coming down from the "fat fam" high..
I love my family. we've always enjoyed each other's company, and dude, we're friends and siblings. this time they stayed for a whole week, which was really rockin, cuz often Christmas visits were cut short in the past by some sporting event or another, but this trip, everybody was here for a while and we had great fun. what did we do? not a lot. we ate a lot of food. we played a ton of canasta (the best card game ever) and we watched movies. thats about what we do when we're together. and went to church of course, Christmas mass, 2 sundays and an international Christmas celebration thing that was at church. wheee. so you'd think we'd get sick of each other after a week, and in some ways that happens, but in the ways that matter we could spend forever together and never get tired of each other. these visits are ever more precious now because we are a bit scattered these days. and now, I'll breakdown my fam for you. read on if you wish:
At the Chrismas thing the other night, we did a little thing where we took these bread-wafer things and you partner up with someone (family in this case) and as they break off bread, you give them 'wishes' for the future. it was really quite neat and touching to hear what my family wished for me.. and since I love them, I'm gonna tell all about each member:
Mom: my mom is insane. She's very emotional, in that she yells when she's upset. this drives me nuts. and beyond that, she often goes of on the little things that most people would just let go. but, all that aside, she's a pretty great mother. she dedicated a large part of her life to raising kids, and i think she (and dad) did a damn good job. we are all pretty decent, upstanding citizens with minds of our own and ideals and morals and all that jazz. she worked her ass off and put her teaching career aside for US and that is huge. she always made a point to be involved in our lives too, and while mom may go off about stuff, she genuinely cares about us. She and I used to butt heads all the time, but we're more or less over it. :) Anyway, she's cool and a really good mom, when she's not being crazy.
Dad: If I could suggest a "man of the year" or something, I'd say that dad should be the one to win. He has it going on. My dad is one of the most laid-back people i've ever known, except when someone is being mean to mom. then he goes off, because he deeply cares about his wife- and his kids too. Aside from that, he went back to school at 40, earned his masters degree (while working full time and supporting a family of 6) and is a very sucessful businessman who loves his job. But he has always been there for us. Dad;s the chill one, the one who can be sane when mom's going off on somehting trivial, he's the voice of reason. He's always ready with a hug or word of encouragement. when i was little and got sick in the middle of the night, i always went to dad, and he'd let me sleep at the foot of his bed with a bucket and all that jazz. He rocks. And, he's a loving and faithful husband to my mom, which is amazing in this day and age.
**oh yeah and speaking of mom and dad, they are celebrating their 25th anniversary on New Year's day. Pretty awsome, I'd say**
Quincy: (a.k.a Slim) is my oldest sister. She's amazing. She has 4 kids and is a wonderful mother to them. Slim was always the sister who I could talk to about life issues. She has great advice and has been through a lot of things so she knows just what to say. She is the sister that I'm living with right now, and she's provided me with no end of encouragement and love, all my life, and especially right now. Oh yeah and she homeschools the kids, which is pretty amazing to me. Infinite patience.
Renee: my closest sister by far. I talk about her all the time. She and I have always been very close, we talk about everythin and anything. she and i got into hockey together (though i took it to the next level of insanity) its another thing we have incommon. she was always the leader, and i would follow her anywhere. (which occasionally got us in trouble as kids..) I dont know what else to say about Nee. I love her, totally, completely, she'll always be my best friend, no matter what.
Brett: my younger sister. she's great, we connect about a lot of random stuff. its been fun watching her grow up in the past few years. she and i have the whole "middle child" thing going on. haha it was never a direct thing, but its there and she can sympathize with me better than anyone else about that. she's a great gal, kinda loud sometimes, but its fun. and Brett is the ultimate movie authority and the master of quotes. hehe. she's cool and shes going to Australia to study abroad for 6 months. i'm jealous but very excited for her. :)
Brad: my lone brother. when we were little, Brad and I played with his legos and k'nex all the time. we'd stay up till al hours of the night making and destroying cities of legos and all sorts of madness with the k'nex. great times those were. we bonded in there, and then drifted some as the years went by. but Brad's a pretty cool kid, for a brother. we still have fun together and even occasionally talk about real stuff.
Danielle: my youngest sister. she and i get very silly together. we have about a zillion and one inside jokes about everything and nothing at all. its very strange really, but we feed of each other's madness and it just gets insane. she's very fun. i'm not as close with her, as say, 'Nee but we can still talk about the real stuff.
and then there's the rest of the "fat fam":
Stephen: my brother-in-law. He's definetly a cool guy, i mean, heck, he's letting me live with him and as his family and all that good jazz. tha defineltly counts for something. He's a good guy and a good father to the 4 kids, also a very successful businessman himself. he works for Subway as a development agent and he has really made a difference in the buffalo area. he's a bit of a dork at times, but so am I so it all works out.
Leah: my niece. she's awsome. she practically grew up with us so its more like she's one of my sisters rather than my niece. she's a very together 15-year old, very mature and intelligent. she's a lot of fun to hang out with and live with, and we've gotten a lot closer since i've been here i think.
Braden: the oldest of my nephews. he's a cool kid, a bit on the strange side about some stuff, but generally very well behaved and quite smart too. he's funny and good to be around.
Alex: by far the strangest child i know. not strange in bad, but creative. he's always singing or whistling something. (he's 7 and can whistle like no one i've ever known) he's very smart but silly at the same time. fun kid
Christopher: my newest nephew, at one week old, doesnt exactly have a set personality yet. he's beautiful and doenst cry too much, so thats a good thing i'm sure. based on how the other 3 are, i'm sure he'll be alright.
so thats my fam. i hope i didnt bore y'all. i'm just feeling nostalgic since they left so I thought I would share a little about what it's like being part of the "fat fam". :) peace out.
At the Chrismas thing the other night, we did a little thing where we took these bread-wafer things and you partner up with someone (family in this case) and as they break off bread, you give them 'wishes' for the future. it was really quite neat and touching to hear what my family wished for me.. and since I love them, I'm gonna tell all about each member:
Mom: my mom is insane. She's very emotional, in that she yells when she's upset. this drives me nuts. and beyond that, she often goes of on the little things that most people would just let go. but, all that aside, she's a pretty great mother. she dedicated a large part of her life to raising kids, and i think she (and dad) did a damn good job. we are all pretty decent, upstanding citizens with minds of our own and ideals and morals and all that jazz. she worked her ass off and put her teaching career aside for US and that is huge. she always made a point to be involved in our lives too, and while mom may go off about stuff, she genuinely cares about us. She and I used to butt heads all the time, but we're more or less over it. :) Anyway, she's cool and a really good mom, when she's not being crazy.
Dad: If I could suggest a "man of the year" or something, I'd say that dad should be the one to win. He has it going on. My dad is one of the most laid-back people i've ever known, except when someone is being mean to mom. then he goes off, because he deeply cares about his wife- and his kids too. Aside from that, he went back to school at 40, earned his masters degree (while working full time and supporting a family of 6) and is a very sucessful businessman who loves his job. But he has always been there for us. Dad;s the chill one, the one who can be sane when mom's going off on somehting trivial, he's the voice of reason. He's always ready with a hug or word of encouragement. when i was little and got sick in the middle of the night, i always went to dad, and he'd let me sleep at the foot of his bed with a bucket and all that jazz. He rocks. And, he's a loving and faithful husband to my mom, which is amazing in this day and age.
**oh yeah and speaking of mom and dad, they are celebrating their 25th anniversary on New Year's day. Pretty awsome, I'd say**
Quincy: (a.k.a Slim) is my oldest sister. She's amazing. She has 4 kids and is a wonderful mother to them. Slim was always the sister who I could talk to about life issues. She has great advice and has been through a lot of things so she knows just what to say. She is the sister that I'm living with right now, and she's provided me with no end of encouragement and love, all my life, and especially right now. Oh yeah and she homeschools the kids, which is pretty amazing to me. Infinite patience.
Renee: my closest sister by far. I talk about her all the time. She and I have always been very close, we talk about everythin and anything. she and i got into hockey together (though i took it to the next level of insanity) its another thing we have incommon. she was always the leader, and i would follow her anywhere. (which occasionally got us in trouble as kids..) I dont know what else to say about Nee. I love her, totally, completely, she'll always be my best friend, no matter what.
Brett: my younger sister. she's great, we connect about a lot of random stuff. its been fun watching her grow up in the past few years. she and i have the whole "middle child" thing going on. haha it was never a direct thing, but its there and she can sympathize with me better than anyone else about that. she's a great gal, kinda loud sometimes, but its fun. and Brett is the ultimate movie authority and the master of quotes. hehe. she's cool and shes going to Australia to study abroad for 6 months. i'm jealous but very excited for her. :)
Brad: my lone brother. when we were little, Brad and I played with his legos and k'nex all the time. we'd stay up till al hours of the night making and destroying cities of legos and all sorts of madness with the k'nex. great times those were. we bonded in there, and then drifted some as the years went by. but Brad's a pretty cool kid, for a brother. we still have fun together and even occasionally talk about real stuff.
Danielle: my youngest sister. she and i get very silly together. we have about a zillion and one inside jokes about everything and nothing at all. its very strange really, but we feed of each other's madness and it just gets insane. she's very fun. i'm not as close with her, as say, 'Nee but we can still talk about the real stuff.
and then there's the rest of the "fat fam":
Stephen: my brother-in-law. He's definetly a cool guy, i mean, heck, he's letting me live with him and as his family and all that good jazz. tha defineltly counts for something. He's a good guy and a good father to the 4 kids, also a very successful businessman himself. he works for Subway as a development agent and he has really made a difference in the buffalo area. he's a bit of a dork at times, but so am I so it all works out.
Leah: my niece. she's awsome. she practically grew up with us so its more like she's one of my sisters rather than my niece. she's a very together 15-year old, very mature and intelligent. she's a lot of fun to hang out with and live with, and we've gotten a lot closer since i've been here i think.
Braden: the oldest of my nephews. he's a cool kid, a bit on the strange side about some stuff, but generally very well behaved and quite smart too. he's funny and good to be around.
Alex: by far the strangest child i know. not strange in bad, but creative. he's always singing or whistling something. (he's 7 and can whistle like no one i've ever known) he's very smart but silly at the same time. fun kid
Christopher: my newest nephew, at one week old, doesnt exactly have a set personality yet. he's beautiful and doenst cry too much, so thats a good thing i'm sure. based on how the other 3 are, i'm sure he'll be alright.
so thats my fam. i hope i didnt bore y'all. i'm just feeling nostalgic since they left so I thought I would share a little about what it's like being part of the "fat fam". :) peace out.