College Girls Weekend 2010

My 4 best college girlfriends & I got together once again this past weekend! We really make an effort to get together once a year, and the past 2 years the gathering has been in Edmond, OK at Kristen's parents house! For the second year in a row we were completely spoiled.. it really is like staying at a bed & breakfast. I look forward to this weekend all year long- these are a few of my very closest friends! All of us lived together in college, were in each other's weddings, and know one another as well as we know ourselves!

Kristen & I (along with Kristen's youngest, Scott) drove up Friday afternoon after lunch. The other 3 girls (Brooke, Karie, & Jean) drove down from Memphis the same day! We arrived a few hours early & relaxed until they got there! I'm pretty sure that once they did, none of us stopped talking until we left on Sunday....besides for the few hours of sleep we got each night! Suzanne (Kristen's mom) fixed us a yummy dinner on Friday night- salad, 2 kinds of homemade soup, cornbread, and cake! We basically spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and eating more!

Me, Brooke, Karie, Jean, Kristen


On Saturday we took our time getting ready & eating a wonderful breakfast at the house! We then went to pick up another college friend, Amanda, for lunch! We ate at the same place as last year... Mexican of course! After dropping Amanda off, we did our usual shopping, then stopped for ice cream, and finally enjoyed relaxing pedicures!! It was perfect.

Before heading out for the day


Lunch with Amanda


Jean, Amanda, & Brooke after lunch


Pedicures


These two are definitely enjoying a relaxing a day without their 3 kiddos (each!)


The finished product


We stopped at the house to freshen up & then went to dinner, more shopping, and home to watch "The Backup Plan" and "Date Night"- both great movies! It was a very late night... I think it was 2:15am when I last looked at the clock.... but SO worth it!

Heading to dinner


Rockin' the minivan


Kristen & Jean at dinner


Karie, me, & Brooke


Brooke & I enjoying Starbucks before the movie


Karie & I


Jean & I


Me & Kristen (fyi- her glasses are not red- my flash just makes it look that way... along with her eyes!)


Sunday morning we ate one last fabulous breakfast before saying our goodbyes. It was a little more difficult for me this time because I know it won't be as easy to get together next year. Karie has recently moved to Nashville & Brooke is moving to the Virginia/DC area in two weeks! It's hard to be so spread apart & far away from each other. :( I'm hoping our next trip can be with our entire families- I know our kiddos would enjoy spending time together (just like we do!)

Sunday morning at breakfast- I love these girls so much!


Thank you to Larry & Suzanne for hosting our special weekend, and to our husbands for watching the kiddos!

Longhorn Love

Since the Longhorn game was during the afternoon this past Saturday, Austin was able to enjoy the game with us. He wasn't really paying attention, but he would get excited when we would & also raise his hands in the air when we'd yell "TOUCHDOWN". We're trying to teach him to do Hook Em Horns with his hand, but it's tough! He'll have it down by the end of the season though!

He thinks it's so fun to play on our legs like a jungle gym (in actuality, it really hurts us because he is HEAVY!)

What a smile (sorry about Shane's lovely feet in the picture)


Watching the game.. poor Daddy.


A new favorite toy is these foam Sesame Street alphabet puzzle squares. He prefers to bring the basket of them to us & watch us build something... and then he carries it around or tears it down. And then we do it all over again. A thousand times.

Supervising Mommy's work


Helping build


Putting one on the top


Excitement


Time to tear it apart (and start over.)


Here are a few with Mommy & Daddy~

TOUCHDOWN!


Trying to get Daddy's attention


Giving kisses


Clapping! GO LONGHORNS!


"Watching" the game

Preschool lunch placemat

Austin's preschool sent home a black piece of construction paper for us to decorate. They will laminate it & Austin will use it as his placemat at lunch! I was torn on if I wanted to use pictures of our family or things he likes. I didn't want him to see pictures of us & it make him sad (especially during those first few weeks.) So my solution was to decorate both sides.... just in case! Now keep in mind I am a CPA...not a teacher~

One side


The other

1st day of preschool

Today was Austin's 1st day of preschool! Granted he went to school for 1 day a week this spring, but this is at a new school where he will go 2 days a week! I was feeling really good about Austin starting school this fall because several of my friends teach at this school, and the majority of our friends take their kids there too.... so I know it's GREAT!

Rewind to Tuesday- Meet the Teacher Day! Shane & I both went- we met his teachers (Miss Tiffany & Miss Jennifer.) The kids stayed in the classrooms while the parents went to the auditorium for about an hour. Drop off & pick up went great... I knew this was too good to be true.

Sitting in class playing with playdough


Listening to Miss Jennifer


Playing on the indoor playground after Meet the Teacher


This morning was his first real day of school! He was excited when we talked about it & very anxious to get in the car to go! He walked in like a big boy (carrying his backpack and lunch bag), walked downstairs to his room, talked to Miss Tiffany for a few minutes, and then panic sunk in. I could see exactly what he was thinking, "I remember this place..... she's gonna leave me." And the tears starting flowing. I did just as instructed- a quick goodbye and then left. Thankfully one of my sweet friends went and checked on him multiple times during the day & said he was doing great! Still though, I went to the car & shed a few tears on my way home. When it was time to pick him up, I went in the classroom to see him laying on his nap mat (he looked adorable, by the way.) As soon as he saw me, he jumped up- but didn't cry!! Miss Tiffany said he had a great day! I'm so proud of my sweet boy! We headed home & I attempted to put him down for a real nap (since he never slept at school)- didn't work. So needless to say, he went to bed early tonight! Looking forward to Tuesday already!!

Love this cute expression


Can't believe he is old enough to be in school- almost 2.5 yrs old!


Ready to go


All smiles in the car on the way to school


Getting nervous.... (the only picture I got at school before the tears started)


Relaxing on the couch after school


Silly boy


Playing with mommy


Playing outside after a long day at school! He's actually looking at the water he wanted to go jump in!


While Austin was at school today, I was able to meet a dear friend for lunch! Kari & I have been friends for about 30 years- isn't that CRAZY?? We had a great time catching up, and I look forward to getting together again soon!

Me & Kari


Lastly, a few short videos from the last few weeks~

Being silly on our way home from the park~ this one just makes me laugh!


Can you tell he likes to jump in puddles (even when there's hardly any water there)???

Catching up

I haven't blogged since returning from our vacation, so I'm needing to catch up on the last few weeks!

We went to a local park last Sunday morning- we love it because they have a wonderful playground & a nice shady trail to walk. There's a small creek that runs along the trail & a big open field with several longhorns in it! They were really close to the fence that day, so we took a few pics!

Climbing up


At the top of the slide all by himself (which makes me really nervous)


Coming down


At the bottom of the slide


Rock climbing


More climbing (he was really good at it, so I backed off later & let him go alone)




Off for a walk/ride on the trail- he's checking to make sure I'm still following them


The longhorns


Off the beaten bath with Daddy


Getting the dirt off- yes, he's that way because of me...


On our way home after a fun morning!


Last Tuesday evening we went and had dinner with Shane's family before they left for Australia! His sister, brother-in-law, niece, and parents are all going for a MONTH! So we wanted to spend some time together before the trip!

Papa Gary & Gran with the grandkids


Austin swinging


Evie swinging


Papa Gary showing Austin the bird feeder


Playing with bubbles




Sweet Evie


Silly boy


On Saturday morning we met Jared, Leah & Reid back at the same park! The boys played, we walked the trail, and then we had a nice picnic! The weather was great & the boys were so well behaved! Lots of fun!

Enjoying our picnic


Leah, Reid, & Jared


Shane, Austin & I- can you tell it's game day?


Jared trying to teach Austin guns up (Texas Tech)


Random- these days Austin really likes for me to give him a snack in the mini muffin pan- with several different options. Of course if I put anything sweet in there, that is what he eats first (like the skittles on the day this picture was taken!)

Eating his snack


Many options


In preparation for school starting this week, I ordered Austin's backpack & lunch bag! He also needed a haircut, so we took care of that today!

He's ready... and looking super excited, huh?


The backpack- we're all about monkeys these days!


Notice the hair before... granted it was a pajama day & his hair hadn't been brushed.


And AFTER


He was watching me fill the bathtub for my bubble bath (excited because he thought he was getting in too!)


Watching the bubbles


Goodness I love this kid!


I'll post later this week about preschool! Meet the teacher is tomorrow, and his 1st day is Thursday!