I think I did a huge overkill on waiting to post as a way to "pause for effect". Just kidding. That's not why this took so long. Technical difficulties, I'll just say. :)
So just excuse me while I remind myself what I last blogged about. Jk. :)
The second and most recent batch of company was my very own familia (FAMILY in Spanish. Please tell me you got that, cause...cause it's just one of those words that makes sense. ;) More on Spanish laterrr.)! Well not my whole family, but my sister and parents! So I think I mentioned this in the last post, but I took Joel's to the airport Tuesday morning. Then I rushed home, gave my house a quick clean, and went to the airport again. We live about an hour (rrrreally depends on traffic) from LAX so it might've been a little silly to run home again, but I didn't know how to kill time just sitting at the airport...paying for parking...not really saving myself that much money probably. And cleaning seemed to make sense to me. :) So then I picked up Kaylie and we headed back to my house! Later that same week, on Thursday, we went back aggaaaain to the airport to pick up my parents (they had all flown out of NY together, but Dad and Mom took a detour to Kansas for minster's meeting). On the way home the last time, it took us three hours. THREE HOURS! We hit it juuuuust at rush hour, and were literally crawling along. Whoa. Thank you, California, for giving my parents such a good first impression. That was one of the first times I was ever in traffic that bad, so it was new to me too! The freeways leading to Tujunga really don't get that crowded, which is a huge blessing, I'm realizing!
Anyways, we had so so much fun with them. It was just...wonderful. I hadn't seen my parents since December, so I was super ready for this!
My dad isn't a city slicker. By any means. Like at all. ZERO. So a couple times I just wondered what would occupy him. I mean, he could like go on 79 walks in a day, but that'd get old. They were all flying out the following Tuesday (If you haven't picked this up already, Tuesday is a good day to fly in and out. And Thursday. FYI.) so they weren't here just a day or two (Praise the LORD.). But then I'd be like, "Ok, he is a big boy, he can fend for himself. And he's my DAD! I don't want to drive myself crazy(and him!) making sure he's ok every second of the day!". So this thought process was just in the very back of my mind kinda. Ok, maybe middle of my mind.
Backing up a few weeks prior to all this, Dustin and I went garage saling one Saturday and found a really beat up, old table and 4 chairs for $25. If you hadn't noticed, we don't have a table in the house just because of the lack of room. BUT! We have the awesome, wonderful, place we love--the Patio! So we bought it and I was just going to DIY it someday and paint it with outdoor paint. Plus it practically never rains here, so it all seemed to make sense. But I knew this would be the biggest DIY project I've done, which was a liiiiittle intimidating to me. Also, sometimes I can rush projects like that cause I'm so excited to complete them and then they turn out yuck. Cause of my rushing. Dumb, I know.
So soon after we all got to the house and ate some supper, I mentioned in passing (not knowing if I was serious or not..cause I didn't know if he'd really want to do this) that hey! Dad, you could paint our table for us if you need something to do while Dustin is at work and us girls are ....... (shopping, going to the beach, shopping, eating, shopping...you know. that stuff.)! I can't remember what his initial response was....actually I might've even said that to Mom. Anyways, the next morning he said real softly, "Hey Gina, I'll paint your table and chairs for you if you want." I was so so excited. Cause Dad is a perfectionist, and I knew he'd do a super job. I was SO into this!!! We went to the hardware store and got all we'd need, which I loved, because I knew we wouldn't forget something important with a skilled carpenter with us. Soooooo a few pictures, please!
Good thing I quick got a "before" picture. He was faaast. And good. See how not beautiful the set was? Especially the chairs. Yikes. ^That^
To ^THIS ^!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it. Still to this day.
THANK YOU, DAD! I love you!
ANNNNND.
Remember these guys? Ping pong ball lights! Thank you, Pinterest!
One of those Pinterest things that actually is all it's cracked up to be. :)
THIS is how much we loved them.
Super exciting. Dad and Dustin and basically everyone but me helped. :)
One day, me and Kaylie went to get us some famous Georgetown cupcakes. They were as good as they look. Especially that coconut one. YUM.
This is how excited she was. It was more her thing than mine, but it was so fun. I just went along for the..driving in downtown LA of course. :)
YUM. again.
Kaylie and I skyped with these kids for a tiny bit! I think she tickled him for that smile. :)
And I took them here to the Griffith Observatory one day when Dustin was at work.
Us girls :)
And I took Mom and Kaylie to The Fashion District. So fun. Cheap cheap fabric!
And one day they insisted on cleaning for me. I think Kaylie's exact words were, "How excited are you to have a clean house?". I guess this excited!
It's so fun working with this table now. Thank you, Fashion District, for cheap lace.
This was the last evening they were here. We had a yummy supper Kaylie made: Chicken Alfredooo!! Super good.
It was so great having them here. So grateful for that time.
The next biggest plans on our list is a trip to NY the end of May!! Cannot wait!
