road trip for three

last sunday, my cousin kayla and i packed her nissan cube, grabbed a box of ritz munchables, and set out on the open road, all signs pointing north... to maryland. along the way, we picked up my sister allie in virginia, jammed out to the radio, and tried not to let the speedometer fall below 80. why maryland? because the sweetest, cutest, happiest, prettiest, almost 1-year-old darling baby resides in maryland. that would be my 2nd cousin makenzie leigh, the daughter of my cousin steph and her hubby mike the marine stationed in maryland. i haven't had the chance to see steph much growing up, since she lived in new york until she married and moved to hawaii. so, being able to spend a few days with her was a real treat.
monday, we all laid around, cuddled and played with makenzie, watched twilight, sherlock holmes, and new moon, talked, and just enjoyed each other's company--and never even changed out of our pajamas!
*side note, if you have never played the card game phase 10, you should. its awesome. and its quickly becoming the go-to game for my family. see almost every other get-together the past few years*
tuesday, kayla and allie graciously accompanied me to this really ghetto mall half an hour away so i could see my good friend spike for a few minutes. spike is really an awesome dude. i hate that i don't get to see him very often. back at the homestead, we watched brothers, then a marathon of pretty little liars, which i totally don't get and wouldn't care if i never saw another episode again.
wednesday was bittersweet, its hard waking up on a day when you know you have to say goodbye. our fun came in the form of purple and green chocolate chip pancakes (allie's idea) and another game of phase 10 before we had to pack up and hug everyone goodbye. now, having spent 7 hours in the cube aka microwave on wheels aka fish tank, i am grateful for the time i got to spend with steph, mike, and kenzie. i wouldn't trade the past few days for the world. i love. my life.