I know it has taken me forever to get my pictures and post up. We just arrived home yesterday from our whirlwind tour of the Northeast. We had an amazing time, feel so blessed to have made these lifelong adoption friends and now we can honestly say we have met in person. We loved getting to visit with everyone and had such a great time.
We started our trip with our flight(in the carseat~yay) to Philly where Paul(Heather's husband) so kindly picked us up and entertained us for the afternoon. Heather and Hsin came home and Hayden and Hsin played and Heather and I had an awesome time catching up and laughing that we couldn't believe that we were actually sitting in the same room with each other and looking at our girls playing together. We headed to dinner where Hayden pooped from the trip slept completely through, and then ventured to the mall for a quick exchange in the WINTER like weather. Then home we went to get the girls in bed...except Hayden had other plans...no sleeping in the pack and play!! So I will just skip the bedtime part of this trip by saying that Hayden decided that when we travel she will be sleeping (me not so much) with her mommy and at times ON her mommy:)
Just know that Heather's hubby Paul was the best host, and went way above and beyond the call of duty in entertaining the crazy lady with a baby and a whole lot of crap in tow from TX:)
The next morning we stopped for a bite of breakfast and then got on the road to NY to see Lisa and Paige. The trip was nice because we don't really get the sense of fall here in TX, so it was beautiful to see all the trees changing and for the tempeture to reflect a cool crisp fall day. On arrival to Lisa's house in the cutest neck of the woods we were just so excited to actually all be together and with our girls. We dressed them all alike as you can see, and I would say they were the cutest little girls in town!! The girls played together really well considering they had never been together and quite frankly Hayden has had very little interaction with children her own age. Hayden loved Magic(Lisa's lab) she squealed in delight when Magic was let out and was chasing her all over the kitchen trying to get a hold of her tail:)
Awesome is all I can say about the entire visit. We all had really bonded during our wait, and I just kept wanting to pinch myself that I was actually sitting there with these awesome mommies and watching our girls race for the stairs(oh lord I am too old to be doing that much running back and forth) I totally felt like we had been friends forever and there was never one moment for me that I felt nervous or weird that technically I was spending the weekend with strangers...the nicest strangers I have ever met. We did some shopping at the outlets, we sat and had wine and cheese, we watched Lisa's two great son's entertain the little girls and just be so incredibly sweet is was crazy. Awesome I tell you, I can't wait to do it again.
On Sunday the plan was for me to take the train to NJ to another friend's house, but John(Lisa's amazing husband) insisted that he drive me because he thought I had too much stuff(crap) So really there wasn't a train involved, but there was suppose to be one(hence the title) So on Sunday night in the rain(while the Jets where playing...sorry John) we loaded up the car and kids and drove what was suppose to be halfway between NY and my friend in NJ. Problem was we didn't plan well enough that we each came in on two different roads but were trying to find each other at an exit....dum de dum dum dum!!! So what should have actually been not a terrible trip turned into the three stooges on a wet cold Sunday night where I think both cars got to see drug deals go down in Brooklyn, and Lisa feeling VERY carsick!! Thanks John for everything!! You cook, you clean and you drive and you do it all with a sense of humor.
Then we spent the next 3 days in NJ with a very old friend and her girls. It is beautiful where she lives and I always forget that I would move there in a second if I liked winter. NJ really gets a bad rap, but I am telling you everything is so charming and pretty. The churches, the houses, the landscape...everything is just so pretty and charming. Hayden loved spending time with Madeline(7) and Emma(4)We were able to see them do some of their activities by going to ballet and to swim practice. We had great food!! Hayden loved playing in their amazing playroom, her eyes would get big and she would say WOW each time we went down the stairs. She rode on the neat battery powered barbie car(bad steering, but good at pressing the button) Hayden discovered that she loves Indian food, and that a 7 year old will always be happy to carry you anywhere you want to go. Suz I always miss you more after I have been to visit. You have the sweetest, most polite kiddos, and we hope we see you this summer!!
Well 6 nights and 7 days away, it was time to go home. Hayden missed her dogs and her daddy(not in that order) and we made our way to the airport for the journey home. We lucked out and while we didn't have our carseat we were able to score 2 seats and so Hayden actually did well on the flight home. She slept for part of it and the rest of the time seemed to be content playing with our stuff. I know the man sitting in the row with us was relieved that she was so good. I think he had a moment of panic when he got to his row:) She screamed as loud as she could when she saw David!! I think they both missed each other a ton!!
Friends in the Northeast we had a blast, and can't wait to do it again. We missed seeing a few people, but hopefully we'll see them the next time we come up. We are glad to be home where we will stay put for awhile. I must say...single moms I don't know how you do it, I am exhausted.
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