Family, Family, and More Family

On Friday I couldn't wait for Bruce to get home.  Time seems to creep by when he's gone, especially since I haven't been working and more so since we've been here.  After all the commotion of moving, we were really looking forward to the respite of the weekend.   

We left the baby with her grandma while Bruce, his dad, and I ran to the store.  It's nice to be able to get out sometimes without disturbing Emmie or dealing with car seats and diaper bags.  When we got back the whole family had our first dinner together: chicken breasts off the grill, watermelon, and fresh green beans.   The weather was mild and cloudless.  Afterwards Bruce and his father played bags in the backyard.  It was a fine summery evening.

Except for one thing.  As I sat chatting with Bruce's mom on the couch, I couldn't help wondering what our little family of three would be doing if we didn't live here.  Whatever we'd be doing, we'd be doing it together, most likely.  And so a part of me mourned those days where I could lay my head in Bruce's lap as we watched TV on our couch.  Or just he and I would stay up and talk about whatever, play games, or Youtube videos long into the night.  Those luxuries became a lot more infrequent after the baby arrived.  Now they will be even fewer and farther between.

Then when the guys were done with their game, Bruce set up the Playstation and the four of us (the baby had gone to bed) had drinks and sang songs!  It was a perfectly timed refresher of how much we can enjoy his folks' company.

Saturday night Bruce's sister and her fiancé came over, and almost everyone went out to a fundraising benefit we usually all attend.  His sister and I stayed home with Emmie.  We ordered Chinese, drank some beers, and just talked.  I was happy staying home and having a much needed Girl's Night!

Yesterday we finally made it over to my parents' house.  They have been expecting a visit from Emmie since we moved.  My brother, Charles, made dinner and it was almost weird that we didn't have birthday cake afterwards.  Lately we've only seen them for celebrations.  It's great that now we're so close we can stop over whenever.

I'm thinking that this is what our life is going to be like: spending a lot of time with family.  We will have some friends who won't mind coming over here occasionally.  (Those friends are so awesome, by the way, but more on that later.)  Otherwise our social scene is going to be wherever we are willing to travel.  We aren't going to need those 'guest' towels for a while.  Our welcome mat is packed away.  I'm hanging on to my duffel bag and such, ready for some getaways.  If only gas prices would come down!  Friends, look out - we're coming to you!