A Weekend Behind

I really meant to do this blog days ago, so it's pretty old news now. But, that is kind of how I feel about life in general this last month or so! I just can't seem to catch up. Eventually I hope I do catch up. Hopefully even before this baby comes. But, at the rate we're going with the holidays hitting, it might be in January though... :)

Anyway, last weekend, we had a wonderful time in good old Abilene for ACU Homecoming. I have seen many other blogs about it by now, and I agree with each one. There is such an amazing blessing in being back among so many people who spent the college years with you. So many of us have changed and "grown up", and now have marriages, jobs, children, and busy life outside of the ACU bubble. But, it always amazes me to see how quickly I can pick up with so many different friends and be blessed with even a five-minute conversation about their family and life.

We had the added blessing of spending time with two of my three sisters, who were also back for Homecoming! (It's silly that we have to meet up three hours away to hang out, but we had a wonderful time together.) We also got to see some of Mark's family, who lives in Abilene, especially his sweet grandmother, who always gives us a comfortable place to stay when we come.
Friday night, we drove in town just in time to check out the ACU carnival (which is SO much cooler than it was years ago!) and then met up with Cassie and Austin for some good cheeseburgers at Rick & Carolyn's. (I always wish I had a few more days in Abilene just to fit in all of my favorite restaurants!!) We headed back to Grandmother's for some late-night cuddling and visiting before getting to bed (see picture). Saturday morning was the Siggie breakfast, which is way too early, and definitely an increasing challenge for me to actually get to as the years pass. Mark was so considerate (ha!) and volunteered to sleep in and skip his breakfast so the girls could sleep longer too. It did make it easier to leave them at home, although getting ready at 5:30 am without waking the entire family who was sleeping in the same room was the challenge of the day. :) Here is a picture of the sisters and SWEET Braden at breakfast that morning.
The parade and chapel were the next events to attend, and we had so much fun visiting and talking with friends at each. Kendyll and Carlie LOVED the parade, loved the cousin time, loved the candy, loved the balloons, and loved learning the "Wildcat". Kendyll wasn't so sure about the balloon-drop they had planned for the end of chapel and spent the entire 45 minutes asking Cassie (who was sitting next to her), if those balloons in that net would hit her and when exactly they were going to be falling. Cassie did a great job of helping my oh-so-fearful child calm down about something that would be fun to any other kid in the whole place. :) As you can see, Carlie couldn't get enough of the action and tried to carry four balloons out of there. She finally settled for two when one of hers popped. The funniest part was that she thought I took the balloon from her, because she couldn't find it. It was quite hilarious to hear me try to explain to her that it really popped and that I did not steal it, as she was frowning at me like I was the meanest mommy around.

After chapel, we had "Roomie Reunion" for the Sig Shack gang at Matt and Melissa's house. Mark has had the wonderful blessing of three roommates and best friends who can pick up at any moment and be there for one another. I have the blessing of their wives, who do the same for me. What we love the most is to have all four families together and watch how absolutely crazy our lives have become since college. We now have NINE kids, with two more on the way...and Matt and Melissa were brave enough to have us all at their house for lunch and playtime. It was pretty funny to watch....and so great to experience. We had great barbecue, good talking time, and lots of cute pictures of our crazy kids. Lacy, we sure missed you and Kasen. I hope Kevin told you all about the day! The seven oldest kids in age order...Kendyll, Matthew, Aidan, Brynlee, Jackson, Carlie, and Jacob....the two babies, Kasen and Ella, were not crazy enough for this picture. :)

Saturday night, we had a nice dinner out with Grandmother (minus Carlie's two-year-old behavior) at Outback, and then met up with the sisters and hubbies for a night out at the musical. Kendyll got the special treat of joining us for "Singin' in the Rain", and she loved it. She felt pretty big to get to hang out with the adults that evening! The musical is something that has always been special to Mark and me, since it was our first date TEN years ago. We squeezed hands tighter than usual during the show and both took a trip down memory lane to remember that first crazy night when we saw our first of many ACU musicals together. (Awww....)Sunday was church with the family, Bible class with old friends, lunch at The Home Place (YUM!!), and playtime with cousin Carrie before heading home. Overall, a wonderful weekend with so many people we love. Now, if I can just talk my OWN roommates and fellow classmates into coming back someday, Homecoming will be complete in my book. :) Maybe for our ten-year, girls??