Reagan, Avery and I keep rather busy each week doing lots of fun stuff. On Monday mornings, we go to River Vale First Friends so Reagan can play with friends with whom she'll eventually go to elementary school. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and now Thursday mornings (recently added) Reagan thoroughly enjoys going to Ms. Lisa's preschool prep for 2 hours. On Fridays, we usually get together with friends for a playdate. On some days, we even get together for playdates in the afternoons, after naps. Here are a few highlights of how we spent the last few days of this week:
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, my friends Meredith and Nicole wanted to get out of the house after naps and the weather had been rather nice all day. We decided to meet at a park to let the kids run around. Once we got there, the clouds covered the sun and the temperature dropped. We hung out as long as we could (since the kids hardly noticed the cold), then decided to take our
playdate indoors. Nicole was nice enough to let us come over, spur of the moment. Both their husbands were working late and John had to attend a viewing that night, so we kept each other company.
Nicole's son Bennett. He's getting so big and independent ... he's only 13 months old!
Nicole's daughter Mia was playing Peek-a-boo with Avery
As it got later and we all got hungry, Nicole was a sweetie and cooked us all a delicious dinner. We went to the kitchen to eat and Meredith and I left our babies in their car seats watching Go, Diego, Go! Quinn and Avery were perfectly happy there together.
THURSDAY
Thursday didn't turn out as I'd expected ... I dropped off Reagan at preschool and came home to complete a long list of things to do. Just as I finished the first item on my list (showering and drying my hair), I recognized the all-too familiar spots in my vision that unmistakably indicated an oncoming migraine. I've been getting migraines since elementary school, so it's been a long battle with these debilitating headaches. Luckily, I have a very supportive husband who steps in when I have to step out. I slept that day from 10am -1PM and woke up feeling groggy and kind of like I'd been run over by a truck. As the day progressed, I felt better and still managed to attend bookclub that night.
Here is a picture of Meredith and Nicole. I didn't pull out my camera until the end of the evening when many of the gals had already left. As usual, we hardly discussed the book, especially since it was a dismal percentage of people who actually read it (only 2 out of 13 finished it, I think). I love to read, but couldn't get into this book at all, so I didn't bother finishing it. Okay, I hardly read any of it, only the first 30 pages. In case you're wondering, it was called "
Before You Know Kindness." It's a good thing everyone brought lots of delicious food, since we spent the night eating and socializing :)
FRIDAY
We had no plans for Friday and I figured we'd spend the day inside since it was supposed to rain all day. Meredith was supposed to have a photo shoot with our friend
Christie Adams, but they decided to reschedule it due to the weather and lack of natural light. Meredith emailed Nicole and me to see if we were interested in meeting her at
Kids Kingdom ... turns out Nicole was already meeting her friend
Chenin from Yonkers there, so it worked out really well. Before we left, I took these cute pictures of Avery. My grandparents (Avery's great-grandparents) Betty and Wayne
Fawson sent her this outfit for Christmas:
I forgot to throw my camera in my bag after I took these pictures, so I don't have any pics from Kids Kingdom. This was the 3rd or 4th time we went there and I couldn't believe how many new things Reagan tried this time. She climbed through areas she didn't dare attempt last time and it made me realize how big she's getting! She had so much fun that when it was time to leave, she wasn't happy with me.
After KK, we walked to the nearby Panera for a most-delicious lunch! They have a creamy-tomato soup served with Asiago cheese croutons on top that is amazing ... I crave it often and it really hit the spot on that rainy day. Here are some pictures taken with my iPhone (sans flash, so not the best quality):
Reagan and Amanda at Panera
Meredith and Timmy
Bennett, Nicole and Mia
Cassie and Chenin
Most of the other patrons kept their distance from us, since we had 4 moms and 7 kids! It was crazy, but tons of fun. Actually, all the kids behaved really well. Nicole and Chenin left first, the Meredith and I left a little later. We didn't want Reagan or Timmy to get away from us, so we told them to stick together walking, while we pushed the babies in the strollers. Timmy grabbed Reagan's hand and they had a ball, running and giggling together.
Timmy and Reagan
It was a really great way to spend the rainy morning. I came home, put the kids down for a nap and made lasagna.
So, I spent 3 days in a row with Nicole and Meredith, two friends who have been wonderful and supportive in so many ways. It's so nice to have such sweet friends here in NJ. We have a lot in common, since they both have graduate degrees in education and that's what I'm working toward right now (well, I was working toward it, until I had to put it on hold to have Avery), and of course, we all have kids in similar age ranges. Anyway, much thanks to both of them for being my incredible friends!
Tonight was our bookclub meeting which was hosted this month by Christie Adams (my talented photographer friend) in Hawthorne. Jen was nice enough to drive Nicole and me to Christie's house.
Christie, Jen and Amanda
Jenny, Sara, Emily* (34 weeks pregnant), and Sari
Nicole and the spread!
Jenny, holding up Christie's book selection, "Time of My Life"
Nicole (the hostess with the mostest) and Amanda
Meredith and Timmy
Emily, Hattie, & Reagan on Thanksgiving
