This past weekend, I flew down to Southern California to celebrate two special birthdays. I love celebrating birthdays but this weekend, in particular, was really special because the WHOLE family flew out to celebrate together. [If you’re wondering why I’m writing this post on a Wednesday, it’s because I’m still recovering from such an eventful weekend!]

We haven’t been together like this since 2012? 2013? I can’t even remember because it’s been that long. Even though we attempt to be together for holidays, we’re always missing one or two people since schedules are all over the place. So it was nice to have everybody together, under one roof, once again. Without the pressures of having to Facetime anyone in. 😉

What’s even better about all of the family festivities is that our family has expanded over time. It was so fun to be back in a place where we grew up, swimming in the pool and running around the yard, with our younger generation of kiddos. It made me think about what things would look like only a few years from now.

But, for this weekend, just having the two little munchkins running/crawling around were enough to keep us entertained all weekend long.

On Friday night, we left the adults at home (yes, I still consider myself a kid) and went to Yardhouse to celebrate Sister’s birthday!

Sister’s motto is: “All of the drinks. None of the food.” The rest of us believe that birthdays should be celebrated with “all of the drinks and all of the food.” Which is exactly how we celebrated Friday night.

  It made me the happiest person alive to be sitting at a table surrounded by my favorite people. Talking about everything and nothing all at once.

After all of the drinks and all of the food, we called it a night to make sure we got adequate rest for Saturday’s festivities.

On Saturday, we celebrated Aishu’s birthday. The lively, little 1-year old. That can shriek and scream at a higher decibel than any other child I’ve ever met. But can also capture your heart in an instant.

I can’t believe this little munchkin turned ONE. Her personality has completely developed over the past few months and it’s so fun to watch her as she reacts to things around her.

Like, for example, a smash cake.

Yes, Bhabhi made her a cake with the intention that she was going to SMASH the heck out of it. Spoiler alert: She did not. She petted it. Real nicely. And then licked her hand a couple times. But then got over the frosting real quick. I think she’s like her Masi. She probably prefers french fries to cake.

Despite the hundreds [but probably thousands] of pictures taken, the yelling and screaming, and the chaos and craziness expected when you have so many people under one roof, it was a beautiful weekend.

It’s memories like this weekend that bring me back and remind me just how lucky I am to be a part of this. This thing that’s just so much bigger than me.

My family.