i'm going home...

We are coming up on a pretty jam PACKED weekend – I haven’t been home to San Diego since the first weekend in March (when I was still a mere 24 years old) so the time has come to drive the 100 miles and enjoy a weekend of family and long-time friends. I probably won’t get home until late Friday night (I work until 5, teach ESL until 7, then I’ll run home, eat dinner, finish packing, and get on the road) hopefully I’ll make it to my parent’s house before 10pm so that I can enjoy some chit-chat time with them then cuddle into my bed (which is as HARD AS A ROCK and RIDICULOUSLY UNCOMFORTABLE because it was purchased after my brother got married in 2005 and is literally on slept on when I’m in town a few times a year – it STILL isn’t broken in (that, AND it’s a daybed – those are just uncomfortable in general!)) to read for a bit before falling asleep (I’m currently reading about 6 different books, so I’m hoping to spend some quality time with at least ONE of them this weekend!). Saturday morning I’m going to a bridal shower for my friend Amber. She and I grew up going to church together and she is absolutely HYSTERICAL. She and my sister-in-law Jamie are great friends so it should be a good time. After the shower, I am hoping to grab either Frozen Yogurt @ the Yogurt Mill (FAVORITE!) or grab dinner with Anna – my forever best friend – Anna and I have known each other LITERALLY our entire lives. BANANAS. (did you catch the Rachel Zoe reference?) Ann turned 25 on Sunday, April 18 (exactly 1 month and 6 days after my birthday) so we are going to celebrate. (This is Me, Anna, and Jenny - my lifelong friends! We were only two in this picture! It is one of my favorites of all time - it just encapsulates friendship perfectly - from my little squinty eyes to the three of us holding hands, it has been a precious journey sharing life with these two sweet girls!) Sunday I’ll go to Gateway Church in the morning and then I’m stopping in at an engagement party for Jenn and Corey – family friends – then we’re celebrating my little sister Julie’s 20th birthday as a family. I seriously can’t believe that she is going to be 20 next week. She was such a little girl when I moved away to college and our relationship has really never recovered. I pray often that the older we get, the more eye-to-eye we’ll see and the more we can bond and enjoy life together. Maybe the 20’s are when it will happen. After dinner with the fam-bam, I’m heading to Escondido to see the World Help International Children’s Choir perform. 15 kids from all over the world are on a 10-month tour and I can’t wait to hug as many of them as possible!! (I am sure it is going to make me want to bring home my sweet Ethiopian Prince RIGHT NOW but I’ll try to hang in there until I have a Mr. to raise him with!) Monday I have a furlough day @ work so I’m going to make the most of it by spending ALL DAY WITH M!!! WOOHOOOOOOO!! M is going to be 2 in June so I have to soak up these last few weeks of sweetness. Ha. I can’t wait to read books, watch Barney (he is apparently her favorite right now), have snacks, play @ the park and NAP! We are going to have a GREAT day together! Then Monday night is my Mom’s School Program. My mom teaches music for the Christian School District in San Diego and I have yet to see her kids perform. SO I’m going! I’ll probably hit the road directly from the performance and hopefully make it back by around 10pm to CRASH and work Tuesday…oh my gosh…I am CRAZY!!!