a story that starts with Mandy.

This is Mandy and her sweet boy Caleb.  Isn't she beautiful?  And Caleb is sure handsome, too!  Mandy and I became friends our freshman year of college when we became pledge sisters.  Our friendship really strenghtened our junior and senior years, and now I consider her one of my best and life-long friends!  I just love how God brings people to you that He knows you will need forever.  And Mandy is definitely someone I want in my life forever! 

Anyhow, she lives in Dallas so one perk of moving to the bustling metropolis of Altus, Oklahoma was being closer to her!  She is now a short 3.5 hour drive away!   Hooray!  I have already gotten to see her twice and we've only lived here for just under four months.  That, my friends, is something my soul loves!

Andy came home one day and said he was going to the Texas Motor Speedway to work for 3 days and raise money for his squadron, which meant a road trip to Dallas!  I instantly called Mandy and she penciled me (and the children) in her calendar for that long weekend!

How could we miss a chance to let our kids do this....

good morning!



or this.....

ready for another car ride!

 I wish I could explain how happy it makes my heart to see our children interacting together!  Just yesterday (well, that's how it feels anyway) we were singing our hearts out at Harry's, swinging through Jakes to get some free hot dogs on our way to Stacks, and living the dream at 118 Waldron.  (for you non-Purdue readers, it is okay if you have no idea what that sentence means!).  

Lucky for me, Mandy is very easy going because not long after making arrangements with her to spend the weekend at her house I found out that was the same weekend as Andrea's baby shower in Austin!  Andrea and I became friends in kindergarten and have shared pretty much every life event together.  Some of my most favorite memories include her.  Remember last December when Andy and I left Olivia behind to go to Jamaica for her wedding?  If not, refresh your memory  by clicking here.   Mandy and Andrea know each other pretty well, too, because you can't really know me and not know one of those great ladies!

So, the stage was set and our road trip to Dallas ended up including a trip to Austin as well which was another 4ish hours south.  Mandy and I braved the drive with all 3 of our kiddos in my SUV!  Whew! is all I have to say about that.

We were happy to do it though all in name of Andrea and her adorable baby bump!




Olivia had quite a time because every house we visited had at least one dog!  Here she is learning to give commands to Rowdy (owned by our other awesome friend Julia).  Telling the dog to "sit" and "lay down" was right up Olivia's alley.  She has become quite the bossy 2 year old these days, but that is a post for another day!



Andrea's Great Danes were probably Olivia's favorite because they were the calmest of the dogs we met that weekend.  She followed them around constantly and even had to show them her pajamas and kiss them goodnight before bed!  She often referenced them as "the horsies" rather than "the puppies", which gave us all a good laugh!



The baby shower was Sunday morning and was lots of fun. I can hardly wait to hear the details of Andrea's baby girl when she arrives in early December!  I am betting that she is a petite and curly-haired beauty just like her mama!

Carter, we didn't forget you!

There was a game that included drinking juice from a baby bottle.
Guess who took over drinking my bottle?!!  Anyone see the irony
of this situation?!!  If not, reference back to the 'bottle crisis' stage of my life,
circa Aug/Sept 2009.

   Carter got lots of loving that weekend, too!  He loves snuggling with anyone who will hold him!



The weekend was quite the adventure, but all in all the children were very well behaved.  I only had to carry a screaming/kicking/shouting/crying two year-old out of a restaurant once (while everyone stared...ugh) during our many hours on the road! 

Thanks for a great weekend, Mandy!  Hopefully your house, your ears, Caleb, and Libby the dog have recovered from the chaos that always seems to follow me around ;)