It’s not officially a party until someone throws up on the dog………

This last weekend was a very happy and exciting one for my family. I don’t believe we've all been together since early 2012. Since we are a close family, any chance we have to get together-we try to make work.

The occasion for this particular gathering was my grandpa’s housewarming party. My Uncle and Aunt were able to put a little house on their property, just outside the city, for him. I would like to take this opportunity to gloat that my family built this all on their own from the ground up. Why? Because they are a talented bunch and know how to get shit done!

I drove myself up from Edmonton on Friday. We had lots of other family members from Edmonton, Calgary and parts of Saskatchewan. The trip took me 5 ½ hours and I pretty much hated every minute of it. I am a bad traveler and since that drive is so BORING-one tends to really notice the time.

But of course I made it and was so excited to see my family again. Immediately upon arriving I cracked the first of many beers J

Because my Uncle is a genius, he rigged up a keg in a fridge with the tap on the outside. It was dubbed the “kegerator”

I arrived at 5:30 or so and it was a long day, so by 10pm I was just really tired. More people had arrived by that time but I was too tired to even continue drinking much less start with the shots.

I have one Uncle who is a bit of an instigator (you know who you are!) He likes to get you to do shots with him. The problem with that is that everyone else wakes up the next day feeling like garbage-but carries on, and he sneaks away for a nap!

Anyway, I went to bed at 11 and was mercilessly teased about it. But I do not care. I woke up Saturday feeling fresh as a daisy!

I had to share a bed with my cousin. This is not new to us. We’re only 6 months apart and have had to share a bed since we were kids.

The problem with going to bed early is that when drunky drunkerson came downstairs she was not exactly quiet. There was the tripping and falling and the giggling for no apparent reason, and my personal favorite- trying to pull open a door that slides….

I prayed she wouldn't be sick. Happily Jesus loves me and I was spared.

The next morning I got up to go to the bathroom around 7am. Unfortunately while I was in there, the power went off! It is really dark in a basement room with no windows or other source of light…..that is all I’m willing to say about that.

The power was off until 11am but Timmy’s will always fix what ails ya!

During the day, my cousins were playing golf and boccie ball and everyone was mingling and having a good time. Supper was of course, delicious! I did notice that after supper, quite a few peeps were drinking water-except some of the younger ones. (they will eventually learn)

As the oldest cousin, it’s a weird age range I’m in. When I was young all my aunts and uncles were to be respected and revered (still are) as they were “grownups” and they always knew best. But now, I’m at the age they were when I was a kid and I do not feel like a wise grown up at all. I still feel like a kid around them sometimes. So it’s really weird to be somewhat on the same peer level now. I’m pretty sure I will be using “Aunty” and “Uncle” until I’m old and gray.

Likewise with the cousins. They are all into adulthood now too and that makes me feel super old! I used to hold and cuddle them, change their diapers, and give them baths. Now to see them with drinks in their hands, with spouses or significant others, having a chat is just a weird kind of feeling.

I wonder if that’s how the aunts and uncles felt as us older ones came of age?

But enough of my rambling….

Saturday night we sat around the fire just enjoying each other’s company and happy to be together again. There was a challenge laid out that my cousin and I, being somewhat citified would not be able to spend the night in the tent. Having spent the last year working on a farm, I have somewhat lost my “yuppiness” so I was game, but I wondered about my cousin. But she apparently promised herself that if she made it the whole night she would treat herself to a shopping trip. Of course, she stuck it out-that girl would not let anything get in the way of a shopping trip!

Sunday morning I woke up and went in the house. I noticed something seemed wrong with the dog. I went to pet her and noticed a weird stain on her head. That is when I was informed that one of my cousin’s friends threw up on poor old Angel Now that is one hell of a party!

We had breakfast and I headed out. It was sad to go, but I was happy to be home.

As we all get older and have our separate lives and other family members etc, we don’t get to spend as much time as we used to, but we will always be a family, and always come together when it counts.

Thanks to Aunty and Uncle for their hospitality and all their hard work putting on the get-together. It was a blast! My family is the shit! J