I'm One Lucky Girl!!!!

Today I returned to work after being on vacation since 2:47 PM July 3.
At approximately 2:18 PM today the power went out at JCI HQ.

Here's a rundown of my vacation time:

We started out Saturday with a poker party when the out-of-towners (Barb, Butch, Janice, Joyce, Scott, Devon & Madison) arrived. It was nice to have the whole family together. Before we started the poker game we had the competition I (and Barb, I guess) finally came up with. As you know, Barb & I found prom pictures of the "original 7" when we were looking in Mom's trunk. I displayed them on a dry-erase board with the categories of best dress, worst dress, best suit, worst suit, best hair (girl), worst hair (girl), best hair (boy) & worst hair (boy). I got in trouble because I included Jim and didn't think to ask the other in-laws for their pictures (sorry Janet, Sharon, Scott, Butch & Parvez). I didn't forget to include a banana sticker on Barb's dress! There were ballots that everyone filled out and Barb & I tallied the votes amidst a tremendously loud audience! I'm not sure who the winners (or should I say losers) were but I'm pretty sure Joyce got all the votes for worst hair! It was loud, chaotic, hilarious & fun - a perfect Zimmermann competition! The poker game started shortly after and Jennifer kept Matt in line with a few punches & chokes!

Sunday me, Jim, Joyce, Scott & the girls went to the Science Center to see Monsters Alive exhibit and Dinosaurs Omnimax. It didn't cost much which is lucky for Devon who felt dizzy & sick in the Omnimax. We went to Ronnie & Janet's afterward for a delicious Italian roast beef Janet prepared along with some excellent potato salad made by Ron. It wouldn't be a family vacation without a few descriptions of the food! Another poker game ensued and I ended up doing pretty good.

Monday morning we (me, Jim, Ron, Janet, Janice, Matt, Sharon, Scarlett, Jessica, Mike, Joyce, Scott, Devon & Madison) left for Lake of the Ozarks for 3 days. We had a great time and didn't even get kicked out! Although Janice went skiing and I went torpedoing nobody got seriously injured. Madison & Devon both got up on skis for the first time and did very well. There are many stories to be told about the trip to the Lake but I won't go into them or this blog would take forever. I'll include the ones I can remember in my travel journal if you'd care to read it sometime.

Thursday morning we checked out of our luxury penthouse suite & Matt & his gang went home while the rest of us went back out on the boat for a few hours. We got home early evening and ordered the pizza that Joyce & the girls had been longing for. Angie & Brian joined us and we had a good time.

Friday we had the Mandel party which turned out to be - you guessed it - LOUD! It was really loud before they got here but it's amazing how Celeste & Laurie can up the decibel by 50%. Another poker game ensued, along with some ping pong, shuffleboard & video games. It was another good time and a late one since I stayed up with Janice because she had a 6AM flight.

Saturday we went to Matt & Sharon's house for a scrumptious dinner of lasagna (Sharon makes it the best!), salad, garlic bread & ice cream cake. It rained for a short time which cooled the temperature down enough for Matt to fire up the pit. We were much more subdued as we sat around the fire pit and the week came to an end.

The Smiths left Sunday morning at 10AM but had to return to claim a couple of forgotten items. The vacation was great but our big sister & twin sister were missed.

I'm lucky to have a family that I enjoy being with (well, most of the time), that I get excited about seeing (well, most of the time) and that can get along (well, most of the time). I'm lucky to have a husband that I have fun with and love, that enjoys being around the family (well, most of the time) and who is a good sport when being teased by the family. But I'm really lucky that the power went out at JCI and I get to ease my way back into the whole office world again.....