I think for most people, a visit with family is not necessarily relaxing. Sometimes people are traveling from afar, and they have a few hours to spend at each place. Other times, there might be tension between family members, or your “home” may bring back so not-so-great memories.
My husbands family is the closest thing to “normal” I have ever known. Not in the annoying “Look at us. We’re so perfect” way, but the real laughs, real arguments, really….relaxed kind of way. There’s no tension in the air, no running from place to place, and no uncomfortable moments. About 5-7 times a year, we visit Bedford, PA. We see Lance’s parents often, but they’re in Pittsburgh a lot visiting. This weekend, we went for Fall Foliage. If you have never gone, you need to. You may think it sounds dumb, but it’s the most amazing and fun thing. I look forward to it all year.
My mother-in-law Jackie and father-in-law Stephen getting down at our wedding in August 2012.
My mother and father-in-law’s house is set up perfectly. It’s not a big house. It just has all the right things in all the right places. There’s a nice size living room with a huge sectional and no TV and a big dining room table. Then, there’s a big finished basement with a big screen and another huge sectional. Everyone is invited with their dogs, kids, and bathing suits for the hot tub. As soon as you get there, you feel ultimately relaxed.
Jacob with Dyson at Christmas 2010
Now, something I have never been able to figure out is why it’s so relaxing there. Is it the small town with the beautiful changing leaves and windy roads? Is it the huge sectionals? Gotta love em! Is it the fact that my mother in law feeds and cleans up after as many as 18 people and 3 dogs but some how still seems like she’s having the best day of her life? Is it the fact that you can converse upstairs or go downstairs and zone out to some TV? Is it because naps are encouraged? Is it because there are little candy pit stops on every shelf with at least 4 dessert options at all times? I’m not really sure. Maybe it’s a combination of everything.
Adam, Destiny, Dyson and Aria relaxing this morning with our pug, Max!
There is one thing I know for sure, I really love my husband’s family, just like I love the one I was born into. Not many people have that. Lance has three older brothers: Brandon, Ryan and Adam. The three brothers have 3 wives: Amber, Jolie and Destiny. The three wives have a WHOLE LOT OF KIDS: Cullen, Jacob, Nate, Gavin, Ethan, Bella, Dyson and Aria. Lance’s dad’s name is Stephen, and his mom’s name is Jackie. They are the people on the street that everyone waves to when they pass by.
This weekend, we spent a lot of time with Lance’s parents and Adam (his brother) and Destiny and Dyson and Aria. We had a ton of fun. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was when we went to a covered bridge today to get pictures (Spoiler alert! These aren’t for a holiday card, or anything like that). My pictures aren’t even close to the quality of Destiny’s but you guys can see how adorable 4-year-old Dyson and 2-year-old Aria are.
To Bedford, the Waltmans and that little house on Shawnee Circle! I hope I have a home like this one day.
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