Family Bonding.....

My older sister, Melanie, came up from Rexburg for Paige's baby blessing.

It's so fun when they all come to visit. Especially for my kids. They miss their cousins SO much. What was even better, my nephew Austin was able to come and stay with me for the weekend too while his parents went up early to help out Crystal. So, the boys especially had a good time. There were two birthdays in our family in March, and so I was able to pass along the presents in the actual same month as their birthdays. Last year, I think poor Emily got her present in September. :0(She was so cute about the present too. I got a great big hug from her for it and she immediately went off to play with her new Blendy Pens. {by the way, they are nifty little pens!}

No hug from Nathaniel, but that's ok. He's 16 now....hugs aren't expected. :0) He did get excited over his iTunes gift card. Please use it on GOOD music Nate. Please? No screaming songs....for at least a couple of them. Try out Jack Johnson or even Panic at the Disco. Good stuff there! Just some suggestions anyway.....

Mackenzee ate up all of the attention that she got from cousins and her aunt Melanie. She actually fell asleep in Melanie's arms as she was read to. I was grateful as otherwise there would have been no nap for my little girl and it made the night bearable. She was getting pretty whiney :0).

The last time they came to visit, I took our Wii and Guitar Hero over to my mom's house for the kid's to play with. Nate and Jon were amazed at my wicked awesome guitar playing skills {I can only play on the Medium level} and so they went home and bought Guitar Hero for themselves to practice up. My sister prepped me before they came, letting me know that Nate was going to BRING IT so I better be ready. I rarely play the game, but figured it was all in good fun anyway. So, I took over the Wii again this last weekend with our Guitar so we could battle it out. They brought their guitar and so this time two people could play at a time.

Austin was really uncertain about playing it and wouldn't for a while. But Talon said he would help him, and after that first song, he was hooked. He didn't need any help.... ;0)

Landon got crazy with it. He was dancing and singing along. He does think he's the expert at the game....but then again....he thinks he's the expert of everything.

The little girls wanted to join in on the fun, but couldn't play it by themselves. I helped Savanna and Stephanie play...and actually sat Kenzee on my lap and help her strum along to a song as well. Emily was finally talked into playing and had Stephen push the colored buttons while she strummed. She did pretty good!

Stephen got a little hooked on the game as well. {Melanie, you're really going to have to buy one now!} Here he is playing against Nate. Don't they look fierce?

Stephen nabbed a shot of me as I was playing against Nate. He wasn't content with me just playing on the medium level against him, so I told him I'd give the 'hard' level a go. {He plays on the expert level} Do you see the concentration on my face. The hard level really is HARD! All those buttons to worry about! But, I will let all of you know...that I am still Queen of the Guitar Hero around these parts. Which is saying something since I never actually play the game. :0) I'm pretty impressed with myself. I barely beat Jon though...by only about 600 points {which isn't very much in this game}. Next time they come I may have my work cut out for me.

Talon got pretty good at the game as well. He played a couple of songs on the medium level by the time the day was through.

All in all it was a fun weekend. I love hanging out with the family, and playing around with the kids. Even if they do think they can take me in Guitar Hero.