A Toast to Great Girlfriends!

Last week, my sister had two very special visitors staying with her - a long lost (well, not really "lost") friend who I'd not seen in about 7 years, plus her beautiful one year old son.  Jen, aka Nenny or our Eastie Sister, is a dear friend who was in our double wedding (as an official bridesmaid for Juli and an unofficial one in my party) and a extension of the Mansfield family while we lived in Langley and went to uni.  She is the reason I cleared out an under-the-stairs vacuum cleaner closet, painted it all girl-y purple, and called in my "room" for a year while attending Trinity.  Those were fun years, having Jen in BC, instead of off in those other stinky provinces.

I know she doesn't read this, but so glad you came for a visit, Jen.  Wish we had longer to hang out, but so glad we got to catch up at least a bit.  Let's make it a yearly event, right?!

(Can't believe I don't have a single photo of her sweet boy, Rhydian. :(  Bad photographer, Niki!)

Then last night I was able to get my girl friend tank filled with a much needed coffee time out with three friends.

Let me say - there is almost nothing more refreshing for a mom than this time of gabbing with close friends.  (Husbands, if you are reading this, take note!)  I can tell if I haven't had enough of this time, and last night was one of those nights. 

It is SO great to be able to sit and sip coffee, kid free, and share what is going on in our lives, marriages and families.  Yes, we might not be able to solve ALL world's problems (YET!), but life and priorities do get worked out from have this time with some great gals. 

Thanks for answering the last minute call to get together, gals.  Even if we missed the BOGO Starbucks window, it was a lovely night.
 
(And a big thanks to a GREAT husband, who makes a night like this possible! But more on this subject later.)

Kaleb is at a friend's this evening, and till Andy gets home from work, it is just us girls.  And since dinner is ready to go (left-overs from the birthday party on Monday), it seems like the right time to do something special.  Paint? Make cookies? Off I go...