....reunions.....

.....when the season of hustle and bustle is looming and will soon be upon us, our family is known for sneaking in one more fun filled jaunt before life gets too hectic for weekend adventures....

....our good friends recently relocated from New Jersey to the mid Atlantic, so we packed our babies in the back of our car and made a road trip to Baltimore.....for our two girls, life is very thrilling at the thought of dressing in PJs shortly after their afternoon snack so they could have a slumber party in the back seat......except the most exciting part of the preparation is knowing that when morning arrives, they won't wake up in the car; but instead, a large room filled with two trundle beds and four sweet girls who play together beautifully.....

.....and as the car lulled our children to sleep shortly after we departed, I was also anticipating our visit with our dear friends.....many of our festivities in NYC always included them and we have felt their absence immensely.....

....and as all visits go, the weekend whirled by faster than we wanted......but we were able to to laugh, tell stories, catch up, and enjoy one another.....and we have vowed not to let four states between us break our traditions.....and recognizing every birthday is one of them......

......so we celebrated two little girls who turn four this month......born only 10 days apart, Ella and Elsie have been such sweet blessings to all of us......pseudo sisters, as Ella is our goddaughter and we love her as our own.....

.....they were first friends and will always be in each other's lives.....

     ......January 2008, 2 months old and in matching outfits......

.....and although it's been over a week since our visit, flipping through the pictures that are filed from years past with this family has been a gift in itself......there are so many phases caught on camera that we have spent together......yet so many other chapters we thought we would share together as neighbors in the northeast.....

     ......April 2009....Callie 2 months, Elsie, Ella 17 months, Kendall, 3....

.....and this move to Baltimore has been great for their family, but we certainly miss the frequency of seeing their faces......we miss the family BBQs, the get togethers in between lunch and dinner, otherwise known as a meal called linner, the nights out sans kids, the chaotic and fun events in the city with kids.......the trick or treating, the birthday parties, the beach excursions, the sleep overs, the spontaneous meet ups.....

.....but that's the thing about real relationships.....close proximity or not, you make it work......you apply the effort, plan the visits, use technology as a tool to stay connected and then the face to face moments happen......and you hug a little tighter and let the embrace linger a little longer.....

....because distance, although she has her faults, she also has the power to create an adamant longing to keep the friendship flame going.....and being gone from my immediate family for 13 years has allowed me to find the beauty in distance because if you don't find the good she can muster, then the negative attributes of her will win.....

....and for the record, I like that distance is a she....

....and while the girls had their fun, the boys did too.....Harrison and Brody did some bonding, just as the rest of us.....

.....and because our weekend away gave us the itch to see old friends who have moved afar, it was a great surprise to learn of more of them who would be visiting the city again.....

.....FAO Swartz can always turn a cold, rainy day into one full of unexpected fun.....

......Elsie and Ryan, 9 months apart, used to have play dates as babies.....when Christine, Ryan's momma and I were both settling into life as stay at home Moms, we met to trade stories, share company, encourage one another and revisit the life we left......lone gone were the days of heels, quotas, and subway commuting......our work relationship turned into a new one and was blooming just as she and her husband left for California......but again, distance only separates if you allow her to.....

      ....Elsie and Ryan, August 2008......Ryan, 1 month, Elsie, 10 months......

    .....we missed you, Callie, but you were having fun at school.....

....and it isn't long before routine settles in and we are back to the ordinary.....

....dentist appointments.....

.....music class.....

.....practicing phonics.....

.....commuting via taxi on wet, cold, soggy days.....

....so I'm grateful for the times we can push pause to revisit with the ones we love.....

.....tis the season for being thankful.....