So, what a crazy week, what with illness and just too much stuff going on. To top it off, it was a total cluster week. We all have a cluster week I think. It is when holidays, anniversary's and birthdays are all within days of each other in one week. It started with Mothers Day, then my mother-in-laws birthday, followed 2 days later by my sister-in-laws, and then 2 days after that my father-in-laws. More importantly, 2 of my fabulous girls had birthday's this week, and I am ashamed to say that I didn't even get cards in the mail, phone calls made or even a simple "Happy Birthday" e-mail out to either of them. So, better late than never: ALI & JENNA ~~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ladies, I hope you both had fabulous days. I love you!!!
Thinking of my friends birthday's made me miss them, and miss the days when we saw each other every day in college. Most of us lived together, and those that didn't might as well have. Birthday's were huge events for us, and we always celebrated in style. Our best had to be Kelly's infamous 21st birthday, when we ran out of beer and had SO MANY people in our tiny little apartment that you couldn't get from one side of the room to the other. Remember the bedrooms??? A designated shot room and . . well, other fun stuff. The night ended with a huge cake fight, and even I (the total NEAT FREAK) didn't give a damn about the cake mashed into the rug (but hey, it wasn't really my rug . . . right? That frosting never did come out . . . ) I am still surprised that the police didn't join us for that particular shindig, but the rest of that story is for a different blog I think.
I am so proud that even after all this time (we've been out of college what, 3 years now? ha ha) that we still see each other and still manage our annual Girls Weekend away every year. I hope that every reader out there has a group of friends like this they can share their lives with, it is so important. I feel truly blessed to have these girls, and truly thankful. So, with then in mind, I am going to post this great poem that my wonderful friend Pam wrote for our 10 year anniversary after graduating.
TRUE FRIENDSHIP
Years go by each faster than the last
Through all life's changes we create our past
Weddings, children, and homes are all new
But come January it's time to renew
Our friendship began a lifetime ago
Every year we have a new place to go
To share our lives, goals, and dreams
Laughter makes us burst at the seams
I wouldn't trade in one single year
Whether it's champagne we're drinking or just beer
Friendship like ours is very rare
And amazingly it shows no sign of wear
We've seen each other through so much
Never letting ourselves lose touch
Every time we are together
We realize we will be close forever
Nine years have come and gone
The tenth is here, as is our bond
To my Westfield girls I raise my glass
With you, my friends, I have a blast
CHEERS!
Some of you may remember that last year was our first annual trip to Storyland with all of my friends from college. If you feel so inclined you can read all about it here. Well, this last weekend was our second annual trip and the kids loved it just as much as last year, it held all the same magic. The Old Lady In The Shoe, The 3 Little Pigs, hanging out in the pumpkin and watching the dancing elf inside of the magic tree were just as exciting as before. The only downside's of the trip was that it was a 3 1/2 hour drive, and Dennis couldn't make it. My friend Pam and I rode together (due to a work issue she was also husband-less) so that helped. Dennis was sorely missed, but the weekend happened to coincide with his yearly boy's weekend at the trailer (much like my cousin/sister weekend of last). If I had asked he would have skipped it to ride in a whirling turtle and stand in line for 30 minutes to ride in an antique car, but I didn't ask him. After all, I have not 1 but 2 weekends a year away, so he does deserve his 1. All of my other friends were there and we banded together to keep an eye on all of the kids (13 in all!) and we had a great time. I must admit that 13 kids made for seriously not very controlled chaos, and damn! those kids get up E.A.R.L.Y. Sometimes on the weekends my kids will sleep until 9, which I realize is most unusual. But to start getting up at 5:57! 5:57 a.m.! Insanity! Jack said to me "what time is it?" and when I told him it was only about 6:15 in the morning he replied "These kids are crazy! What are they doing up at this hour?" Abbey simply grunted, dug deeper into her blanket and announced that we should all just go back to sleep. Sure, easier said than done. It sounded like a preschool downstairs by 6:30 a.m. and there was no more sleeping to be had (even though the adults had been up until 1 a.m. or so, ummm, talking). In all I ended the weekend exhausted, my face broken out from the foreign water, and fighting a nasty cold. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. Seeing everyone again is like traveling back 15 years in time, except now we look around and say to each other "where the hell did all these kids come from?"
