Such a great weekend

This weekend was great for so many reasons. #1 We got to see our wonderful friends. It has been a while since we have seen the whole family. I was able to attend my friend's baby shower in late February, but my husband and kids were not with me. The last time we got to actually see each other as entire units was at Landry's birthday last October..and even then it was pretty hectic. #2 It was the first weekend since moving into our home that we were able to do something other than work on the house. #3 Our kids had a great time together. #4 It was really relaxing...sometimes having company can be really stressful - but it wasn't. It was laid back, no set plans...it was just fun!

I am not very good at making new friends, I can admit that. I feel like the last 6 or 7 years I have kind of been in a "no BS" state of mind. I can be in a group setting and get along fine with people, but I don't feel the need to kiss anyone's butt. I honestly only have a handful of people I consider friends, but as with most things in life, I feel that its quality over quantity. What good is a 100 friends if you can't share your secrets with any of them???

When I met Nikki and Travis, it was before either of us had children...although not long after meeting them I got pregnant! Nikki and Travis had recently gotten married and JR had just moved in with each other. We lived on the third floor above a bar across the hallway from each other. I remember when I first met them, I was shocked to learn that these two "grown-ups" were actually my age. While, they had what I called "real jobs" and had things like the internet, JR and I were more concerned with hitting the bars - EVERY NIGHT - and only worried about making enough money to cover rent and partying. Obviously, aftter I got pregnant, we grew up and stopped going to the bars all the time. JR and Travis played on a softball team together, so Nikki and I usually went to the games together and got to know one another. I really liked her, she was a fundamentally nice person, and I loved getting to hang out and talk to her. As time went by Nikki and Travis were getting ready to buy there first home, while JR and I were getting ready to move into an apartment a little closer to where he worked. The Ward's moved into their house in La Marque, and we moved to our apt. in Clear Lake (by that time JR had a "REAL job" LOL) Luckily we didn't live that far from each other and we were still able to hang out and keep in touch. Logan arrived about 23 days after the move on March 23, 2007.

A year later, Nikki told us the house next door to hers was up for rent, JR and I quickly jumped on it. I was so excited to get to live next door to them again! We moved in a week or so before Logan's 1st birthday. We had many good nights of hanging out with those guys, and the following year - a week before Logan's 2nd birthday, JR and I got married. In Ward news, they were expecting their first child. We, were expecting our second. Aiden Ward was born July 1, 2009. It was really neat to live next door to someone who had become such a great friend, unfortunately..a few months later we moved to north Houston. Landry was born Oct. 15, 2009 and 6 months later JR got transferred to Austin so we moved to Kyle.

Here we are, April 16, 2012 - 6 years later, and we are still great friends with the Wards. Their second baby will be here in May...it's amazing how much we have each gone through in 6 years. I truly consider Nikki to be one of my best friends and I love getting to hang out with them. I just wish I could talk them into moving here! LOL

Our kids played so well together. Aiden and Landry are only 4 months apart, while Logan is a little over 2 years older than they are...but it didn't matter, Aiden and Logan had a great time playing - and they were really great to each other, and Landry and Aiden played wonderfully together as well. I am always a little nervous to see how my kids will interact with other kids. I know I have great kids...but, I'm their mom, so of course I think they are great. LOL The thing is, my kids like to irritate each other. Oh, they love each other, and some days they don't fight at all..some times they cuddle and love on each other...while others - they seem to have more fun getting on each other's nerves. This is why I worry...however, they all did awesome. At one point Logan came and told me he wanted to play with one of the toys that Aiden was playing with. I told Logan just to go ask Aiden and I bet that he would share. It took a few times...not because Aiden didn't want to share, but because Logan gets shy and mumbles so no one can understand him. So I had to keep telling him to speak up. Once Aiden understood what Logan was saying, he handed the toy right over! GREAT SHARING! I told Nikki, that I was actually happy Logan came to me...although I wish he would have just asked Aiden to begin with, I was glad he didn't just take the toy. If Landry would have been holding the toy..I am pretty sure he would have just taken it from her and vice versa. As far as I can remember, none of the kids fought, they all shared really well, and enjoyed playing together. So I just have to pat the Wards on the back, and myself and JR too for doing such a great job being parents. It is so easy to second guess myself, and I am sure I have made a thousand mistakes parenting...but watching my kids get along with others...well it certainly makes me feel good!

Don't worry - this is not an opportunity to tell you how awesome I am...both of my kids had their meltdowns...Logan was upset that I cut his corndogs, which resulted in him refusing to eat for about 30 minutes...Landry had a seat belt freak out. Heck - my kids aren't perfect and neither am I...the point is, I am really proud of them and of Aiden for how well they played together, and how nice they were to each other. It just really makes me happy.

On Sunday we took the kids to the park and the pool. All three of them got into the freazing water, and played their little hearts out! Again, they did great, they all played together really well. I went through my pictures last night...I took 212 photos - GEESH! I deleting over a hundred and got it down to 65! LOL I am hoping to take those up to Target today or tomorrow so I can upload them on the computer!

Anyway, we had a really great weekend! Now, I have to continue working on the house, because our house warming party is this weekend! YIKES!