bienvenidos a mi familia

He could be called KAJ, Kal, Lebikins, K.A. Joe, or Kaleb Allen Joesph Novak, either way- he is the newest addition to my list of excitements that go along with returning home. Congrats to all the family who now have new roles as mother, father, aunts, & grandparents- how exciting!!!!!!!
I am quite used to my role as a daughter.. and even as a second cousin, but somehow I was overly excited about this little guy coming. I find myself calling home much more frequently in this last month. Each time I hear news and the same old things. It is a sure thing that every time I call home, and I mean every time (whether I`m in Ukraine, Prague, Caracas, Buenos Aires, or Minnesota) my mom will answer the phone and give me the "lo-down" on everything, and for a short time after my Dad will get on and chat briefly, the majority of his message being: "come home" and lets me know I couldn`t be there fast enough; in order to hang up my mom returns with all the things that she forgot or left out the first time and of course, to repeat what my father has already drilled into my noggin. On top of all this I have 4 siblings. I`ll get messages of the delicious Easter dinner which is being prepared, all the fun and games (mostly card games) that I will be missing out on... and that if I have an urge to come home early- surely there will be room for me at the table. This goes for birthday parties, basketball games, concerts, backyard BBQs, or just watching a movie... they continue to remind me that I miss them. Before I graduated from St. Cloud, I prepared my parents for my departure of 2 years of travel "mas o menos" to see what I could see, do what I could do, meet, learn, and explore the world- broaden my mind, dreams, ideas, myself...and so its been, mas o menos, 2 years. I don`t know that I`ve done any of those fluffy things mentioned above-- but I`ve sure had fun trying!!!! I won`t miss anymore weddings (of those people in the midwest) this year, I won`t miss births, anniversaries, parties, Christmas, snow, or the cabin rented in July. I`ll be at the basketball games and maybe some concerts... Yes, Kaleb- you are a very lucky little man, the best family in the world surrounds you! I`ll be back next month to hold you.