There Truly is No Place Like Home

We finally went back to California!!!  After 3 months for me, and 6 months for Josh…we were able to get on a plane and go back to Cali.  Although I do catch myself referring to TN as home, and I finally have a sense of normalcy in TN, California will always be our happy place and will always be considered ‘home’. 

Josh and I flew in around noon on Friday, and we had three full days of family and friends.  We couldn’t have asked for a better time and made some incredible memories with everyone that we’ve missed so much.   I must admit that I was kind of nervous on how things would be for us around all of our friends; if things would be different, if things would pick up where they left off, if there would be awkward moments of silence, etc…BUT everything was perfect. Things felt like Josh and I hadn’t been gone at all. 

I also had a minor freak out moment when I thought Miss Ellie would forget who her Auntie was.  Thank goodness that was not the case because I probably would have never come back to TN.  It is amazing how much she has grown in the few months I’ve been gone, and what a little ham she is.  She has such the personality and goes a million miles a minute.  I don’t know how my sister keeps up with her.

My sister and brother in law threw a ‘Southern Cook-Out BBQ’ for us on Saturday.  We were able to have all of our friends and family in one spot.  eriously have the best friends and family ever.  A day of great food, lots of beer, swimming, and hanging out.  It doesn’t get better than that.  Some pictures to sum up the day/night:

Best moments of the trip:

• Being able to see my family: Even though I still talk to/or text them every day, being able to see them is 1000 times better.  Between a Saturday morning Target run with my sister, or a late night talk with my mom on her bed are the little things big things that I miss about being home. 

• Being able to see my bestie and her hubby: Even though we were hoping that we’d be able to meet Baby Emerson on this trip, I enjoyed being able to have some QT with my bestie, and Josh loved having the same time with AJ.  Just being able to see one another, gossip, and laugh made for an amazing three days.
  

• Summer nights with friends: Both Friday and Saturday night ended with all of us out in my sister and brother in law’s backyard.  We talked, laughed, watched Josh pass out both nights, and enjoyed Ellie writing all over him with chalk.  
  

• Josh’s reaction to seeing James (brother –in-law):  If I didn’t know any better….lol.  Regardless, it was adorable.

• Josh being able to see his parents in Tahoe:  Even though I had to leave a couple of days before Josh, I’m so happy he was able to see his parents and spend time with them.  I know he has missed them, and both of them have been anxious to see him as well.  He was mean nice enough to send me this picture of him at the beach today:
  

Pictures don’t do this trip justice.  I CAN’T FREAKING WAIT until the next one. 

Although the goodbyes were tough, it was much easier this time around.  Thank goodness for that. I’m sure Josh hopes that means less random meltdowns and that I continue to keep myself busy. Hopefully this trip will hold me over for a couple/few months until my next family/friend fix. 

Until then, I’ll continue to keep blogging, working out, working, and everything else in between.