Back Tracking to Sparrows!

I was going back through my recent posts and I didn't realize I forgot to fill you in on a couple of things! 

First off, the Saturday before the holidays is when my family had Christmas. First stop: tattoos with my mom and sister! 

There is one thing that can get my heart to stop and my sweat to be uncontrollable and that's getting tattooed! This one wasn't as bad as my wrist...but maybe that's because my friend Tracy did them! Go visit Heroic Ink in Ames (precisely right around the block from my apartment)!

My mom was such a trooper. Not only did she go first of the three, but her first words, "...That's it?" TROO-PER.

Somehow my mom and I were so distracted that we didn't get a photo of Andrea getting her new ink. But my sister did a good job of making sure she got photos of our finished product!

These sparrows signify myself, my sister, my mom, and the pink as my mom's mom (my grandma Cookie) who passed away from breast cancer. When she was going through treatment, she had a small glass sparrow that had a story along with it. After she passed, my aunt and my mom both got a sparrow to remember her by. It has since become the Laubenthal girl emblem. (Cindy and Jenn, you're next! :) )

What a treat! We had so much fun that day. Eventually, I'll get to posting more about that day. :) 

Then, we proceeded back to EG where we had Christmas with my dad's side of the family. My dad and Sandy have a rather LARGE house...and just those two and 4 pets live in it, and it somehow is getting smaller every holiday! :) We enjoyed jokes, watching the kiddos peek into their presents, and a "Chinese" gift exchange. Don't get me wrong when I tell you I didn't hold back on my present. So when you put in a gift at this exchange, you get one out based on a number you draw. I gave Chocolatarie Stam Chocolates (seriously, DIVINE) and Starbucks gift card. What did I get?

CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY! Hilarious! Collin and I have played just us two, trying to come up with the most obnoxious statements or answers. I can't wait to play in a group!

That night, my dad and Sandy's bar had an 80s party...

Motley Crue? Twisted Sister? We'll never know...

I'm not the best at dressing for the 80s...but I took what I could get! 

Sunday was spent with my mom's side of the family, including my aunt Cindy and uncle Larry! I love hanging out with them!


And that's a wrap of my family's holiday weekend!

Oh, right before this holiday craze we received some news...Collin and I have been working our booties off in 2014. So what happens when hard work pays off?

YOU GET A TRIP TO HAWAII!!!

That's pretty darn exciting!