A family filled weekend!

This "family filled weekend" actually happened about 3 weeks ago, or something like that. But i have cute pictures and movies i need to blog about anyways. Better late than never, right!?

Anyways...it was a blast having Jason & Joy, and (newly married) Steve & Jenessa up here for a visit. Me and Kels had never met Steve before, so that was interesting; he fits right into the family. Not to mention that me and him had a tough time together, trying to figure out how to cut my baklava into triangles like the professionals do it. After about 10 minutes of staring at it, Kelsey figured it out. So, now i am a professional baklava maker since i can cut it into triangles!!ha :)

Although everybody was up here for not even one full day, we still had some good times, with some everlasting memories. At first we went to Gilbert School to watch our cousin Ragelle and her husband Joey's band film this movie w/ this guy who came up here all the way from California to do it! (it's a professional thing; no joke!) And as soon as we walked in the school, the producer, seeing what beauties me, Kels, Kirsten, and Karah were, asked us to be in a "short" scene. Not realizing what we were getting ourselves into, we agreed. He needed us outside, by the door and we were suppose to just have like a normal little chat and after a few seconds of chatting we needed to watch this ToTaLlY pUnK girl walk into the building. The producer told us to be loud, and dramatic, lots of movement or someting...yet while remaining normal.ha. Soo....we were in the process of filming and i hear a noise coming from my purse. My phone was ringing. Guess who?? Taras was calling! I answer and start explaining my situation, but realized that was stupid of me b/c i was on film at that very moment. When the camera guy shot the camera in our direction, we all started acting a little more "outgoing" or whatever. Then somehow, me and Taras got on the conversation of cookies; snicker doodles to be exact, and i was talking about it; outloud. After the scene was filmed, the camera guy turns off the camera and looks at me and was like "snicker doodles?!?! Really!?!?!" I think he was upset b/c it sounded dumb in the film or smting, idk....but i couldn't help it. After all, he did say to pretend it was a normal conversation....i can't help that Taras' call was "not normal" or ruined the normality of our acting.(if that's even a word!) ha. But to sum it all up...i felt really stupid!! :( Let's just hope that this doesn't go on MTV like i heard him saying...auuggghhh!!

Another fond memory is from the West Side Market. (Note to Joy...(if you ever read my new blog) these few upcoming sentences are for you, since i told you i'd be blogging about "Butter Boy")haha

Yea, that's right, we went to the West Side Market. And it was crazy, like usual; but to make it worse, it was the weekend before Memorial Day. We walked around, had an awkward encounter with my friend's brother (who works there also) while on the way to the bathroom, and got some "black market butter!" Let me 'splain.

Ok, if you don't know it already, this guy that me and my friends are friends with works there at the cheese stand. Victor is the name. When we went over to his stand at first we dnnt see him there, and i assumed he was on break, which i think he was....or he had to make a long stop in the restroom. (Inna, we know what that's like...right?!! ahem: crossfire party!)lol Anyways, i made Jason & Joy wait until he got back to get their butter. So that's what we did, we waited. When we went back over to his stand he was there, we said "hello" and i turn around to introduce my family that wanted the butter but, Jason and Joy had disappeared. I swear, we had a search party going through that Market for at least a half and hour before we found them!!lol Not really; we met them outside, right up against the wall of the market...across from the fruit stands. I told them i'd go w/ them to get the butter but just as we were talking about it, Victor comes outside over to us and asked if we needed anything. How polite! "yes! they need your butter" I said as i (finally) introduced J&J and they told him they were coming in for butter. Victor, not wanting to put them through more trouble by walking through that crazy place offered to bring it out to them...he was on break. They refused; he insisted. He walked back in and there we were....patiently awaiting that "salty butter." A minute later he comes out w/ the butter and hands it to Jason, who, in return while paying him says " i feel like were doing a drug deal back here!" To what Victor replied "Yea, this is black market butter." (or smting of that sort; Joy, help me out?!) But w/ Victor's dry sense of humor, he wasn't laughing, or even smiling....and J&J looked a little concerned and serious too!! It made me smile. Then they wanted to pay him a tip for bringing it out to them. This time it was Victor's turn to refuse. But they insited and Joy grabbed the part of his apron by his chest and dropped it in there. Boy, i hope he didn't feel too awkward or anything then...lol That was pretty funny. So my family got to meet Victor, and have a nice little chat w/ him on where they were from and how long they were staying and if they were enjoying their visit or not. (actually, i told Victor he had to ask them that that last part b/c if they said "no, i'm not enjoying my visit" Victor had a punch in the face awaiting them!)lol

Then the rest of the day (or so it felt like) J&J kept talking about him and their "black market butter" Then somehow Joy came up w/ the nickname "Butter Boy" for him...(Joy, can you please expalin why& how that came about!?) That is now how he is remembered in the family; the "butter boy" w/ the "black market" butter. ha!

And finally, now for the last few good memories, when we went back home. Dawson and Lydia had fun hiding under the desk during hide & seek. But the good part comes when I was chewing gum while washing my hands...then the youngins came along. Lydia told me "pop bubble!!" i did. And she cracked up!! She loved it and wanted to pop it on her own. I let her do it, and she went all out....cracking up and everything. Dawson, not wanting to miss any of the fun came along by her to see what the big deal was. Turns out he thought it was completely hilarious too!!! As Lydia(then Dawson) would pop the bubble, they would both get all excited and scream and clap. But it wasn't your normal clap, it was a clap w/ the knuckles...sooo cute!! A couple minutes later, Julius joined the party, and began smiling away w/ everyone else. I felt so popular and loved by the little ones!! :) It was just sooo cute and and funny to watch. Check it out, i think you'll know what i mean. (Oh, and this was going on for at least 15 minutes straight; at least. )

All in all, it was a great weekend and i'm excited for the next family visit! And everyone better be staying longer next time!! :) :)

"Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent"? ~Ecclesiastes 7:13