The Matusek Family: ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

No way, you can't be serious! These are just a few of the phrases that came out of my mouth when my mother let it slip that Brandon would be visiting Idaho with his girlfriend Kayla and Jackson their son. Words really can't describe how incredibly excited I was upon hearing the wonderful news! Talk about a fun week, from Wednesday the 17 until Friday the 19th, our days were jam packed full of fun and catching up. Brandon and Kayla left Missouri monday night, the 15th, late and arrived in Idaho Tuesday evening. I saw them on Wednesday morning at my mom's house. I just love my big brothers, it is always so fun to see each of them! Now that Matt lives in Mississippi, Brandon in Missouri, and Melissa my sister in Michigan, I only live close to one sibling. So it is no wonder that I got so excited:)

Well, Wednesday evening was spent at my Grandparents house for a family BBQ. Corey came back to Pocatello after the BBQ and stayed Wednesday and Thursday night. We had a sleepover with our kids and 2 of Corey's kids at our house. Get this, they stayed up until midnight playing and giggling. I thought for sure they would sleep in late because of this, but NO... at 6am I see 4 little heads pop out of the boys room as I was laying in our bed nursing the baby. Later in the day, Brandon and Elena took naps because of the late night/early morning stint. Thursday was a perfect day! It started with french toast at my mom's. We soon decided after breakfast to take the party to my house. We set up a badminton net and filled up the pool and also set up the slip-n-slide on the hill, and we were ready for a crazy fun day! We played many games of volleyball and badminton, switching up the players and teams. The BBQ was amazing, great food from my mom's kitchen (AMAZING pies for dessert!). The kids spent all day in the pool for the most part. I have a video of my hubby going down the slip-n-slide, and being on a hill and running and jumping onto the slide, he zoomed down that thing!

What better way to end a great day than to play games with the adults at my mom's house? Friday morning dawned bright and beautiful, and delicious with "Mor-mor's special pancakes" (Norwegian pancakes). Corey's family had to leave shortly after breakfast, and Mike was working all morning, but the fun kept on going. I stayed at my mom's all day hanging out with Kayla and Brandon and Jackson. I fell in love with that little boy, he is about the cutest thing, especially when he is next to my Zachary. Kayla and my mom and I went shopping for baby clothes, and that was just what this mom needed... time to spend some money:) It wasn't clothing for me, but it was the time with my mom and Kayla that renewed and revived me! We played Wheel of Fortune and Family Fued when Mike came over later that evening. Brandon requested a special dinner from my mom, fried chicken and mashed potatoes. I haven't had that for quite some time, it is such a comfort food from my childhood, I am glad Brandon requested it. Well, I am going to just wrap up this post with my favorite pictures from our adventures.

Cousins playing on great-grandma's tramp