Time for a shower....

No not me...I actually had a shower AND washed my hair today :) This might sound like a "duh" statement, but with 4 kids, a shower and hairwashing is a luxury!

No..no...It is time for a shower for a dear friend...a baby shower....which is my favorite kind! My best friend and I are hosting a shower at her house for a friend that has been so kind to host multiple showers for us in the past. It is so fun that we have the chance to re-pay her for her kindness and hospitality.

Here is the invite...



Isn't it cute??

She is having a baby boy in April and I can't wait to meet him!

It should be a great time and a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon....full of friends and food.

I am off to work on decorations....everyone have a fun Friday and a GREAT weekend!

Some things never change....

So I will be the first to admit that I SUCK at keeping up with my friendships on a regular basis...in school it was so easy...you would see your friends...or you lived with them so it was much easier to be there and keep up with the day to day.

Now, I get so caught up with the kids, part-time work and the hubs...weeks pass by without me realizing. Also, I have been guilty of being a lazy friend and keeping up with someone through their Facebook status or their photo albums they post. This is definitely not my intention. I have a great group of friends that I hold very dear to my heart...and tonight I was blessed to spend a great dinner with one of these very women.

Here are some pics of Ashley and I...


(at a Bachelorette Party)


(at MY Bachelorette Party)


(Girl's Night Out before kiddos)

I met Ashley...about 17 years ago...which does not even seem possible!! We cheered together in Junior High and were on the Pom squad together in High School. We used to just hang out at each other's houses and laugh and talk about boys, breakups and other random juvenile gossip. She is one of the kindest people I know...with a huge heart and a wonderful listener. We actually ended up going to the same college for a little while before she transferred because of her field of study.

So through the years we have been in and out of each other's life...but she has always remained close to my heart. She was in my wedding....we hosted each other's baby showers....and no matter how much time passes, we still can simply pick up the phone or sit down at dinner and laugh and talk with ease. I love this about our friendship. It is steadfast and true.

Now we both have 3 year old little girls and attempt to get together between crazy work schedules, kids schedules and sickness.

So tonight was a night for dinner with an old friend. It was one of those evenings that made me realize just how fortunate I am to have met Ashley and after all these years and remain friends. I know that Katelyn will meet many friends in and out of school and activities. Some of these friends she will change who she is to impress or "fit-in" because she will feel like she has too...and others she will realize that she can simply be herself and open up and find a friend for life.

I hope she finds out sooner than later that she is perfect by simply being her.

Happy Hump Day!

*** On a sidenote....Austin decided to roll from his back to his belly today!! So now...he will do this while in bed...and get mad LOL Goofy kid!!

My Mommy Challenges - #1

So as a mom....I feel as though I am faced with a handful of new challenges that I am learning how to tackle. One of these is what I will call the "Mother's circle of friends".

These are the mother's that I turn to to help bounce ideas off of, take comfort in when having a hard day and can share endless stories and pictures of my kiddos with without annoying the crap out of them! Because they are momma's too!

Some of these mother's we luck into...we have our close friends pregnant at the same time, therefore we all migrate to motherhood together. This is always fun...because you know them pre-mommy and they know you pre-mommy. To them...you are the girl who could go out and party until 2am and they get the chance now to hear stories about bottle feedings at 2am. Your kids can grow up friends and then you have someone to tease about those stories "back then" that we all promise to tell our kids to embarass the parent :)

Then you have family that are like friends. I am lucky that for two of my 3 pregnancies, I was pregnant at the same time as my sister-in-laws...this was fun...you are all apart of the same family and not only are they built in friends (this might not be true for all) but the kids are cousins and have a great support system and built in playmates at all family functions.

Then there are the new mommy friends...the ones that only know you with a belly or stretch marks. It is what brought you together as friends. Your kids are on the same team, dance class or school. This is where my challenge comes in...meeting new mom friends. All of a sudden I am back in Junior High scared to talk to the popular kids. Ridiculous I know...but making friends can be difficult...and I am not normally a shy person, but I find myself in situations that instead of introducing myself, I back off. This must be changed! Katelyn is in dance now...and I have a friend that takes her daughter to the same class. So I have one friend there...but I am pretty sure I have never reached out to say hello to other moms in the class. Also, I am looking at putting KK in soccer...again...this would be a great opportunity for Katelyn and myself to make friends.

So I am going to push myself....force myself into those awkward situations where there is no other choice than to say "Hello my name is...." I will update...hopefully before long I will have a few new mommy friends :)

As I write this post...I realize this sounds as though I am saying that moms are only friends with other moms...and that IS NOT where I am going with this...I find that my single friends as well as those friends that are married without children are very important in my friend group. First of all they accept me and my crazy mom stories without judgement and I am hoping that I haven't scared anyone from having children with some of my crazy stories!! I think I am really just saying that I hide behind my kids sometimes when making friends and even keeping up my current friendships. I need to realize, I have to have a life too and take the time away to let myself rejuvenate. Well...here is to friendships!