the best things in life are free...

I am still going through all the Canton trip pictures {my new call name is Razzi for paparazzi}...but had to let you know the biggest surprise of all! Let me start from the beginning. It's a very good place to start.

It was last Monday when I got a facebook message from my sister Leslie (in Zimbabwe) saying that she had booked her ticket to come home! I was shaking so badly I couldn't even read the entire message I had to have a coworker finish it! Confirmation- It did say she had booked her ticket! I immediately called Lauren to see if she knew what was going on. We both squealed in the phone and tried to figure out how we were going to keep this from Mom. See, Leslie wanted it to be a surprise, so we had to figure out how to pick Les up from the Dallas airport on Thursday at 1pm, the first day we were supposed to be on the Canton trip. (Luckily Dallas is only 1.5 hours from Canton - not that I wouldn't drive to Alaska to pick her up.)

I knew that the only believable thing we could say to Mom was that my boss asked me to come in on Thursday morning for a few hours so I wouldn't be able to caravan with everyone to Canton, but I would meet them there later that day. I played it up on the phone to my mother, " Oh, Mom! Can you believe that I have to work!? I asked for the time off and everything!...I can't say no to my boss- I will just have to meet y'all there..." disappointed, but understanding, my mom took the bait. Hook, line, and sinker :)

On Thursday morning when the rest of the Crew left to find Canton treasures at 7am, I went to "work" aka Dallas. It was all I could do not to speed there, I was so excited to see Leslie! The reunion at the airport went as expected, watery eyes, hugs, and... lost bags. After several attempts to speak to anyone with knowledge on locating her bags without success, we decided to just go on to Canton and meet the group.

Keep in mind that we were not expecting Leslie until Christmas, and my mom has NO idea she is even in the States!

{Thanks Mrs. Mary for helping keep our little secret! This is Mom excited to see me after "working half a day"... little did she know...}

{Leslie was hiding behind the UHaul!}

{I honestly didn't think she was going to let go of her!}

It was an amazing weekend filled with so many special memories. I can't describe to you how blessed I feel having my entire family at arms length. I am tearing up just thinking about it.