'Merica, Sperklers, & Burbles

So after an incredibly stressful week last week, I went home for the weekend!  I wanted to see my friends and family one last time before Isabelle and I finally leave for Germany, and there's just no place like South Dakota.  
But before I could leave for my home state, I had to clear out and move out of our house {which required 3 trips to the Food Bank to donate the last of our food...annoying but satisfying}, meet with the inspector, meet with the cleaning company, go to the dump, pack, load all my things into the car, get gas in my car, and take Carley to a kitty hotel.  
I knew that I was going to be spending part of my weekend with my best friend, Melany, and part of it with my mom & sisters, but I had NO IDEA that this was going to happen:

A surprise going away dinner!  When I saw my youngest sister, I started to tear up, I had NO idea they were waiting for me!  And then one of my best dental hygiene friends showed up (who I hadn't seen in way too long) and I squealed with excitement!  

For my birthday in March, a few of my friends came to Omaha for a German themed girls weekend (a blast despite the terrible weather), but the theme for this night was 'Merica!  We were celebrating my last few days in the United States of 'Merica.  
I can't put into words what this surprise meant to me.  I have been so incredibly stressed out and painfully missing my husband these last few months that this unexpected surprise was exactly what I needed! 

Of course, a night out with my best friend meant that some sort of hat &/or wig would be involved.  Melany has this thing where she tries to make me where a stupid hat (at my bachelorette party it was a penis veil), so I humored her for one picture with the " 'Merica hat."  And then immediately took it off.

We mayyyybe drank too much wine because Melany and I spent all of Saturday sleeping or eating.  Neither one of us got out of our pajama's, and I was absolutely happy with the fact that I managed to brush my teeth but not much else. 

On Sunday, I spent the day with 2 of my younger sisters, my 3 nieces, and my mom.  Any time the babies (they're actually toddler & preschoolers now but will probably always be "the babies") are around there is pure chaos, and I'm reminded that Eric & I are really great parents to an only child and we are very OK with that.  
Emily and I don't get to see each other as much as we'd like, but Chelsea and I try to get together whenever possible.  Even though I'm 11 1/2 years older than her, we have the most similar personalities out of the 4 of us.  And that means that she appreciates 'Ermahgerd' as much as I do!  
Let me explain....

Last summer I came across this picture:

..

Say it out loud to yourself..HAHAHA...GASP...HAHAHAHA!!!  Oh. My. Gosh. This is just so hilarious to me! 

I thought that this picture was very much the most hilarious thing I had ever seen!  So I shared it on Facebook, wanting all my friends and family to have the same kind of tears-rolling-down-your-face-tummy-hurts-so-bad-can't-breath laugh that I had when I saw this picture.  But not a single person on my Facebook acknowledged it!  Not a single person!  ***How can you not think that Ermahgerd is the funniest thing that you've ever heard?!?***  

Fine!  I guess I was the only person in my Facebook family that appreciated the hilariousness of  'Ermahgerd.' 

Months later, at my mom's surprise birthday party, I had to tell my sister about this picture!  Now, I realize that my being in my 30's might mean that I'm too old to hear about hilarious/trendy things (even though I'm on Twitter & Facebook and read terrible gossip trash magazines like my life depends on it, and I think that being in my 30's is fabulous, not "old" at all).  Maybe nobody acknowledged this picture because it was "over" and not funny anymore....?  I had no idea, but If anybody would get a kick out of 'sperklers,' it'd be my sister, and if I was really too old and the last to hear about 'Ermahgerd,' she'd tell me.

I was right!  Chelsea thought it was hilarious, and assured me that no, I wasn't too old, and yes, I was fabulous!  You know what we figured out is even more hilarious?!  Inserting 'Er' after every syllerble.  

So now, this is how Chelsea and I talk when we are together:  
When we answer the phone: "Hellr?"  
When we cuss: "Furck" 
Facebook: "Fercberk" 
My husband: "Erck"
Hippopotamus: "Herpperpertermers" 
Basically, you can use it with any word, in any sentence.  {Ask my husband how obnoxious we get and what he thinks of Ermahgerd}  Trust me... it never gets old and is always funny!

Teisha, one of my closest friends, sent me this picture... because that's how obnoxious I am about 'Ermahgerd' memes...or because she knows me so well.... or because it is hilarious and she appreciates it too!  Thanks, T!

So that was my fantastic weekend!  Ermahgerd, family, friends, and all!  I am now camping out in a hotel and have been tying up all of the last loose ends here in Omaha since.  I will forever think Ermahgerd is hilarious and love my friends, sister, and mom for making my last weekend in 'Merica a great one!