Day 315-The LaRusso's

Monday, April 6th

Hey guys,

       So, since I've gotten to Chicago, I have been staying with our dear friends, the LaRusso's, but I have always known them as Aunt Gina and Uncle Craig. When we first moved from North to South Wheaton, they lived right down the street from us, and had two girls, the same age as Caroline and Graham. Caroline and their oldest, Adrianna quickly became best friends, and Graham and their youngest, Marina followed suit. I cannot even TELL you how many hours I've spent with them, how many laughs I've had with them, how many conversations I've had with them, or how many memories I've made with them. Basically, Aunt Gina, Uncle Craig, Adrianna, and Marina are a part of our family, they always have been, and they always will be. Growing up, neither of us had any family real close by, so we spent many holidays at each others house, particularly Christmas. Each Christmas Eve, for probably at LEAST 10 years, we would play spaceopoly, and because I was so little at the time, I got the great honor of being the "Laser Lady". I'm not going to lie, it was strange to be staying with Aunt Gina and Uncle Craig while both girls were away, especially Marina. When we were little, it was normally Adrianna and Caroline playing together, and Marina and Graham playing together, and then there was me...the awkward 3rd wheel...but since the loss of Graham, Marina and I have become MUCH closer, so yes, it was weird. It was weird staying in Marina's room, with pictures all over the place, while she's overseas in Ecuador, but it was also awesome. Aunt Gina and Uncle Craig have basically always been my "second-parents" if my real parents weren't around for some reason or another, and because their NOT my parents, I was able to have conversations with them without me being completely irrational and "teenager-ish", or feeling like I'm not being heard. All in all, I want to give a HUGE thank you to Aunt Gina and Uncle Craig for hosting me this week, I SO enjoyed it! 

Back Row from Left: Mom, Dad, Uncle Craig, Aunt Gina

Middle from left: Caroline, Adrianna, Me, Marina

Bottom row:Graham

<3 Always,

Rose