Sunday, July 11, 2010

Surprise!

My little brother- who is about to start his third year of college so he isn't very little anymore- has a most awesome girlfriend.

Em is awesome because she has more than embraced Ted's family and friends. She fully "gets" that Ted loves us and cares for us. And she automatically loves us simply for that reason.

Em planned a little getaway for my brother. And where was her surprise destination? Here. To spend a full day with Ted's sister and family.

They arrived Friday night. We spent the evening talking, laughing, watching The Soup and America's Funniest Videos. Saturday, we were up at the crack of dawn. We went out to breakfast at 7:30 a.m. We headed down to the Indianapolis Zoo. We took time to pet the dog sharks and giggle at the penguins and ooooh and aaaah over the dolphin show and visit the meerkats and grab a snack and visit the forests and plains and see if any of us could run as fast as a cheetah. We headed towards home and had lunch at our fave local mexican place. Then up to the movie theatre to catch Despicable Me. Then home for goodbyes.

Saturday was almost 12 hours of quality time with my kid brother and his girlfriend and my husband and my kids. My little brother... that I gave a stuffed animal lion to the night before he had his tonsils removed (Brave Lion), that I watched Disney movies with, that I played with and laughed with when he was the age and size of my own kids. I was 15 when he was born so we don't have the typical sibling relationship with shared memories of growing up. But he's my brother and he's become this really fantastic and funny and good young man. I'm glad he's found someone who is a friend as well as someone he can love and care about. I'm glad that she values his family and that she sees in him all those wonderful things that have made him the wonderful young man that he has become.

Most of all... I'm glad we had 2 young people around to keep Teagan so very entertained that I was able to actually enjoy a lot of our very busy, busy day. Seriously. It was such a nice change of pace to have my daughter... who can be so very challenging lately... to have her look up to Em and want to be with Em and Ted and watch her enjoy being the center of their attention. And I could step away and laugh at penguins with Zach or enjoy a few minutes watching the baboons.

It was a very good, fun, busy, and mostly awesome kind of day.

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9 comments:

Garret said...

So if they get married, will your kids call her Auntie Em? Hmmmm.

C. Beth said...

That is SO cool. What a great day, on multiple levels. I'm happy for you all. :)

mimbles said...

Wonderful! I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy now :-)

Anonymous said...

What a great day, and visit! She sounds like a keeper...planning a wonderful surprise like that!

I bet you slept good last nigth after all that action cram packed into just one day!

Karen M. Peterson said...

That sounds like so much fun. I'm glad you had a great day. Sounds like you needed it!

Emily said...

Aww Liz!!!! Thanks for this! Thanks for ALL the help you gave me with planning this and making sure it stayed a secret!!! I LOVED seeing you and your family, the whole day at the zoo was PERFECT and SO much fun!! It will be something that I will always remember and cherish, and I know that "The Ted" will remember and cherish it too. Your kids are AWESOME and SO much fun, so full of energy!! Thanks SO much for having us and planning this with me!!!!!

Alison said...

Ah, now I understand why my sister in law loves having Miss Chef and me come visit!

Amy said...

I hope to have that kind of relationship with my youngest brother sometime. He's 22 years younger than I am. Just turned 18 and graduated high school and in that snotty, arrogant stage. He has his good moments, but we're still in that mother-son type relationship instead of friends. Sounds like you had a wonderful day!

Unknown said...

Sounds like you had a great day!! So nice that you got to fully enjoy your family time. It really is a let down when those experiences are wrought with stress. I've been there too. So wonderful also that Em is so great to you all!!!