I am behind yet again on the blog and really need to put in this last post (of 3) from our New York trip! This last post is the whole reason we went to New York in the first place. As I mentioned in the first post my Mom's cousin's wife who I just call cousin Leah is a sweet sweet friend. Someone I "talk" to often...mostly on facebook. :) I always love our visits. All of my mom's family live back east and we just don't see them often enough! Last summer Leah kept telling me, one person at a time, that so and so was going to be with them in New York for Thanksgiving! This kept happening until I realized that most of my mom's family was going to be there and somehow I just had to get there!
I could not wait to get off that train and see my family! I just cried when I saw them! It had been way too long! It was over 5 years ago that we had all been together for an amazing reunion in Estes Park:
The kids have grown up so much since that reunion! It was fun to see my cousins again and get to know them so much more! We laughed a lot! We had tons of fun just sitting and visiting!
We spent most of our time at Doug and Leah's home or at the hotel where the rest of us stayed. The first night in their home was so relaxing and fun!
I sure loved visiting with the Michigan Masons! Look at those cute smiles! They went to NYC after this reunion...and we should've taken tips from them. They did pretty good in their 1 day there! :)
Molly and I had to show the cousins how cool we are to have known the cup song...formally just known as the cup game...long before it became famous!
Doing the cousin's hair is a must! :) I might have been missing my kids a little at this point! I do wish my kids could've come to get to know everyone!
Ha ha! Even little ads in the elevator reminded me of my kids...I had to take a picture of this one:
And Matt still got some work hours in! I love this picture of him with my Grandma!
So many people cooked and helped and did so much to make Thanksgiving dinner so yummy and enjoyable. Leah and Doug are the perfect hosts. We even had the best gift basket waiting for us in our room! The meal just seemed to go off without a hitch! There was a bowl game on in the corner...tons of laughter...maybe some bets...some game playing! It was wonderful!
My Grandma is so beautiful inside and out! I LOVED getting to visit with her. I needed that. I needed to hear some of her stories and just be with her!
There were tons of pictures to be taken! :) Everyone seemed to be pretty good sports about it all!
First we have my mom's aunt and her cousins! We LOVE the Mason family! We had a blast with these guys!
My mom's family! Proud to be a Montesi!
:) I'm tearing up as I look through these pictures again. I think this is why I haven't been able to blog this yet. There are just no words to describe how incredible it was to be with my family! We were missing Grandpa and another cousin as well as the 30 Hoopes'. Actually 28...Matt and I were there to represent! :)
I absolutely loved getting to know my own cousins more and doing the rubber band looms or listening to some fiddle! They are the best kids ever!
My Aunt Sue and Leah! I love these two ladies sooooo much!! I sure wish we all lived closer! It was way too hard to say good-bye to these two.
The sisters! :)
The whole crew on Thanksgiving Day!
Friday was another relaxing day at the hotel. Some went shopping. Matt and I shopped online a little bit to try to catch some Black Friday deals. We all went out to dinner and sang happy birthday to Justin!
Uncle Dennis stopped by to see his boys and everyone else! It was fun to see him!
I can't quite remember when these pictures were taken! I was thinking it was saying good-bye the night before we left, but the sun is still shining! Either way...I'm glad I got these pictures with my Aunt and Uncle and cousin! :) They have the most amazing families!
We left early early Saturday morning to get home! Leaving New York was hard. I do hope we will get to see the Montesi's and Mason's sooner than later! Luckily they are big skiers so hopefully they'll be out to ski the "greatest snow on earth" sometime! As I type this I realize I haven't talked to some of them since that weekend. I need to make some phone calls and write more letters! I miss my Grandma! I miss everyone...but especially the girls! It was a perfect vacation! And now it was coming to an end!
The flight home and drive from Denver to Cheyenne was pretty normal. It was fun to be with Matt for a few more hours before all of the kids were back in our lives again! :)
It was fun to see them! They had the best time! I was so grateful to my Mom and Matt's sister for making this trip possible for us. And not only possible, but worry free! We always knew the kids were in the best hands and having a blast!
The second we got back we took Kierra for the birthday present she so patiently waited for. Her birthday was right before we left and we just couldn't get her ears pierced and then make Grandma and Aunt Danette take care of them...so we promised her that as soon as we got back we'd do it! We went straight to the mall in Cheyenne!
The second we got back we took Kierra for the birthday present she so patiently waited for. Her birthday was right before we left and we just couldn't get her ears pierced and then make Grandma and Aunt Danette take care of them...so we promised her that as soon as we got back we'd do it! We went straight to the mall in Cheyenne!
Then later we drove to stay one more night in Laramie where we took in a Cowboys game and then church with Grandma and Grandpa the next day! It was great to be back together as a family! It was the trip of a lifetime...but our next big vacation will definitely be with these little ones that we loved and missed so much!
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