Friends & Coming Home

How can I not start with this when documenting this part of our trip...?

We were so spoiled when it came to meals.

Gourmet breakfasts and Mediterranean dinners.

Dit blew me away with his skills in the kitchen.

Poune's AMAZING french toast...
and that was homemade whipped cream to boot!

I didn't even think to get photos of the other things

but man, let me just say, a guy who cooks? He's a keeper!

It was so nice to see my friends. We have pretty much known each other our whole lives.

We have been part of nearly all pivotal moments in each others' lives up until we all got married.

Sitting on the couch those late nights talking like we hadn't been apart for almost 10 years

was very refreshing. It felt good seeing the connection hadn't gone away.

The beautiful Anabelle.
Such a sweet, adorable baby.

Kate meets Dean

He calls her Cake. Its the sweetest thing ever.

Dit built the kids a cardboard house that they all loved to pile into. All 5 kids at a time.

Downtown Apex

I LOVED my hat... or should I say the word I just learned? Fascinator. I loved my fascinator

*****
Marbles Museum

The babies all fell asleep while we stayed up late talking into the morning...

We had a relaxing, fun time with Dit and Pou and all the NC folks.

Thank you so much Poune for being such a gracious southern hostess.

It was amazing to see you and the kids and we really need to do it more often.

Like we were, I want our kids to be close friends too.

***

The long trip back home.

If it could go wrong, it did, on the way to the airport for our flight(s) home.

Ella threw up all over herself, there was dead stop traffic on the highway,

we had to turn in our rental car and ...you don't even want to know the rest.

Suffice it to say that we made our flight to Chicago. Barely, but we made it.

Jaclyne was brilliant and bought an iPad in NC so that the girls

could have something to watch and keep them busy on the long flights.

It worked wonders.

Our first layover was in Chicago for 4 hours.

Lunch at Macaroni Grill and running in the playground kept the girls busy.

We got to visit the famous Garrett's Popcorn that we've heard Oprah rave about so many times.

It was good. Really good.

Thank god there was a playground in the O'hare to help the girls

run out some of their energy during the 4 hour layover.

My well-seasoned travelers

Next layover, Seattle. 2 hours.

This was a gorgeous airport. An entire wall of windows.

Ella was fascinated by the planes taking off.

Going home is always bittersweet. I love being away. I love to see different places.

Crossing off places and things off of my life list makes my heart happy.

But coming home to this beautiful face, who hasn't left my side for a second since I got home?

It makes me never want to leave again.

He said when I leave he feels like this...

We had a fabulous trip and I'm so glad I went.

I'm so glad to have a friend who never tires of me and vice versa.

Speaking of friends, I'm so grateful I got to see my old friends,

for my babies to have made some new friends.

That's what life is all about, isn't it?