Our trip home...

Last week, Jesse and I took some much needed vacation time and went home for a few days! We left on Wednesday as soon as I was out of a work meeting at 4:00 and didn't get back to Chicago until Monday night at 10:30! My birthday was on the 26th and Jesse's was on the 27th, then we celebrated our second anniversary on the 30th, so we thought it would be a good time to take a vacation!

On Thursday, I got together with my mom, Krista, Karla, and Karly for lunch at Bandido's (because I got a free meal there for my birthday). Jesse went with my dad in the semi and then that afternoon, I helped my mom get the house ready for having my dad's entire family over that night. We hadn't seen everyone together since like Christmas, and we hadn't seen Dave and Emily since they moved to New Mexico, which was over a year ago! We got to see their baby, too, and she is a doll! :)

Friday, we went with Jesse's family to his brother Jacob's baseball game and then out with them for lunch. I then met my mom to go shopping for my sister's bridal shower gift and then we met Shelli to go shopping for the rest of the supplies for her shower. Friday night, Jesse and I went out for dinner with Eric and then met up with Wahli and his girlfriend for coffee.

Saturday, we went over to Jesse's grandparent's house to spend some time with them and Jesse's parents and siblings. We were there all afternoon and into the evening, and it was great to just relax, go swimming for a little bit, and just enjoy our time together! That evening, we went out with Aaron, Aubrey, and Rachel to a coffeehouse where a friend of Aubrey and Aaron's was playing and then hung out with Aubrey and Aaron for a little while.

Sunday, we went to church and then Monica, Bonnie, Shelli, and I hosted a bridal shower for my sister! There were so many people there and I'd have to say it was a success! That evening, Jesse and I went out to dinner with Paul and Tamber and then hung out at their house for a little while.

Monday, I just relaxed with Evan in the morning and watched a movie while Jesse went with my dad in the semi again, then I got to go over to Kurtis and Aimee's house and relax with Aimee on their hammocks in the front yard and just chat for a little bit while Jesse met Jono for coffee. We had dinner with my family, then we finally left around 7:00 for Chicago.

It was hard for us to leave, and it's even harder for me to think that we still have 3 more years here! I am totally having fun here making new friends and everything, but we miss everyone SO much! I just wish we were even an hour closer so we could come home more, but you know what they say...absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that is totally true! I've been so tired the past two evenings after two decently busy days at work, because until I went back to work on Wednesday, I hadn't worked since last Tuesday...I've just been trying to get back in to the swing of things and get used to being busy...with the back-to-school season coming up, we're going to be really busy! Jesse is going to be getting 50 hours a week starting next week until school starts again, so needless to say, we will definitely be appreciative of all of your prayers!!! Thanks for reading all of this, I know it was really long!!!