Nate's Best Friends

Having thought about my best friends, I have been meaning to dedicate a post about Nate's. Nate's first good friend is Lauren. We met her when I joined my Mom's Club four years ago. She is five months older than Nate. They became good buddies and became special friends to each other (Lauren was known to steal some kisses, hugs and some hand holding). Nate became her "Nate boy". We were bummed the day that her mommy announced that their family was moving to Australia for her husband's job :( Happy for them, but bummed since we all became good friends. They will be living there a few years before moving somewhere else (we don't know if they'll return to AZ or not). I'd like to hope that we somehow get a chance to visit them down under. So...in dedication, here's some pictures down Memory Lane :)

Sitting next to Nate at his second birthday party

Done making donuts-time to chill!

Come with me, my darling!--Fall Festival 2010

Queen Lauren and King Nathan

Lunch buddies

Lauren's 3rd birthday party

Lauren's 4th birthday party

Halloween 2011

And finally...Nate's 4th birthday party I'm bummed that we didn't get a chance to say goodbye. At the same time that they left was my last minute trip to NY so I didn't get the chance to take Nate over quick. Ugh. But, thankfully again we have Facebook and Facetime :) Nate's current best dude is Braedan. We met him through our Mom's Club too. He is two days younger than Nate. They now are in the same preschool class but that will change next fall.

At Nate's birthday party

At the end of the year preschool program last year Nate has made a new friend named Ethan in his preschool class. I'll have to see if I can get a picture of them together at the end of the year preschool program :)

Best Friends

Over the last few weeks I've been thinking about my best friends. Two different girls in different stages of life. Both mean a lot to me. My first best friend I've known since elementary school (we've known each other since second grade, but didn't become good friends until we re-connected in the same class in sixth grade). We sat together in class, played clarinet in band together...I think it's really neat that we've remained friends for over twenty years! There isn't anything we don't know about each other. Her name is Annie, she got engaged last summer and is getting married in June in California (two days away from my wedding anniversary even!) I'm super excited for her and to travel to be in her wedding. Making things even cooler, her fiancee bought a house a few years ago a block away from ours! So, my best friend is about to become my neighbor! :D Oh I don't know what I'd do without her. I hope we're sitting on a porch when we're 90, drinking lemonade and discussing our grandkids together.

High school graduation trip to Disneyland

With Nathan, 3 months old at her college graduation party

At my wedding

Annie and her fiancee with Aaron

At Annie's bridal shower

Bachelorette party in Vegas! I just came home from Annie's Bachelorette party in Las Vegas this past weekend. Such a great, yet crazy time :) It's just weird to think of us sitting in the cafeteria with our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and now here we are-playing rolette, dancing and having a few drinks. Going through each stage of life together. I can't wait until she has kids of her own! My second good friend I met almost four years ago. I happened to be looking out the front window of our house and saw our neighbor directly across from us outside with a baby seat. At the time Nate was only months old so I thought that maybe I would walk over with a note, letting the woman know that I was a fellow mom across the street with a young baby as well in case she was interested in talking or getting together. Well-lucky for me I had the courage to leave the note and she had the courage to email me back! :) Her name is Sami, and she has a son named Eli who is a little younger than Nate. For about a year we walked over to each other house's each week and took turns having playdates. I loved having a friend so close who knew what I was going through (and who I could also give advice to). Plus the boys having an extra friend didn't hurt either!

One of Nate and Eli's first dates together

Sami with Eli and Nate

After about a year Sami's husband got a job offer in Oklahoma,where they now reside. I miss our friends. Thankfully at least for Facetime (and Facebook!) we try to chat with our kids as often as time allows. Sami has come back to AZ every now and then to visit family and I visited them in OK once. I hope we get to see each other somehow within the next year. I'm excited for her as well as she's expecting their second child in a few months. Imagine-both my good friends within a block of my home! How awesome would that have been?? Friends are truly one of life's biggest blessings.

Aaron, the 11 month old explorer!

My little dude is into checking out everything. He's still cruising, starting to stand in place without holding on to something for a little bit. He loves going to different places, wants to check everything out. I'll always find him in a different spot than where I left him, already in the midst of holding something in his mouth, taking something off the wall...in that way he's a little bit of a troublemaker :)



Aaron is pretty good at entertaining himself (unlike his big brother, who pretty much wants an itinerary for the week of where we're going,what we're doing). At this rate, summer is going to be super busy for Nathan! :)

Little brother is ready, I think, to be in a booster seat. He's not bad in the car, but he's starting to play with the cover of his car seat, trying to see out. His feet are pushing into the backseat so he's definately long enough, he just needs to weigh a bit more yet. I'm counting down on our last few weeks of formula. I hope he doesn't mind cow milk!



Aaron is going to be a water lover! He loved playing with our new water table (and likes to splash the dog's water too)



Just took him to a park with splashpads for his first time. He was a little shocked (I'm sure because the water was cold too) but I think he'll grow to love it. Nate loves playing in the water equally as much.





Another new favorite-swinging!

Starting to get ready for his 1st birthday party. We're having it at a close frozen yogurt shop, Elmo themed (but of course!) Just cake and presents. I don't think I'll be making too much from scratch this time.





Happy 11 months Aaron!

New York, New York!

I had a pretty rare,lucky opportunity this past week to venture to New York City with Josh while he traveled there for business. Literally the day before he left he called and asked if I could work things out to go-he was going by himself to an auto convention and there happened to be an awesome fare (despite the 24 hr notice!) I couldn't pass it up! Very thankfully, my mom was available and happy to watch the kids so I could jaunt off for almost 72 hours. Truly things happen for a reason.

So, this past Tuesday just until Thursday morning we stayed in NYC. While Josh was busy all day Wednesday with the auto show, I got to explore the city (subways, streets!) on my own. I'm very happy with my map reading skills and that I got on all the right subways without having to get off and re-trace. Woohoo! Thought I'd share some pictures from my short (but awesome!) getaway.


Stayed right by the Empire State building




Times Square-you can see at the top where the ball dropped NYE


9/11 Museum, still progressing. If you want to visit the memorial, be sure to get a pass first! Was glad I checked online and luckily got one last minute.



9/11 Memorial- two huge waterfall areas symbolizing both towers with names of the fallen surrounding. So touching.








Tree planted in the memorial bears significance-on 9/11, it burned-it was discovered however that it still showed signs of life and was nursed back to health. Now it has been re-planted back at the site.






To give an idea how huge these water areas were.




Surviving fireman's hat from that day, in the Visiting Center




Found among the rubble :(



Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art



Can't be among Monet paintings without taking pictures of them!





Walking along Central Park-I'd love to come back with the kids and come here. There's a pond to launch boats, a zoo and different playgrounds inside.




Tulips are everywhere!


Spent some time at a Starbucks inside reading. Ahhhh, the sweet life! ;)



If you're currently watching Celebrity Apprentice- Paul Sr has a chopper for viewing :)



St. Patrick's Cathedral


Rockefeller Center


In the plaza




I've been to NY once before but was excited to make a return trip. I wouldn't have minded seeing a few other things, but I didn't want to push the good luck I was having that day already finding things ;) Having time to sit with a coffee and read was also treat enough to me. Unexpected dinner dates were also awesome. A method we found that we're going to start using- use OpenTable.com when you're somewhere new. We haven't found a place on there yet that has disappointed us! We discovered a French wine bar and Italian restaurant close to us that were great. Twas a fun, unexpected trip away!