Monday, August 11, 2008

We Are Family!

This past weekend, I traveled to Birmingham, Alabama for what I'm calling the "First Annual Cousins Get-Together". Actually, it was more like a Mini-Get-Together than a full-blown one. And calling it an "annual" event might be jumping the gun a bit, but I'm sure hoping we manage to turn it into such a thing. Anywho, Randey, the boys and I drove to Florida Friday (we had to bring our granddaughter back to her mom) and then my sister Sherri and her daughter Megen and I drove from Florida to Birmingham early Saturday morning and met our cousins, Kristie and Sunshine, for some cousin "bonding" time. lol We started out with some shopping which naturally gave us all an appetite for lunch. Here we are at P.F. Changs: From left to right: Sunshine, Sherri, me, Megen and Kristie. I had never eaten there before and was excited to get to try it. I gotta tell you, their Mongolian Beef and Pork Fried Rice were fabulous (so much for that Weight Watchers will power I've been so proud of lately!).

Here's a picture of Sunshine, all laid up in a chair at Pottery Barn.

And here's a picture of Megen, Kristie and Sherri telling Sunshine to get her butt up out of the $1600.00 Pottery Barn chair. lol
Once we fed our faces, we headed to the hotel for check in. Then we went to Sunshine's house and visited for a bit and then headed back out for more shopping. Kristie and Sunshine's brother, Trey, wanted to join us for dinner. And even though this was a chick weekend, we let him. (ha!) Here he is with Kristie.
Who could resist that face? And here we all are together:
That's Sunshine, Megen, Trey, Kristie, Sherri and me. We ate at a place call Firebirds and it was delicious! I had a pepper crusted steak that was so tender, it was all I could do not to inhale the whole thing. (Yeah. Weight Watchers did indeed take a beating this weekend.)
Here's a picture of the place we stayed at, the Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort (we didn't do any golfing or spa-ing, though):
Check out the pool area. Sweet, eh?
Check out the waterfall going into the pool. Luckily, I didn't bring a swimsuit and even luckier, it was sort of overcast Sunday morning or I might have been tempted to swim (and nobody really wants to see that, trust me. I swim like a rock).
Sunshine went home Sunday morning to tend to her youngest son while Sherri, Megen, Kristie and I partook in the breakfast buffet at the resort. Had we known how much the breakfast buffet cost, we might have partook in an Egg McMuffin instead. Yowza! Check out the bill:
Yessir. Sixty nine dollars and 76 cents. For four people. And not one glass of champagne in sight!

Here's Megen, Kristie and Sherri looking down onto the pool after breakfast. (They were still in sticker shock over the cost of breakfast, hence the leaning on the banister. lol)
Another guest at the hotel offered to take our picture together. We kind of scratched our heads over this "sculpture" when we first saw it. Then we figured out that it represented the University of Alabama Roll Tide (from l to r: me, Sherri, Megen and Kristie).
There was also an Auburn War Eagle "sculpture" hanging from the ceiling. I forced Kristie to stand in front of it so I could take her picture:
Speaking of Kristie, I have to tell you guys something awful that Kristie accused me of (I'm still shattered by it). She and I were bedmates Saturday night and, first of all, she told some wild and crazy tale about me snoring. Oh please. Like such a delicate flower like myself could possibly snore, right? Then she said some garbage about the noises I make when I sleep. Some nonsense about me moaning ever so slightly as I snoozed...well, let's just say she accused me of dreaming impure thoughts, okay? Now I ask you...what kind of cousin says things like that? Anybody who knows me would naturally assume I sleep like an angel, a quiet and sweet tender angel. Kristie was obviously tipping back a few brewskis when the rest of us weren't looking because I mean really! Me, snore? Never. And me make strange and obnoxious noises in addition to snoring?? P-u-l-e-a-s-e. But, thanks to her spreading these vile tales about me (and by spreading, I mean she told me, Sherri and Megen!), I'll probably have to bunk alone on the next Cousin Adventure. I don't know that I'll ever get over her scandalous accusations. (heavy, heavy, painfully sad, sigh).
Oh okay. So maybe I do snore. A little. Maybe. So what? But I'm not owning up to the other stuff. Uh-huh. No way. And now that I've cleared that up, let's move on, shall we?
Sunshine and her youngest met us back up at the hotel later on and we headed back towards Kristie's home to do a little more shopping before the weekend ended. Randey and the boys drove up from Florida and picked me up around noon and we four headed straight home to Texas. Approximately 10 hours later, we pulled up in our driveway.
It was a wonderful weekend with the cousins and I really hope we can make this a regular thing. Special note to Michael and Wallace: We've now proven that this generation can get together and have fun without any conflicts whatsoever! (As long as you don't count Kristie's bizarre-o talk about my sleeping habits, that is! ha!) That means you guys need to start getting serious about whether or not you want to join in on the next one. We're thinking of meeting in Vicksburg, Mississippi next time. No dates yet (although Trey has expressed a preference for Spring or Fall). Don't worry - we'll "talk" plenty before any plans are set in concrete!
Now that all the excitement of this last trip is over, though, I have to say I'm pretty much maxed out on my traveling this summer. Between the trip up north to Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota, the trip to Oklahoma, the first trip to Florida, the second trip to Florida with an add on to Birmingham, Alabama - we've traveled more than 7,500 miles (all by car!) since school let out in May. It's all been great fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I'm ready to chill out here at the house for awhile now. I need my rest, you know. After all, Christmas is right around the corner! LOL

15 comments:

  1. I am glad you had a nice time. That hotel was beautiful, too bad you didn't get any spa time. Maybe we could go there sometime and take advantage of that, but then again after seeing the breakfast bill, maybe not. I am so jealous of you your shopping. I am going so broke in December, but I can't wait!!

    I haven't got the part in yet, I am hoping it will be here today. Thank you so much for sending it. I still need to reply to your email, maybe later today. Hope to talk to you soon.

    love ya!

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  2. Sounds like a great time was had by all!

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  3. It's always so much fun to visit and play catch up with family, isn't it? I can see the family resemblance too!

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  4. What a fun weekend. The place you stayed was beautiful.

    Hey, don't kick yourself over the food. Remember, forgive yourself and keep going. Wednesday will be here - time for our Finding a Weight out of Fat!

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  5. Cousins are family who happen to be friends. It is so cool to read about such a close family!

    School starts in one week!

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  6. That looks like it was a blast!

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  7. I'm jealous! I want to get together with MY cousins now!!!

    Looks like you had a great time, and may I say, I think you look great--GREAT!!!

    I also have to admit that my family can be somewhat "touched" at times too, as they make all kinds of wild accusations about things I do---awake and asleep!!! I think they are just jealous of our ladylike demeanor!!!

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  8. Sounds like fun and I really loved the photo of you smiling! Oh, and what an awful thing your cousin said to the whole, entire, world. Terrible...simply.

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  9. Glad that you had a wonderful trip! Back to the WW routine, LOL.

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  10. Great pictures, glad you had a fun trip. That resort is gorgeous, love the pool.

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  11. Looks like you had a really great time and are having a wonderful summer! That place you stayed at looks really nice!

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  12. Hi Kari,

    I tried to comment last nite on this post but blogger was giving metrouble again. Anyhow, you look like you had a really good time. That was an expensive breakfast, but at least you had a fun time with your family. I love that pool area there, it's gorgeous.

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  13. Cousin get-to-gether's are the best. I always love to visit with them, and glad you were able to!!

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  14. Its so good to see the pictures of you girls together...you are such a lovely gaggle of girls...I'm quite proud to be your Aunt
    love ya
    Aunt Sandi

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  15. I think this was amazing. Most of my cousins are not that close anymore but I am thankful that I have some who are. Have never done this sort of weekend but wow. It looks like a swee time. Bill's cousins get together more. W are headed down to KY in 2 weeks for a BD party.


    The hotel was a wow too! Wasn't all that traveling fun?? But yup. There is nothing like getting home.
    I have always said tha the best part of travel is after you are home and can look back at the pictures and relive the memories!
    In the comfort of your own home! *LAUGH*

    Love ya,
    Sue

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