A HUGE Shout Out Goes to...

You might have notice the new look of my blog along with the development of my creative blog, Laurel Lane. It is still a work in progress, but I am just tickled pink with the way they have turned out. I absolutely couldn't have done it without the help of my BFF Charmaine. This chica is a Photoshop DIVA and altogether creative genius. I always turn to her for input and inspiration. Seriously there is NOTHING this girl can't do!

Not only is she incredibly talented, but she will drop anything (and everything) to help a sista out. I cannot count the times she has rescued me. She stayed up with me all night as we painted, sewed, and cleaned to be ready for my baby shower...that SHE threw! Who does that? She is also my personal graphic designer. She has a way of knowing exactly what I am going for...even if I don't.

Oh, and I must mention that we are the undisputed, undefeated Catch Phrase champions against our husbands. Our brains are completely in sync with one another. (Moo goo gai pan...that's all I have to say!)

I can count on one hand the number of people who KNOW me...I mean truly know the real me. (The scary bits and all.) She is one of them. Lucky her. I trust her implicitly. I can cry, complain, vent, gossip, worry and all...she bares with me. She also has the gift of uplifting and inspiring people to be their best selves.

Although she has moved far away I'll take what I can get. We can spend 5 plus hours on Skype...a good deal of which we aren't talking or are off taking minimal care of the kiddos. That's just how we roll. One day, when Randy stops being lame and going to school, I'll get her back. Until then, blogs, Skype, and copious amounts of phone tag will have to do.

To sum her up...SHE ROCKS!

Fast Friends

A few weeks ago while Grace was playing in her "fort," (our loveseat turned on it's side and draped with a sheet) I overheard her chattering away. Nothing unusual about that, but then she said a name, Sophie. It's likely she heard Jeff and I mention it in conversations about what we want to name a girl. (If we are to get another girl, that is. It is so weird to say "get" instead of "have.") The thought also crossed my mind that she was pretending to play with a little girl she knows from Nursery. Either way, I KNEW she was in desperate need of a friend to play with. (Poor girl, oldest grandkid in both sides. Everyone she knows is an adult. I'm not sure you can count Alexis or Jeff most of the time.)

The next week I made arrangements with Sophie's Mom to have a playdate at the park for the girls. They hit it off right away! It was so fun to watch them play and giggle. They had the best time! They even got a little mischievous on the bike ride to our house, rocking the trailer back and forth...giving me the workout of a lifetime. We had a little picnic in our living room and they played with toys. It was a fun afternoon and I was especially thrilled that Gracie had a friend. I look forward to what the future holds for these two. Hopefully they will be the BEST of friends. They sure are cute together...