… numerous inside jokes are created
I don’t have a snake burrito photo, so this will have to do. Telestrations is SUCH a fun game. Get it. Play it. Laugh hard.
… you survive the elevator drop
… plenty of delicious food and drinks are consumed
Cookout at Christina and Will’s place!
… there’s a train ride involved
… and numerous drum solos!
… you stay up way past your bedtime and don’t care
… you get to see big cats!
… and little cats!
… and a mama deer and her baby
… the home team wins
… you get to catch up with hometown friends
… you get complimented on your new suit at the pool (no pic, unfortunately)
… there’s a best beard contest
The post gathering survey has Luca in the lead… but four people still need to vote!
… you laugh so hard you cry
… you cry because you have to leave (Gina sent me the cutest photo of poor Luca crying in his car seat when they left to drive back to Texas)
… you get to spend time with your favorite people that you don’t see that often!
… everyone follows the itinerary, heh
… it takes you almost a week to write a post about the trip because you are in post-trip recovery
After Christina and Will’s wedding last year (yesterday was their anniversary, awww!), Steven and I stayed in Kansas City for a few days to hang out with Gina and her family, Steven’s dad and brother, and my parents. We had such a great time, we all decided to get together in June this year as well, but this time, with Christina and Will there!
In order to maximize our time together, Christina, Gina and I made an itinerary for the trip and I distributed it to everyone (my mom even printed it out and had a copy in her purse, ha ha!). I know, I know, that sounds crazy, but we had a few set things on our schedule that made it so we could only do other things we wanted to do on certain days and times… and have you ever organized meals for 11 people on the fly? Yeah, we wanted to avoid that. Saturday was our busiest day, Sunday was less busy, and Monday and Tuesday were even less so. I think it worked out really well, and the post-gathering survey respondents (so far, anyway) have agreed. Muah ha ha.
Next time though, the itinerary needs to have MORE days together! Friday evening, all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and Tuesday through lunch just didn’t feel like enough time. Since we don’t see Gina and family that often, our time together feels so intense! In a good way, of course. I lose sense of time, completely forget about work and life back in Illinois, and feel completely relaxed and in the moment. But the recovery from that is SO hard. You miss your people. You wish you could see them more often. And that’s why it’s important to have your next trip planned. And to text a lot. And FaceTime. Ha.
Awh!! Love this post! What a fun trip. I’m sad there is no snake burrito picture!!!! Maybe Dad can recreate it next year, it really was quite beautiful. 😉
Miss you guys! Can’t wait for next year! We need to think of a name for this trip.. hmmm…
I am sad too! Why didn’t we take a pic! Will actually drew a really good one if you want to ask him to recreate it!!!!
We miss you too! I can’t wait for next year as well. Hmm, should the trip name be related to the kickoff of summer? Or snake burritos?!
I GET TO SEE YOU SOON THOUGH!!!! 🙂 And 3x in julio!
Looks like you guys had a blast! I know the feeling of not having enough days though. I have my entire family together maybe twice a year and it always feels too short!
What a fun trip! I love all of the things that you did. All good trips should have those elements, right? Especially running, food, and staying up late.
Awesome! So nice you all have such a great time together!
I’d laugh at the itinerary if I didn’t have a spreadsheet for pretty much every trip I take. But you need to get all the fun stuff in!
It’s awesome how you guys all love spending time together. I see one big family in these pictures, which is pretty cool 🙂
Sounds like a fantastic trip 🙂 I like the idea of an itinerary, it’s a way to be sure to fit in as much fun as possible!
What great pictures of you all. Love the orange race outfit.
Looks like a fun trip. Love all your pictures. Poor Luca didn’t stand a chance with the beard contest…someone needs to buy the kid an awesome one for the next get together lol!
This is such a fun trip! It’s so cool that you all get along so well and know each other — more time for jokes and less time for awkward chitchat and small talk. That’s the best kind of vacation!
What is the elevator drop?
I think that is the best kind of vacation, too! 🙂
Oh gosh, we were all taking that funny video in the elevator when it dropped (we were going to the bottom floor) and when the door opened we were a few inches under the door threshold (meaning we had to step up a few inches to get out)!