Our Gorgeous Nieces

Special thanks to the lovely Calliwag (below, isn't she gorgeous?) for motivating me to come out of my nearly five-month non-blogging slump! (and special thanks to Kenz for posting pix on FB that I stole)

We've been lucky enough to have these three hotties visit us in Longview twice this year.

Our nieces are awesome and we love that they're willing to grace us with their presence.

Along with these rockin' teens came our (and I say "our" because Ryan always corrects me when I say they're "mine") three oldest sisters, and an additional eight more nieces and nephews. So, if you're doing the math, that's 18 excited people in our home (sorry landlords... hope you never find out). Yes, that's a whole lotta people in one kinda small house, but that's for another post I have swirling around in my head.

Last Sunday we made a grand entrance at church. In true Richmond tradition, which I honor and follow, we were late to church. During the last line of the sacrament song, all eighteen of us come walking up (down?) the aisle in a semi-single file line to squeeze in some rows near the front of the chapel. And in case someone hadn't seen or heard us, there was an awkward pause after the song ended so we could get settled before the Sacrament prayer began. It was slightly embarrassing, but I was delighted and proud to have a big chunk of family here to sample a bit of our life and for the congregation to sample a bit of our familia.

Many ward members commented and asked about our visiting family throughout church and later on in the week. It was fun and still makes me smile to think about it.

I think the three older nieces doubled the size of our entire young women's group. Today at church, I was told the teenage boys in the ward were wishing my nieces weren't just visiting and that they would have loved to have these new cute and fun girls in the ward. I can't blame them, they are absolutely beautiful and super funny and entertaining. But, sorry boys, they're not on the market 'til they're 35. And even then, no boy or man will ever be good enough.

Thanks for coming to see us ladies. I will always remember, smile and giggle over these memories...your "40-year-old party pooper moms", you guys singing Tracy's "is that your breath or did you just fart" song in unison, Tina Tina Shanuz's doorbell commercials, and the Starbucks turned into Burger King into a laughing wet mess! I think I would have been delightfully entertained to hear what went on in the tent. And Livi, I'm thinkin' of you too in all of this crazy silliness.

Please come back soon. Maybe next time you'll see Taco rockin' out in all his Michael Jackson wannabe glory. And maybe we'll make it to the squirrel bridge too. Love you guys!