so excited

[jennickels]

A little background:

I went off to college in 1995, moving from Chicago to a small town in Missouri (some 300+ miles from home).  I would go home for the summer and holidays.  In 1998 my brother, Ryan, packed up and went off to college at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR...2000+ miles from home.  He rarely came home.  Since 1998 I've seen him exactly three times: in 1999 when we were both home for a family reunion, in 2000 when our mom died and in 2006 when our dad had a heart attack.  So it's been almost 5 years since I've seen him.  Then this summer we moved to Washougal, WA, which is about an hour or so north of Corvallis (depending on the traffic on I-5).  We've been here 8 months and haven't seen him yet.

Well he made a post on my facebook earlier asking if I was doing anything this weekend.  I told him it was Mother's Day weekend so...no, I wasn't busy, lol.  So now he's coming to visit this weekend!  I'm so excited.  FIVE years since I've seen him.  I can't wait.  I have no idea what we'll do.  I'm still sick (and knowing me I won't be better by this weekend).  Now I have to clean up the house.  He told me not to bother but since I've been sick the kids have trashed every room.  It's a disaster.  Better have hubby pick up some beer.  Don't know what to make for dinner.  Maybe we'll go out.  The kids are all excited, too.  The older three were 3, 4 and just turned 6 (he was at her birthday) when they saw him last.  Nora was 3 months old and he's never met Jack.

 

Me and Ryan in 1979--I was 2 1/2 and he was about 6 months
 

Me and Ryan in 1982, we were 6 and almost 4
 

Me and Ryan in 1985, I was about 8 1/2 and Ryan was 6 1/2
 

At Ryan's high school graduation in 1998...he was 19 and I was 21
 

Ryan in 2006 on my daughter's birthday...what a clown

 

 

Comments

[thothmes.livejournal.com]

Yay, brother visit! How exciting!

What I get from these pictures is the resemblance between mini-you and some of the shots of your kids!

[jennickels.livejournal.com]

I've been told that about the kids. Everyone says they look like me, lol. Meagan's baby pictures look EXACTLY like mine. We were going through my album after she was born and were shocked how much alike they were.

Now, I just can't see past the weight difference. She's so freaking skinny I can't wrap my mind around her looking like me because I was like 10lbs overweight at her age (probably more) and she's the size of an 8yo at almost 11 (heck I was hitting puberty already at her age and she's flat as a board).

My husband must have some good genes because I ended up with 5 super skinny kids whereas I'm 100lbs overweight and have always been chunky (even as a baby). Sigh. I told her yesterday I wished I could be skinny like her.

[http://users.livejournal.com/traycer_/]

It's always wonderful to see long lost relatives! :) Go out htere and have fun!!

[jennickels.livejournal.com]

I just hope I'm feeling a little better otherwise it'll be a crappy visit. I keep having these coughing spells and last night I couldn't hear out of either ear. I woke up this morning with normal hearing in my right again but my left is still all clogged up.
Which doesn't say much because yesterday morning I felt fine and could hear out both ears and by the time the kids got home I couldn't hear anything. Ugh.

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

Have an awesome time catching up! :)

[jennickels.livejournal.com]

I can't wait. Last time I saw him we were 29 and 27. I had just had Nora a few months before. He was shocked to see me get drunk, lol.

I never drank when we were younger (no parties or sneaking beers in high school or college). I had actually just started drinking beer right before that time but we were sitting around the kitchen table while my dad was in the hospital (he had a heart attack and a quadruple bypass)...him and my husband were drinking beers and I had some tropical frozen drink mix but I got tired of crushing ice for it so I was drinking it straight up. It's the first time I ever really let go and got drunk.

My brother found that highly amusing, especially as I practically stumbled up the stairs, giggling like a school girl, to go to bed. I rarely ever drink that much (maybe once or twice since then). I rarely drink at all, actually.

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

:)

lol. Sounds fun with the drunkeness. :) Zach and I aren't big drinkers either but on occasion it's fun to.. let go a bit. Still have yet to get properly drunk, but.. *shrug*

[jennickels.livejournal.com]

My husband teases me because I'm such a lightweight when it comes to drinking. Sometimes it takes just 2 beers for me to get a buzz. Depends on how much I had to eat before hand.

My parents had drinking issues and alcoholism runs wild on both sides of my family so I promised myself long ago I'd never be that way and it stuck. I just don't see a point to drinking really. I do like the fruity, yummy cocktails (like frozen daiquiris and shakes and stuff) but we don't keep liquor in the house, just beer. Luckily we live in the microbrew capital of the US (according to my brother) so there are tons of little breweries and interesting beers to try.

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

I get the same from Zach lol

Hmm'kay.

I promised myself long ago I'd never be that way and it stuck.

Nice going. :)