I busted through ...and made it out!

Thursday, after work, I met two friends from high school, and one "friend", whom I had never met in real life [but was great friends with her husband in high school and feel like we are best pals from our blogging/facebooking/instagramming with each other] for dinner.

We all have busy lives and small children, so what originally was planned as a play date-- was converted into a mom's night out and chat-fest-- because, frankly, we all needed it.

Ashley's baby was fussy, so she slid out early.
We continued to catch up and finally closed down Gloria's at 10:00, and moved over to Starbucks.
They closed at 10:30, so we took it to a table just outside the store.
Erin left too...
And eventually Jenna and I took it to our car.

Finally we realized it was 1:30 in the morning, I got my very own book signing out of the trunk of Jenna's car, and we called it a night!

Jenna and I spent countless nights, in our younger days, with nights just like these.
We took vacations together as families, cheered together, ran up and down the road, laughed, cried and have a lot of funny memories and inside jokes.

After years of little contact, we realized that some things never change!
And we had such a great time together.

Erin was just as sweet and pretty as I knew she would be.
And now when I say, "my friend Erin"... it won't be a lie.  We "know" each other now!

***
Friday, Lance and I had plans to go to a graduation party for the little brother of a guy Lance grew up with.
10 or 15 years ago, this family was the family to host a party...
and again, some things don't change.

They had great food, swimming, beach volleyball, and 2 live bands.

The first few years of mine and Lance's relationship, I sat on the tailgate of a pick-up truck and listened to Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Jack Ingram, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mike McClure, and other artists like that.

10 years later, I sat at the same house and while my husband pitched washers with the same group of guys and I listened to Mike McClure {{live}} and some cat named Johnny Cooper.  (who I didn't know)

We chatted with friends that we never see, rode the Ranger around their property, laughed, told old stories, and had a great time.
So great, in fact, that Lance and I didn't leave until 3:30 this morning!

I was fine with that, because I made friends with Mike's harmonicaist, Jake... and since the bands were staying the night, talked my way into a private concert {{acoustic}}. 

For about a minute, I felt like I am was high school again... living the dream.

That minute was over, this morning, however, when Beckham woke up at 7:00 to nurse and wanted to play until 9:00!!

Today, we had lunch in Boyd at my favorite little gas station.
Stopped for snow cones...

Lance and B took 3 hour naps...
And we did nothing!

Nothing.

***
I feel so much better, after a little (or lot) of 'me time'.
This kind of stuff doesn't fall my way too often, but hopefully I got enough to fill my tank for a little while.
I think my pitty party is over...
I made it out!