27 days

away from this guy...

with no diet dr. pepper...

unable to sleep in my own bed cuddled up next to my husband...

27 days was made, not only bearable, but absolutely heavenly...

because of these (plus about 70 other) snit snorts.

I was so blessed to be able to go home to Zambia for a few weeks. A very special thanks to Benny for letting me spend money that we don't have, while he was stuck at home working 15 hour days, with no one to iron his shirts or fix his dinner. 

I cannot even begin to put into words the love I have for the babies and my friends at Namwianga, and the ache I feel when I'm not with them. 

First Things First

I've been gone the last few weeks to the best place on Earth, with some of the best people on Earth - more on that later. But first things first: Family Vacation.

Remember that freezing cold trip I mentioned? It was a total success (minus that fact that Dad got a tad bit grumpy once or twice, Ben's flatulence tortured everyone, and that one minor freak-out that I had on the top of a mountain cliff where I thought we were all going to die.)

The trip included:

lots of four-wheeling (along very narrow trails - hence the said freak-out),

a bit of snow, 

a tour of the occasional gold mine, 

and sack lunches in a Walmart parking lot while waiting for the tire shop to fix a blowout.

Ben and I also celebrated our one year anniversary while in the beautiful Silverton, Co. We opted out to not stay with the family, in the trailer, on the bunk bed...

We stayed at an old hotel, that used to be a brothel (how romantic..but seriously). And my mom surprised us by bringing the top of our wedding cake. She thinks of everything. 

 (I couldn't really get this stupid hat off of him the entire vacation.)

Thanks for the best year of my life, Benny.  

Happy Father's Day!

These three weirdos somehow convinced my mom and me that it would be a good idea to go to a place where the average low is 30 degrees at night - for our SUMMER vacation. That's right - the five of us (plus Rachel!) are going to the mountains of Colorado for the next seven days. And did I forget to mention that we're all riding in a truck together for 12 hours, and sleeping together in a travel trailor, AND not eating out one time? I'm seriously so excited. 

...thus the early Father's Day post. 

(I love this picture. I'm not sure what was going on with the cows, that it couldn't wait till AFTER the wedding, but I love it.)

I have the best dad. These are only a few reasons why I love him so much. 

1. He is hilarious

2. He is always striving to be a better Christian and to know more about God. He makes a constant effort to never be complacent in his faith.

3. He always seems genuinely sad whenever I leave Henryetta.

4. He lets Ben hunt with him.

5. He hates sitting still. Hates it. It's a little annoying when the rest of us want to read, or watch tv, or sleep in; but I love it about him, nonetheless. 

I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day. 

And I could never forget my most faithful reader, and the best father-in-law a girl could ever ask for. Thanks for making me feel so loved. 

Ranting

People love Target. I get it - they have cute things and stylish clothes, and for most people, I assume it delivers a pleasant shopping experience. I try to be one of those people. But I can't. I love Walmart.

1. About a month ago I set out to do my grocery shopping, and attempted Target. After having to skip over a couple things on my list that I couldn't find, I finally lost it when I couldn't find plain chicken breasts. Chicken breasts! Not lemon peppered chicken breasts, or spicy chicken breasts - I just wanted plain ol' chicken breasts. I left my fully filled shopping cart right there by the frozen meat and high-tailed it to Walmart.

2. Last week I ran into Target to get some starch  - you know, to iron Ben's dress shirts. It wasn't with the cleaning supplies, it wasn't with the laundry detergent, it wasn't with the irons. You know where it was at Walmart? The first place I looked.

3. Today I went to Target to get a few things, one of which is disposable baking pans. You know - those foil ones? I needed them for our upcoming vacation, where it's my dad's goal to not eat out one time. Anyways, couldn't find them. At Walmart? On clearance. 

Sorry, I just had to rant. See ya at Walmart. 

By the way - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, H-BOMB! I love you, sister. 

Mini Benny

Bennett stayed the night this weekend, and completely owned us. Bless his heart, I absolutely love that kid.

Upon arriving:

 "Where ya going to sleep Bennett?" "In the tween of you guys!"

Picking out a Netflix: 

"Aunt Courtney, help us find a movie." "Well, what kind are you guys looking for?"

"Just a Disney type movie that's made for little boys and Uncle Ben's."

Driving around town, we spot a limo:

"Bennett, look at that limo!" "Wow, I wish we had one of those with a car seat in it!"

After banging a bobble head on the coffee table, thus leaving the coffee table annihilated, and Bennett hiding for his life:

"Come here, Bennett. I need to talk to you." 

"No, I don't want to. You're just going to tell me stuff, and I don't want to hear it."

In other news, my husband and my cousins forced me to stay up till 2 in the morning watching Hoarders. I laughed, I cried, and I ran to the bathroom gagging.

I love Summer!

Just a few highlights of my summer thus far...
1. Afternoon naps with my husband. (I love family medicine rotation. LOVE it. It's not too late to change your mind, hunny.)

2. Taking Bennett on his very first fishing excursion. (No, we didn't catch anything.)

3. Laying out - laying out with rachel; laying out with Kerri; laying out with Mom; laying out. And wearing lots of sunscreen.

4. Memorial Weekend in Chi Chi Ta and everything it entailed: Africa shopping with Sis and Sass, eating way more than my fair share of Rice Krispie Treats, and lots of Nerts playing.

5. Our long weekend in Henryetta and everything it entailed: Harley ride with dad, birthday dinners, shooting guns, burning brush, and lots of other things that can only be done in Henryetta.

6. And did I mention tons of time with my husband? I love family medicine rotation.

All Grown Up

This post is a couple weeks late, but important and special, nonetheless. Little Baby Grant graduated from high school! I was one proud seester. 

 I wish I could say that he was going to be at OC in the fall. But I guess going to school with your best friends is more important than going to school near your sister. 

The cutesy tootsy girlfriend, Rachel. We like her better than we like him a lot of the time. 

The family; I love that there are 5 of us now. 

The boys

Grant's Entourage. 

(Quite a few more people than the group that came to my high school graduation - not that I'm counting or anything...)

Happy Graduation! I love you, Granty.