...watch out for those stairs.

Well....  I'm not the prolific blogger like Patrick (who, as we all know, is blogging ALL the time), but I do have a few things to say.  I was telling a friend about the trip today and I said, "I like these people so much I'd be their friends in real life."  True story. I didn't feel like the new guy at all.  It was all so easy and comfortable.  Something unexpected, but at the same time something I've learned to expect since I met Misti.

Thank you all so much for such a wonderful time together and I look forward to many more adventures in the future!

P.S.  My butt STILL hurts.  Stupid stairs...

What Fresh Hell Is This?

No half and half? 

No beautiful glass like lake? 

No Jerome cooked seventy course meal? 

The voice of Matt Lauer in place of the laughter that was my custom morning wake up? 

I actually have to put on real clothes and real makeup and go work on real things that do not include a plan to attack a water park? 

The only thing about this that isn't total bullshit is the bed I'm in right now. 

It's not on the floor. It's not a thinly covered pad to a futon. It's got box springs and sheets and fits two people comfortably. 

I guess I will get up and get to work....where I can start researching things to do in Branson next year. 

Home

After a long day and very long wait for the bus in SD we are home

When it became a thing we've always done

This was the best time ever.

I have never been around this many people for this many days where everyone just stayed in a good mood.  In spite of sleeping poorly and exhausting ourselves to the bone everyone just rolled with the punches, laughed, and appreciated each other.

I have always known how much I missed you all individually but I now understand how much I missed us collectively.  When we get together we are something special.

I think we are all in agreement that Cousinpalooza is now a regular thing.  In fact, I am already thinking about the next one.

Love you all.

Diary of one crazy cousin (warning lots of words and no pics)

Last year Toni and I were lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family for our entire wedding weekend. I for one was a bit apprehensive, I don't like being the center of attention, not even a little.  Then it ended up being the best weekend possible. I laugh all the time (really, all of the time), at everything (whether appropriate or not) and i think our wedding weekend broke new laughing records. When it was all said and done, and we were off on our honeymoon, I think Toni and I both had a bit of post wedding depression.  It was great to be together and on an awesome vacation, but the reality hit us that its unlikely we will ever have both our families and friends gathered in one place like that again. It's a sad thought.  We decided that we would start using our vacation days and funds to see family rather than just going somewhere by ourselves. It could mean spending an extra weekend in Palm Springs with Silver, a holiday in Alisa Viejo with Angelina and Jon, a trip to Granite,OK to see Meme, etc. 

And then.... Cousinpalooza happened. I took credit for planning it with Meme but really it was the result of a lot of coordination and planning by Steph, Misti, and Taryn (and probably everyone except myself). However, I would appreciate it if no one let Meme know that I stretched the truth. 

Living in CA I don't see family other than my parents very often. We are fortunate enough to live a short drive from Toni's mom and one of her sisters but I only see my sister and brother once a year. The rest of you it's more like every 5 years and typically for less than ideal circumstances. 

It's funny how we have all grown up, and changed so much, yet not changed at all. Maybe we just revert to the way things were when we are together. I half expect to blink and be back on the ski bob singing songs with Taryn so we won't be scared of the waves with Papa and all the other cousins in the boat laughing. Oh we can all laugh. 

Ok that's all I got. Next year I will see you all in Branson (or maybe grand lake). I'm also hoping Toni and I can make it back to Granite again sometime later this year as well so maybe we can see some of you then. 

I'm now done blogging for awhile. This is probably shocking to most since I'm always blogging. Toni will post pictures once we get home and she can get them organized. 

Maeby we should go for a ride

Maeby! 

So tired

Cousinpalooza's favorite one-liners

"Fun-noodle in your pants!"- while Patrick had a fun-noodle through his swim trucks.

"Yeah, yeah, there's the Sac-n-Pac and the ice place. . . Why didn't we ever go to the Dollar General?!"- Patrick while we were on the completely wrong road trying  to get back to the house.

"Aaaaustin!!!" - whenever the frisbee was out of reach, or anything for that matter. Usually immediately followed by a less enthusiastic response of "I'll get it. . ."

"Miiiistiiiii!!!!!"

"No one needs dishes that clean" -misti rushing out in her unmentionables to turn off the industrial sounding dish washer.

"It's like I'm in the Xbox!" - Holden after a water slide at Schlitterbaun. 

"Ants in your pants! Ants in your pants!"- Momma Misti brushing the ants off the chair no one wanted to sit in.