"me and my best friend."

This past weekend while we were in Savannah for this trip, we snuck in a bit of time before we left to go over to KK's house for a belated Christmas with our bffs.

We actually had enough time to just sit around the house and let the girls play for a while while K, Mr. P, and I chatted and caught up on life a bit. It was perfection. The girls had a blast and I caught myself choking up as I watched them ride motorized cars around the house knowing all too soon those cars won't be motorized. They are just so fun at this age. Gah, some days I just want to bottle this up.

But enough chatter, pictures?
Mr. P watching tv with the scariest doll ever.
I'm so thankful for this friendship. For friends that grow through life with you. For friends who love your kid like you do and spoil her with her first Barbie doll ever.

I'm especially thankful for a friendship that never skips a beat. That every time we get together with these girls, it's easy and comfortable. I'm so thankful for best friends like that.

family time in the s.a.v.

While we went home for my Papa's 80th birthday celebration, we were also lucky enough to have the luxury to spend the weekend with family that we don't get to see very often.

I'll be honest, it's only been in the last few years that I absolutely cherish family time. I'm a bit of a private person (says the girl who blogs on the Internet) so I really like my space, but I'm starting to find that a few days surrounded by the people I love most, are always good for my soul.

We're spread out all over the country now and it is really, really rare for us all to be together at one time, so this weekend was even more special. We had almost two whole days of family fun. We had the party one day (obvs), followed by an early breakfast, some park play time, and even a trip out to the cemetery to check on my Grandma's grave.

There was a lot of laughter, a lot of old stories told, and a lot of hugs and love and a bit of sadness at the goodbyes. I adore my family. I wish I could see them more, although it does make the visits that much sweeter.

Enough of all that, how about some pictures.
My kid loves a swing. She would do this all day if we let her.
A wasn't so much into the hugging thing but BG was bound and determined she was going to get her good bye hug. And she did.
Loving her game of catch and one on one time with her Pops.
It's been long enough. I'm ready for another visit. Stat.

an 80th birthday.

There is one thing that I hope for in this life.

I honestly don't care about nice clothes (they're nice, but not a priority), nice cars (have you seen mine???), or a huge house (mine is about 1200 square feet if we're being generous). Material things have never really mattered to me. Now I like nice stuff and I like to dress my kid nice, but really, I get that at the end of the day; that's not what matters.

Family, friends, the good works you do in this life? those are what matter.

I spent a great deal of time growing up envisioning these big 'ol families in my head. I wrote out their stories and I made up their names and when it was quiet, I put myself in them; imagining sisters and cousins and the kind of big family I didn't have.

I've always wanted a big family (says the girl now with a single child). I like the idea of them; of loud noisy holidays and children running through the halls. I spent a lot of time "living" in the big families in my head growing up thinking I was missing out on something because my family was so small.

Don't get me wrong, I adore my family, but it's small. It always has been.

Until now.

We celebrated my Papa this past weekend at his 80th birthday celebration. Eighty years.

Wow.

I watched my Dad and his sisters proudly circulate the room swapping stories of their Dad with friends that have been around for decades. I watched my Mom and my Uncle who married into this family, giggle and laugh with their grandchildren. I watched as my brother got to introduce his daughter to the people who watched him grow up. I watched my husband and sister in law crack jokes together (probably at our expense!).

I watched my daughter and my niece giggle together as they crawled around the floor. I watched as Baby Girl and her other cousin played peek a boo for hours under a table.

There were friends that my Papa has had since he was a teen in that room. There were people that have known me since I was a newborn there. There was so much love in that room that you could feel it.

As my Dad gave the toast to his Dad, I had to swallow tears at just how proud I was in that moment. Because that family I dreamed of when I was a kid? I have it. And it's kind of awesome.

Someday I hope my kids will celebrate me at eighty. That I can sit in a room surrounded by loads of family (BG better reproduce!!) and friends and know that my days have been spent surrounded in love. That no matter the size of my bank account, I can know I've done something right because they all took the time to come spend that special day with me. That's what matters.

The night was crazy and loud and involved BG having an accident in the middle of the room, but the night was perfect. It honestly couldn't have gone better.

I adore my Papa. I hope that he can look upon the rest of us and be proud. Be proud of the family he's raised. Be proud of the legacy he's given us. Because I'm pretty dang proud of him.

Here's to 80 Papa. Can't wait for the next one.