Longest Vacation Ever!

I know I've been neglecting my blog for a few months now, but I am worn out! My last blog talked about me being homesick ... well I've gotten my fix of home this fall! Brett & I headed back to Iowa in the beginning of October to go to my cousin Brett's wedding. We had such a great time! It happened to be freezing when we were home, but it seems I bring that weather with me every time. We flew into Des Moines on Friday, went to the wedding Saturday (which really was a blast! & beautiful!), then my cousin Trisha & her husband and daughter came to visit Sunday. We had a bon fire & roasted marshmallows/s'mores. YUMMY! And then because it's Iowa, we woke up to snow the next morning. And thus began my 8 week cold/flu/sore throat....Monday I had to ship Brett back to LAX (he generally stays in the Midwest for shorter visits than I as he gets very bored;)) and from there he headed to Miami to do comedy, opening up for DeRay Davis!! I stayed in good 'ole Belmond to visit with multiple family & friends. Then back to LA & back to work. Which by the way, I've acclimated to ICU and really do enjoy it for the most part. It's been very challenging and it really is a different kind of nursing, but I'm surviving.

At the end of October we got horrible news that Brett's Grandmother, and spiritual Rock, had passed away. While we are sad that she's no longer here with us, it gave us both a sense of peace because we know now that she is where she always said she was going! Back to the Midwest, to Kansas.

We had already planned & purchased tickets back home over Thanksgiving, so a few weeks later we were Midwest bound yet again! I went to Topeka first to spend a few days with Brett's mom, while Brett was doing comedy in Pittsburgh (again opening up for DeRay Davis!).

I had a blast with Brett's mom, she is so full of energy! We went out in Kansas City both nights, the first night to a Jazz Club, The Phoenix and the second night at Kansas City's new Power & Light District. After a few days I packed it up and headed up to Belmond to spend time with my family, picking up Brett at the Des Moines airport.

I was so excited to be home on/around a holiday so that I could see everyone again. The night before Thanksgiving the Corner Bar (pretty much the only one in Belmond, or the only one that matters) is usually packed. We headed up there at 8pm to get a table and chat it up with Rachael. I came to the realization that it's really not that fun to go out to the bar the night before a holiday for a few reasons. (1) Being hungover on T-giving really blows (2) No one ever changes in a small town, it was the same old drunks doing the same depressing sh*t. But we did get to see a lot of my family & help my oldest brother celebrate his 40th birthday.

Next stop, back to Topeka for a couple of days so Brett could see his mom. We watched the KU/Mizzu game at the Yacht Club in Lawrence and then proceeded to bar hop. The next day we went to The Blind Side (sooooooo good!). Unfortunately Brett had to stay at his brother's house because he's just so allergic to his mom's dog. He's avoided dogs for so long now that it's just horrible! Poor guy...

After a few days we packed it up again and went to Hutchinson to visit his dad. On the way we saw a billboard advertising Oz Winery, so we of course had to make a pit stop to see what it was all about

! There wine was much different than California wine, tasted like grape juice. I laughed really hard when the wine pourer was telling us how frustrated she gets when people 'just chug it and don't even really taste it.' I have a small suggestion: don't serve the wine in tiny plastic shot glasses!! Haha!

We eventually made it to Steve's new house & we had a blast hanging out with him! We also got to see Brett's "nieces." We went to Lyric's first 7th grade basketball game. She was doing amazing and by halftime already had 12 points, 4 rebounds & 4 assists. At the beginning of the second half, she stole the ball and was running up for a layup when a girl from the other team pushed her causing her to break her wrist. She was devastated. The girl was born to play ball! So the next day we took her & her younger sister to see The Christmas Carol with Jim Carey. Um, Hi. This movie is a little on the scary side for kids! Geesh!

After visiting with many family members & friends we got aboard our flight back to LA. We had a great time, but it was not a vacation! Let me tell you, every day was packed with meeting up with different people. There was no R&R. We decided that while it was fun, that was our first & last 2 week trip to the Midwest.