I prepared myself for the worst. The hubs decided against driving overnight and instead we left for Charlotte the morning after the girls party. As in left before breakfast.
Castle building with checkers. When we got out of the car they insisted on wearing their new shoes. Because clearly new shoes are essential for vacation.
We stopped for some country cooking at Cracker Barrel where DH informed me the accents become thicker and drawls long with every 100 miles. So I was slightly nervous I would understand no one.
After breakfast we continued straight through, only stopping for a quick lunch. They made it with only one additional potty break! AMAZING! They were so well behaved for the trip. I arrived with nearly full goody bags. Of course my ears were bleeding from the mash-up of DH's and the ladies' musical tastes, but I was still sane. Total success in my book, especially considering we were off schedule and coming off of a trip AND birthday party.
Our first night, Sunday night, we drove to SC for dinner with DH's best friend. Again, the girls behaved beautifully. BEAUTIFULLY! Things got a little dicy with new people and being up past bedtime, but stickers and markers saved the day. Thank you goody bag! We got to catch up and relax a little. Something amazing at the time.
This trip also reinforced that deep inside I'm a pessimist.
It was late Sunday night before I got a response from either Marcia or Mandy. I really started to contemplate the reality that this "trip" was some giant practical joke. Yes, I worry all the time like this. I was also slightly terrified that I had horrible misrepresented myself in my blog, and other interactions, and that in meeting up I would somehow be exposed and everyone would hate me. I guess this could go either way, but there is always this dark cloud looming in my head. Everything was quickly sorted with a few late texts and emails, and Mandy and I had plans to meet up! This was real!!
Monday morning we find each other, and it was the most surreal experience. I met someone I know. It really was like a book come to life, as if they just walked off my computer screen! Of course we did the introduction bit and started to head off to explore before we realize we hadn't introduced ourselves!
Now if you've been keeping up with everyone else, you might have read from Mandy that our ladies took to toppling towers. I have evidence that may sway your opinion!
Our little ladies would certainly never cause such a ruckus! Now the husbands are another story...
I love how hands on and involved Mandy is.
All 4 of the ladies just loved the phone and computer station that talked to a polar bear. I'm thinking of rigging up a corded phone to their play kitchen, it's such a novelty for them!
A's face is PRICELESS!
Magna tiles may be making an appearance at our house before Christmas. I'm not sure I can hold out until then!
Joy!
Oh how I wish I wouldn't have changed Emma's shirt! They all coordinated before lunch!!
"I gonna getchu!"
The mad dive for the gems was amazing. My ladies were thrilled to be touching something, and I'm sure the staff was just thrilled to see toddlers romping through their lounge!
My ladies have a special love of gems, they are a hot commodity at home. We use them for counting and sensory play.
*melt*
My ladies are still "playing" with A&B on a regular basis.
Yes, Marcia is a paparazzi in real life!
We decided to make it a girls night out after dinner and the wee-ones were in bed. DH was feeling extra generous and told me to leave, that he would put our ladies to bed. LOVED IT! He is the best.
I got some time to wander around myself. Checking out the scenery and snapping some pictures before we met back up.
I met back up with Marcia and Mandy and we were able to roam the city in search of a coffee shop. Of course we were unable to find one that was open! For a city, Charlotte was very small and southern. Shops closing early, people leaving at day's end. Very different from home. Wide, uncrowded, and CLEAN streets! I certainly felt a bit like a city girl scoffing at this small town calling itself a city! HA!
It was phenomenal to be able to just chat. It was a blended experience of meeting someone for the first time and catching up with an old friend. Blogs tend to focus on events and occasions, and although we chat behind the scenes, it was great to chat about life in the flesh. To pick up on inflection and language as a person is speaking just adds so much depth to a conversation and relationship.
Not to mention I can now read their blogs in "their" voices-HA!
We walked, talked, snapped, and talked some more.
Mandy has the geninuely sincere demeanor that you read on her blog. She is warm and inviting, and has the most amazing little ladies in her life. So well mannered! The children were all drawn to her, holding "Miss Andy's" hand was such a treat! I felt slightly out of place. What do you do with empty hands?! I'm pretty sure if she lived closer I would steal her husband for dates! Someone to sit and discuss socio/political issues with-YES PLEASE!!! She is an amazing person and one I am lucky to call a friend. I can't wait until next summer!
Marcia is exactly what you think! I feel like I out-talked her and Mandy both. She is just as bossy as you would think, maybe a bit more, and I loved it! Sassy! I have teased that we'll be meeting up again next year, and oh how I hope we could! I definitely felt like we didn't have enough time together. I would have loved to me D too, and to see the dynamic between them. More than that, I would have loved for the ladies to have met K&C! I'm still surprised that we got along so well. I was slightly worried that Marcia, being the big working professional, wouldn't quite gel with my SAHM style. In that I was also worried that I have had too little adult interaction to string sentence together that didn't revolve around colors, letters, or lunch!
It was letting go of such worries during my walk that really let me soak in the fabulousness of them both!
After all was said and done, and I was driving back to my room, my heart was a little sad. This wouldn't be happening again next weekend. We could catch up like this in the fall. This was exactly the reason I came, and although it was an amazingly memorable night, it was bittersweet to know it wouldn't be happening again.
At least just like this:
