In Memory

My BFF from high school swooped down on Friday night to help us transistion back.  She left her one year old and soon to be three year old.  We hadn't seen each other in a year and a half when we were both preggo with our babies-we were so excited.  We weren't planning to do anything-she was coming to just be there and help with the kids.  How selfless?   She is someone I don't get to see-kind of like most of my friends from far away.

I hate living so far away from a few of my besties!!!  I am lucky that this beautiful girl has moved four hours away from me.  I have lived in this town for thirteen years (the longest I have ever lived somewhere by five years) and this was the first time I got to have her in my home.

We went to get pedicures and I was showing her around.  We had Avery with us (she was taking some of the pictures).  I LOVE having a girl to bring out with us!  It was all happy faces with some relaxation.

We even spent the day putting this new toy together for Mack.  The other two got to go to their cousin's birthday party, so I made sure he had something special to do.  Tara did most of the work.  We even pulled out the electric drill!

Miss Tara brought Mack this bin of rice and the kid hasn't stopped.  He will spend 40 minute increments playing with it.  As you can see he spends most of his time in his PJ's and we will do anything for him to eat.

But the best day that we have had in a long time was cut short.  Tara got a phone call about her mom-I don't want to add details because it's not my business to tell.  It was one of the best days that turned to one of the worst. 

Here I am going through the most challenging part of my life and she has to experience the most challenging part of her life.  As friends we are already very close and talk almost every day.  These experiences will help us understand each other.  No one should ever have to understand such pain, but the two of us have and can talk about it.

I'm so sad to not be with her this week and know she is surrounded by wonderful family.  I will be making a trip up north to Iowa City in a few weeks to be next to one special woman.  She learned to be selfless from a selfless woman who wanted her daughter to be happy with a friend.  The whole thing makes me cry for so many reasons.

Here's to always making time for the ones you love, never leaving the house mad, never going to bed mad...because in the bigger picture nothing matters!!!  Hug your babies.  Hug your lovers.  Hug your friends and NEVER let a day go by where you don't speak your feelings!  I love you Tara and I wouldn't be me or have the memories that I do if it wasn't for you!

A Fun Blast From My Past

I moved to Minnesota my Freshman year in high school, leaving behind a not so fun place in Chicago.  I was anxious to start over and find new friends.  This was the best move my parents ever made because I have still remained close to a few friends from up north!  One being my dear friend Nicole (aka Pilney (her maiden name and I can't call her anything else))!  She and I didn't hang with the same crowd, but formed a bond with each other fast.  She became a part of my family and helped me through many parts of my life.  Even though we don't talk often enough and don't see each other, we always have a great time catching up and being together.

Her family made the journey down to Columbia on Wednesday and we were very excited for their arrival.  It was the Fourth of July, so we smoked some ribs, had a roast in the crock pot and grilled some zucchini!  In the past we have had a big 4th party and spent a lot of money on fireworks, but this year it was nice to have a small celebration with friends!

 It was still in the 100's last week so we put up a tent for shade, placed their pool in shade and put the slip and slide out.  We kept them cool and hydrated!

 You will see through these pictures that Anna LOVES to strike a pose for the camera.

 Of course we had to show off our apple trees-they're not used to the "country" living:)

 Our firework display was MUCH different!  Not only do we have little ones, but it hasn't rained here in over a month, so we were worried about how dry it was.

 Mark came home early on Friday morning and we drove down to the lake.  Pilney has been apart of my family trips down to the lake since high school and has a love for it like me.  She was very excited to show her girls this wonderful place!  We also got to go (for a short time) to our favorite place at the lake...the spa!

 Avery can't get enough of the boat!  She enjoys it, but again, it was so hot.  We did take a few rides in the evening when the temperatures came down a little.

 Mack's favorite part of the boat is sitting with daddy when he drives.  He would not get down!

 Lincoln doesn't care for his vest, but it does make him go right to sleep.

 This picture makes me laugh because I asked her husband, Jason, to make sure and not get my middle part...

 So instead of zooming in, he just moved the camera up-there is more water than us!!!!

 Just taking a little evening snooze.

 Then it was time for a Popsicle.

It's such a bummer to live away from most of your friends, but it makes it much more fun when you do get to see each other.  We had fun and our kids are wiped out!  I am lucky to have such a great friend like Pils!  Thank you for coming and I can't wait for next summer when we can take my family up to see you and go to the state fair!!!!

Making Friends

One of the great things about working part time, is I have Fridays off! I love these days because there is no interruption with my kids. We usually stay home and catch up, but the last few Fridays have been spent taking them to the park. It is a lot of work, but great to get out of the house!

Since they don't go to daycare they are not around many other kids. It's my job to make sure they are socialized. Little Gyms has really helped with this and they seem to be branching out a little. Last Friday we met some friends at the park and Avery made it very clear they were her friends not mommy's (I always say we are going to meet mommy's friends). She packed them snacks and made sure to have lots of toys for the sand box. It made me realize they will be fine when put in social situations-in fact, they probably will love getting away from each other time to time.  For right now I love getting them out there, but I love that they depend on each other!

Good Times with a Great Friend

Having Fridays off this year has been wonderful and gives me a chance to catch up with great friends. This Friday we picked up Subway and headed to Stephens Lake. It is my favorite place in Columbia-I take the kids there almost everyday. We can walk, have picnics, play in the sand and now go down the big slide. Avery has become an expert at going up and down the slide-thank goodness because Mack wants to do it too and that takes a lot of attention. Avery can go down the slide about 2 times before Mack and I even get up there!

This Friday we met up with a great friend and her beautiful baby girl. Avery was excited to see a real baby. We got there early so they played in the sand...

This is very entertaining and they get nice a dirty!Then we ate our lunch. It took Avery a while to notice Eleanor, but then she enjoyed looking at her.Mack was content with his food and drink (probably a good thing since I have seen what he does to his baby cousin).Then we got to walk! We only made it one and half times around because it was nap time, but it was nice to catch up and walk off some of the ice cream I have been eating again:)

It was a good time with a great friend!

You Know Someone is your Friend When...

You know someone is your friend when you haven't seen them in about three years and when you do everything picks up where you left!

Awww, so refreshing!

I have had the opportunity to see my best friends from my younger years: Robyn (from college) came to see me for my birthday, Avery and I just went to see Tara (from high school), and in August Nicole aka Pils (from high school) is coming here. It has been a great year to catch up and be reminded about what great people I have in my life.

I just wish I could have them all in the same place.

Don't get my wrong-I am lucky to have a best friend and many close friends here in my town, and thank goodness because I am not sure I could survive having them all live away:) Being away from the rest is one (of many) reasons why it is hard to get older.

Tonight, I sit here writing this post and think about how everything that has happened between my friendships has made our relationships closer-not that I am proud of everything we have gone through! I'm just amazed they still love me for who I am-crazy at times!

Here are pictures from our trip. After downloading the pictures I became frustrated at the LACK of pictures I took. I don't even have any with Tara and myself! Ugg! We were too busy with our little ones, but now I am so mad.

You know they are a friend when...

you're excited to see them

your babies act like they were best friends forever. They wanted to touch each other! Avery gave him many hugs that night

you don't have to do much to entertain each other. Going out to lunch was fun! They both enjoyed the lemons

you don't have to get dressed up to hang out. We spent a lot of time in our p.js or comfy clothes

you can go out to breakfast at 7:00 in the morning:) and be home by 8:30 (it was funny to me because Avery typically doesn't wake up until then!

you share everything! Tara made us feel so welcomed and Avery helped herself to whatever she wanted! She also got these new pink shoes.

We had a great trip and Avery loved having me to herself. I realized life was so easy with one child! Thank you Tara, Joe and Carter! You are amazing friends and I know you will always be in our lives. Next summer: The Lake!