Getting Ready to Go . . .

It's almost time. We received the news last summer. Reasonably priced tickets were found in January.

I. Can't. Wait. We're going to the states!!!!

Next week we're packing up and taking our first trip home as a family. My brother is getting hitched, and Renae is a flower girl in the wedding, along with my 2 adorable nieces. It will be worth the plane tickets just to see what Renae and Taylor do in their roles as flower girls.

I've been counting down the days everyday in my journal over the past few weeks and I can't believe it's so close! My list of things to buy has outgrown the alloted space on the piece of paper so that I have sidewise notes all over the place. We are taking only 2 suitcases back with us so we can bring 4 back to Spain. Renae will be getting a whole new wardrobe to cover the rest of our time here. (Spain has expensive kids clothes!) We're mostly bringing back clothes and food that I need (want) for cooking and baking here. Things like brown sugar, peanut butter, crisco, salad dressing packs, marshmallows, chili powder . . . you name it. I must say my American food pantry is pretty well stocked right now, however we don't have any more visitors coming this way and no more trips planned so I need to stock up for the next 9 months!

I also have another list going. This one is in my mind. But it's my favorite one to think about: (Can you tell where my heart is?)

Places I want to eat at, and things I want to eat:

• Arby's (Don't judge me . . . .)
• Hickory Park
• Great Plains!! Can't wait!
• A homecooked meal on Penni and Kevin's patio, and on my parents deck.
• GRILLED hamburgers
• GRILLED steaks
• My Mom's cooking

And another list . . .Things I really want to do:

• See and hug my brothers. All 3 of them.
• Tickle my nieces.
• Get big hugs from my parents.
• Attend a Cornerstone service. Can't. Wait.
• Walk barefoot in the grass.
• Watch Renae play with Taylor. What kind of trouble will they get into together??
• Go to Target.
• Go to Old Navy.
• Go to the Gap.
• See Jenny, Tom and Aiden-hold Aiden for the first time!!! (If he'll let me, that is!)
• Just be with family to laugh and have fun together.

I haven't taken hardly any pictures this past week so you're stuck with this pictureless post to read, and no new pictures of Renae. I can however tell you what Renae has been doing that's cute.

I've been showing her pictures of my family so that she can practice saying their names. Renae is good at identifying Mommy and Daddy in the picture, as well as Nana and Grandpy. However the rest of the family . . . she's not doing so hot. Usually, she points to "Schaw" (same word for sock and Scott), Tee (Tim) and No (she won't say Michael for some reason . . .) by choosing one uncle to point at for each name. And you aunts . . . sorry, but she can't say your names or point them out either. ONCE she said "Ju ju" for Julie. But I can't get her to repeat it. Hopefully while we are there she'll get better at saying her family members names!