WARNING: Longest post ever with the most pictures in the world. Not kidding.
A few weekends ago I was away with my sisters, mom, and cousin. It was ALL girls. Whoot! Whoot! Before you get all excited, let me tell you there was A LOT of estrogen in the houz. 8 women and 1 baby girl. Yowzers!
Group shot minus my sister-in-law and cousin.
I was really looking forward to the weekend. I luhoove my family and it’s been 5 years since we’ve all gotten together without children. The last time was right before I had Ryan. So much has happened in our lives since then.
I had a heart baby.
My cousin lost both of her parents to cancer.
My sister lost two brother-in-laws and a mother-in-law…. all within 2 years.
Another sister adopted an older child several years ago who continues to struggle with bonding issues.
We said good-bye to my mom’s dad, our Papa.
Several others live with chronic health issues.
You know, life… so I wanted the weekend to be special. What better way to say special than with a SWAG BAG?
White bags stamped with a “sister” stamp
Brochures of the town where we were staying from the Visitor’s Bureau
Personalized monogrammed salt dough gift tags…
Salt dough tag that can be used as Christmas tree ornament as a reminder of our weekend.
I wasn’t the only one to come bearing gifts. We also decided it would be fun for each of us to bring a “favorite thing” costing $5 or less. This is something that you are really loving right now and can easily be given away. Mine technically was vaseline lip tubes, seed packets and St. Patrick’s Day towels (all from the dollar store), but I included them with all the other SWAG items. We ended up with some really cool stuff-
My towels,seed packets and lip vaseline, Amy’s favorite snack bar and recipes, Bonni’s canned peaches and lip balm, Johanna’s candle, Dottie’s allergen-free candy and designer recipe cards, Katie’s Naked Juice (not shown), Christine’s recipes and Pez dispenser.
I did not make a swag bag for myself as this was my gift to them. Funny thing: when I brought the bags in everyone started plopping their gifts into the bag so it was one big swag bag. They asked me where mine was! Yeah, that’s my cardboard box on the right.
We had such a good time opening everything.
Saturday we played games and visited with my brother John, his wife Jessie and their son Liam (which sounds A LOT like Leighann in conversation, just sayin’)
My cousin Bonni – she’s hysterical. I’m sooo glad she came on the weekend.
As the only baby, Piper got held a lot. Like, a whole lot. Like, “the baby’s crying I better pick her up” a lot.
She was not happy when we got home and there weren’t any aunts or uncles to put her to sleep.
But she did like the crown her sister Ainsley made her!
Right before we left we took a few pictures… since it was a hunting cabin we were in, we couldn’t help but play around with some antlers hanging on the side of the fireplace.
And that, folks, ended the weekend. Hoping we’ll have one again next year when there will be more babies there to hold….. 🙂
Comments (3)
What an awesome weekend!! Family time is too little since we grew up, don’t ya think? Loved seeing the pics. There’s never too many of them, in my opinion.
P.S. More Babies? Something I wasn’t told yet? (Besides Chrissy.) 😉
more babies?? (Besides Chrissy)- what?!?! I didn’t know that?!? more than Chrissy too?? or twins?? AAHhh, we must know!
You are so very blessed with all the sister’s and brother. I wished I had more kids in my family growing up. How fun, yes I know the down side too LOL.
I also think it was way too funny with the deer antlers and Miss P being so sad after being so spoiled.
I am so glad you had some great bonding time and down time.
I am going to the Holy Land Experience with my bible study gal’s tomorrow. It’s sans kids and hubby let me tell ya I am kinda excited not to have to chase down wayward kids, even tho there is a section for the kids. Check it out maybe if you all travel down here you can go, its fantastic. They even do a real life when Jesus walked with the cross to His death and its so real there is not a dry eye I mean Its VERY real, Jesus reached out to Mark on the path and it was heart wreanching.