we is back. dis time wit family.

I know its hard to tell, but there are actually (supposed to be) 3 bloggers at work on the magnificence that is OMGILB, we are siblings and just spent 5 days together trapped within various confined spaces. Thankfully, a SO and child were along for the tour of the pacific northwest so we didn't drive each other completely insane. We had 1 major blowout in a DQ parking lot and it wasn't even that bad. We survived child vomit (papi, i nono why my belly dodat) western wear shopping, copious quantities of both booze and greasy yummies and at the end of whole thing we would do it again; not too bad, right?

What brought us to the left coast? Our cousin Liz (one of the rolicking Rohlichs) was getting hitched (finally) to Sascha, possibly the nicest and most genuine person we have ever met. Liz and Sascha are so impossibly cute and nice that they turn our stomachs, in a good, jealous way. So, up in Seattle we witnessed the coming together of our obnoxious brood and the very very nice Alaskans that make up Sacha's family. There was eating (salmon! fried chicken!) Unless, of course, your cousin stole your portion (eh hem). There was drinking. To the extent that some of us may not remember the entire night (steve) and others of us made the judicious decision to stop flirting and get to bed (yours truly). There was dancing. Some of which was phenomenal (jim) some of which was tipsy and in a circle(the rest of us). There was cigar smoking (TY gerry!) There was a lot of hysterical laughter and, as cheesy as it sounds, a lot of love. We adore the big extended family we have reclaimed from the wreckage of our own smaller one, and I think all three of us are super thankful and honored to be a part of its noisy, forceful love.

After Seattle, we headed down to Portland to check in with our late Mom's parents. At 95 & 97 and are more aware than the 3 of us collectively. They read actively, keep up with politics, and their clean living (no smokie treats and lots of hiking) has given them the advantage of reaping the rewards of making it so far. They are a quieter than our dad's side but we know they love us, and boy, do we ever love them back. After that it was on to meet a cousin we had rarely (if ever) met. She, her husband and their impossibly adorable 7 month old son took time out on super short notice to have a bev and bite and catch up on introductions and reintroductions that were much too late in coming. Whether they like it or not there little band is now part of the big amorphous blob that is our greater family and they will be invited to all kinds of crap.

we have our family back: na na nanana na na.