit at the adult table, and we try and get my cousins' sons to say cute, quirky phrases that won't get us into too much children.
7b) As an addendum to the previously mentioned Christmas Eve, I need to add that I love cuddling with my cousins' children. They are the closest I have to nephews. In fact, I feel as though they are such. I just felt this needed its own bullet.
8) Christmas day at my mom's. We open presents...take a family photo with all of our gifts...then chow down on pancakes and bacon.
9) Christmas day at my Gran's. This list is endless of things I love. Seeing all of my family, especially my Gran and Grandpa. Seeing Tooter, their dog, and exploring my grandpa's pigeon barns. I do this every year, and every time its like I have never seen them before. I love it. I love eating all of her delicious cooking to the point that we all pass out, and before my Gran knows it, she was 30 people passed out throughout her house. I love eating the homemade chocolate chip pecan cookies. I LOVE playing Mexican train dominoes. If you want to see me get super competitive then play this game with me. This game is known to cause some people to drop some swear words. I especially love getting teased by my grandpa that I cheat...I don't...at least not any more...
10) I love going on walks with my mom. Looking at all the animals in her neighborhood, and teasing a longhorn that almost took me out.
11) I LOVE parties with my family. Last night we celebrated my Aunt Joy's 54th birthday. Her friends threw her a surprise party. We all danced and sang along with the band. Sometimes singing with our eyes closed. I love my cousin Perry. I love all the trouble we used cause when we were kids. I love how we have become adults together and now getting ready for new chapters in our lives. I love awkward situations, where people ask if I am my dad's girlfriend...and I have to tell them that I am actually his daughter...but dancing with my grandparents and my aunts with my eyes closed was probably the best part. I know now where I get my moves from.
12) I love that my dad loves to BBQ. Yesterday he smoked some ribs for us, and they were phenomenal.
13) I love that I get to see my Oma today, and that she made me some home streudal for me to take back to Seattle with me.

I LOVE MY FAMILY. We laugh, we cry, but most importantly we have an unconditional love for one another. I am learning how to love through them. Thank you family. You are too good to me.