So Much FUN!!

I had such a great trip to Youngstown I can't even tell you!! (but I'm going to try...it will be long) I had so much FUN!! It was so great to be able to get away for a while and hang out with two of my best friends and their families. I was going to leave Michigan on Thursday, but the stupid winter weather struck so I couldn't leave until Friday morning, but then I decided to stay until Monday so I guess in the long run it all evened out.

I love being able to get into my car and go. I think and talk, and talk and think some more. For the majority of the drive going to Ohio I talked to my other best friend Meg. Then after I got off the phone with her I just drove and thought about more stuff. It's amazing what you can think of and about when you are alone in your car for five hours.

I arrived in Youngstown a little after 1:00. Typically, I head right to Jennie's house, but this time I switched things around and spent time with Lora her husband Chris and their little boy Luca. (I have known Luca since he was eight weeks old, the two of us have a very special relationship) I got there right as Chris was leaving to go to work. We hugged in the driveway and said, "See ya later!" The rest of the day and night was spent with Lora and Luca. The last time I was in Ohio, I didn't get to see Lora so it was great to be able to spend time with her. We had such a great night!! The three of us went out for dinner, did a little shopping, took Luca for a haircut, came home, went in the hot tub, chilled out, and of course talked and laughed!! I don't think the two of us have laughed that hard in a long time. We laughed until we cried, and then we talked and laughed some more! It was so...much...fun!! A little before mid-night Chris got home and then the three of us sat and just talked. I don't think we went to bed until right around 2:30 in the morning.

Jennie, Lora and I have been friends for about three years. As you know we met when I moved to Youngstown, we all worked together at the same Childcare Center. However, the day Shawn died our relationship immediately changed. The three of us got so much closer. Another amazing thing that happened is the relationships that I now have with the two Chris's. (Both Jennie's fiancee and Lora's husband are named Chris) The three of us knew each other before Shawn died and if I called either Jennie or Lora and one of the Chris's answered sure we talked and said "Hi" but that was about it. Last year when I started going for visits my relationship with both Chris's also changed and changed for the better. I can't really explain it but I have such a great relationship now with both of them. I also know that the two Chris's are watching out for me and I know I could call them if I ever needed anything! We all joke that when I come to down that each of the Chris's have two wives. Sure we are all friends, but more than anything now it is like we are one big family and let me tell you it is GREAT!!

Saturday was our Christmas party at Lora's house. Lora had to work Saturday morning so her Chris and I took it upon ourselves to get the house picked up and ready. Lora was in her office on a conference call, but Chris and I joked that she was really just sitting in her office because she knew that the two of us were doing the housework. We talked and cleaned, and talked some more with lots of playing with Luca in between. Again, simple things, but a great time!

Around 4:00 p.m Jennie, her Chris and their three boys got to Lora's house. As soon as Jennie got there the party was under way!! We had an AWESOME time!!!! I mean it rocked!!! We had lots of yummy food, a phew yummy drinks, and a great group of people to have a great time with. The Chris's hung out in the garage, while Jennie, Lora, I and the boys were partying like rock stars inside. Oh speaking of rock stars...we played rock band and it was lots of fun. However, little Miss Jennie gets rather competitive when she plays Rock Band. She kicked me out of the band, and I think Lora was well on her way too. Personally, I think Jennie plays rock band just a bit too much! After our Rock Band playing we decided it was time to open up Christmas gifts...FUN!!!

I got Lora and Jennie matching p.j's. Well ,the bottoms were different, but the tops were the same. Oh and I got them scarf's too. As soon as Jennie and Lora opened their gifts they ran to the bathroom and changed into their jammie's! I was so mad that I didn't buy myself a matching pair...what was I thinking?!?! I mean seriously! Even though I didn't have matching ones I still got into my jammie's and we all took a picture. Lora got me a scarf too, so the three of were in our jammie's with our scarfs.... I love this picture of us!

We decided I needed to be in the middle to break up some of pinkness. I think another good picture.

For Christmas this year I got each of the boys a stuffed animal with a matching blanket. Lora got each of the boys matching jammie's too. Kinda funny if you think about it, I got Lora and Jennie matching jammie's, Lora got the boys matching jammie's and then I got all the boys matching blankets. We were on the same wave length on that one. Great minds think alike.

Devin, Nuby, Payton, and Luca in the chair with their matching jammie's, and blankets. Just adorable! I love those four little boys so much!!

This next picture is of all of us right before we got ready to go back to Jennie's house for the night.

I mean seriously why didn't I get matching jammie's for me?!

Here is a picture of Luca and his Woody doll that I got for him. He is loving Toy Story right now!

Saturday night I headed to Jennie's for the rest of the weekend. We got home and put the boys to bed then Jennie, Chris and I snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie. Well, I take that back Chris bailed on us, so Jennie and I watched our movie. Jennie loves, and I don't mean a little love, I mean totally 100% LOVES the movie Rent. So....she got each Lora and I our own copy for part of our Christmas gift. I'm not the type of person who really likes watching musicals...but I will tell you that I LOVED it!! Rent was such an awesome movie and Jennie was cracking me the hell up watching it. She was grinning ear to ear the entire time! Since then I have been singing the sound track in my head. Saturday was another long night and Jennie and I didn't go to bed until really late.

Sunday is Jennie's day to sleep in and boy did she sleep, until right around 11:00! I woke up around 9:00 and snuggled on the couch with Jennie's three boys. Lora got the movie Up for part of their Christmas gift so the four of us snuggled up on the couch and watched that movie. It was such a good movie, although a little on the sad side. Chris even joined us on the couch as well! Once Jennie woke up we all got dressed and ready to go for the day. However, we really went nowhere and we all just sat on the couch watching The Disney Channel. Again, great family time! Sadly, Jennie had to go to work for a few hours on Sunday night. While she gone I went out to dinner with two of the coaches that I'm still close too. Then I went back to Jennie's house and Chris and I just hung out and went to visit Jennie at work since their boys were at their Grandmas. It was kinda nice just to be able to hang out with Chris for a while, the two of us had a good conversation. Then we put the boys to bed and Jennie was home soon after that. The rest of the night Jennie, Chris and I sat in the living room and watched various shows on TLC. Yup, that's what the three of us do...watch interesting shows on TLC...gotta love it!

I also had two special moments with each Jennie and Lora as well. We have all talked on different occasions about what happned the day Shawn passed away. They have each told me things that they remember or that stick out in their minds. Once again on Friday night Lora and I were talking about it and she shared with me some of her memories and things she was feeling that day. Sunday afternoon Jennie and I got to talking and we talked about that day. Jennie was with me in the small room when the Dr. came in and told me the news. We have talked about this time before, but once again we talked about those moments immediately afte we got the news about Shawn. I'm so blessed to have had both Jennie and Lora with me that day. They were great friends and never left my side the entire day. It probably sounds odd to say, but I'm glad that the three of us can talk about that day 16 months later. I'm thinking that we will all remember the events of that day for a long time.

Then on Monday morning I got up, told everybody good bye and kinda sad liked got in my car and headed back to Michigan. I always hate leaving them. I hate a great weekend and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate Christmas with Jennie, Lora and the entire crew. I love you guys!!

I will leave you of my favorite picture taken during the weekend....Jenny and Luca!