Reunited and It Feels So Good

My lifelong friend, Christina, and her fam came to town for their now traditional January visit. It was, as it always is and is always expected to be, a blast. Christina likes to be busy and go out, I like to stay at home and avoid contact with the outside world. In 3 1/2 days we did a whole lot of both.

We hit up the mall and let the kids play on the giant food playground.

The tired babies made a scene at Johnny Rockets.

Which was followed by a deep sleep in the car.

After a day with the kids, just the girls escaped to Cold Stone. Christina got to meet the gang, and then we talked and talked and talked for hours. There is always so much to say. But the gist of most of our conversations is 1. Motherhood is hard but so worth it. 2. Our lives are consumed by our children, so we have to remind ourselves that we are pretty much the most intelligent, witty, and interesting people alive. And 3. We are pretty much the most intelligent, witty, and interesting people alive. To say that we build each other up would be an understatement.

And we also reminisce about our Middle School days. We lived a lifetime in those two years together. For me, it was the best of times with Christina, and the worst of times with every other 12-14 year old there. Tweens are mean.

Saturday morning I took Christina to my stomping ground, ARC Thrift Store. She loved it! (Just kidding. She hated it. Well, maybe she didn't hate it. She just doesn't believe that the retail industry should be enabling the psychological sickness of hoarding. I agree. It's all their fault.)

Even though it was a chilly winter day, the whole gang went to the zoo. And it just happened to be the most awesome zoo day ever! We jumped from the inside of one building to another, and because of the cold weather, a lot of the animals were inside or near the glass anyway. We got closer to most of the animals than we had ever been.

We came just in time for the Lions' feeding, so they were right up against the glass the whole time.

And the tiger was totally stalking us. (Which totally intrigued me because I just got done reading 'Life of Pi', which I absolutely loved. But, don't read it. Because I know you will hate it. Unless you are of a superior, academic mind, like myself. Then read it, and love it. (Just kidding, Book Club friends!))

It was a fun day at the zoo. (However, there was an incident where little monkeys were sticking their hands out of their wired fence, and this man reached up and held their hands. And then he held his baby up to the monkeys in the hopes that the monkeys would touch his baby. Disturbed me greatly. Not that he touched the monkeys. That he broke the rules. Rule breaking makes my armpits itch.)

Date night (with Theodorable) to the divine Cherry Cricket. It was, as always, heavenly. Please come and visit me so that we can have an excuse to go there often.

Nights at home when all the children are sleeping are the best. We played 'Ticket to Ride'. We had fun. Doesn't it look like we're having fun? If you are interested in using this picture to advertise how fun 'Ticket to Ride' is, shoot me an email.

And Christina and Dave gave us the gift of music. In the form of Karaoke Revolution! It was awesome. A little intense. No game for amateurs. But that's okay, since Christina and I are both formally trained.

Neither of us could be bothered to get off our bums. And that is why we will be friends forever.

Dave and Jakob rocked on.

And then it was time to go. A fun and full weekend. And, yet, relaxing at the same time. Thanks for coming guys! Until next year!