Getting reacquainted
As with the case last year, I have trouble finding the right words to describe our experience having our good friends Mary and Jamie, along with their children Ben and Greta over for Thanksgiving week. They are, in a few words, the most conscientious, kind, laid back and fantastic people you will ever meet. So, of course, we miss them terribly even though they just left yesterday.
Ben and Milo met when they were just 5 months and 3 months old, back when Andrew and I were living in Baltimore and new to the whole parenting thing. Mary and I met in a coffee shop and instantly hit it off (well, after I accidentally stood her up for our first friend date, that is). And then we started hanging pretty frequently, and our husbands really genuinely liked each other. Then we had more kids. Then, then, then. Then we moved away. But no matter. Distance has become no big thing. Well, that is easy for me to say as Mary and Jamie have been the ones to travel out to see us both times… but things will be different as I am no longer pregnant/sick/hospitalized/just given birth/planning to have any more kids!!!
Getting acquainted
They arrived in good spirits on Monday afternoon after an insanely long journey and we picked back up right where we left off one year ago. It was amazing and touching to watch Milo and Ben size each other up, then immediately run off, chatting and playing with Oliver not far behind… and Greta not far behind him.
Giving Jamie a run for his money
Ben met Emil and had a million questions about babies in general, and was more than happy to take him off my hands for a while. That first evening was LOUD as Ben and Milo tornadoed through the house like a couple of rabid squirrels feeding off of the other’s excitement and energy…
… so it was only natural that they should encounter a tornado simulator at the Science Center only the following day. And after a long and rainy morning hustling and bustling 5 kids and 4 adults to and from said Science Center, we gladly embraced Toy Story 3 (with popcorn!) for a few moments of peace (and a few moments is about how long this captured all of their attention).
Rainy day fire? Check. Movie? Check.
Some lovin’ from Mary?
Check.
It was a lot like a year ago, but louder. More. More kids, more words (Greta talks surprisingly well for an 18-month-old… and jumps well too!), more chaos and more fun. I was amazed by what Ben remembered from a year ago- the City Museum, what room he had slept in… he even asked if Cat and Garriy would be here! I’m afraid we were the chaos culprits. Adding a fussy baby plus lots of cooking for Thanksgiving meant one less adult to share in the childcare duties… I found myself inevitably guilty for pawning off my spawn AND not being able to give our guests the amount of attention I would have liked. But I suppose things will only get easier in the years to come. And I would share any and all holidays with these wonderful friends who are as close to family as one can get. We love you guys!
Check back for part 2!
This should be a Thanksgiving tradition with Mary’s family. You can really feel the love from these pictures! Everything looked beautiful and cozy, too.
We had the BEST time with all of you…WE LOVE YOU!
aww I’m SO happy that you guys got to all be together again. It’s so awesome when friends become like family. Such great pictures. The house looks beautiful, Lauren!