Make new friends, but keep the old...

Kyle and I just had the most wonderful weekend! We flew down to Memphis to see one of my best friends from college get married. It was so nice to connect with so many great friends.

Our weekend really started on Wednesday night when my mom and dad drove up here from Tennessee. They came to babysit our girls. We did a big birthday celebration on Thursday night with Sarah and Kris, who live in Massachusetts. Kris's birthday is in September and so is my dad's, my birthday was last Friday and, of course, Jenna' s is this coming Friday, so we had a big birthday dinner together. Jenna got the cutest outfit from Carter's from Sarah and Kris complete with boots. She is going to be one stylish little girl. She also got the "two prettiest dresses in the whole world" plus a new mermaid costume courtesy my mom. Momma sewed Jenna the wedding dress and the pink dress from The Little Mermaid. My mom also made a matching mermaid costume for Elizabeth (Jenna's American Girl doll). She was thrilled.

After the birthday dinner, things went a little downhill. Kyle and I were trying to pack and it finally hit the girls that we were leaving for 3 nights/4 days. Kellen refused to go to bed and did the whole - "if you wanted to stay you would" guilt trip. Seven year olds can be master manipulators! It didn't help that this was our first real trip away from them. We have gone away for one or two nights a few times, but its usually within a three-hour vicinity. It was also the first time we have flown without the girls. We have been big procrastinators and never written a will (even though our families know what our wishes are - we have never made it official), so we also had to do that before we left. Scary.

Our flight left CT at 6:00 Friday morning, so our day started at 3:00am! Also, Friday was my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! I am no longer just 30, on the edge of 29, I have finally jumped off the cliff full-fledged into the 30's. Up North, it gives me a little more street-cred as a mom.

We flew into Nashville and met my other best friend from college, Jennifer and her daughter Whitney for lunch. Whitney just turned 7 months old and is absolutely adorable - she is definitely one of those wonderfully cuddly babies you just want to eat up. Jennifer looked as beautiful as ever. It was so great getting to see her again.

Then we drove off to Memphis. Luckily our rental car had a GPS system in it and can I just say - that has to be the most fun toy and best invention. EVER. It was a Magellan system, so we called "her" Mae Ellen (had to give her a good Southern name). She was our new best friend while we were there. Kyle definitely appreciated her navigational skills better than mine and she didn't yell at him if we went the wrong way. I was a little jealous. If we went the right way, she did a happy little "ding-ding", but if you went the wrong way, she went "duh-duh". The relationship was great as long as she was "ding-dinging" at us. I was really the only one she didn't like.

We got to Memphis, checked into the Doubletree Hotel (we stayed downtown and it was such a great hotel), rested a few minutes and then got ready to go to the rehearsal dinner. We had a great time and a great dinner. It was great to see Sara, who is so lovely and meet John and his beautiful daughter Landon. It was nice to see Sara's parents again, who are great parents and love Sara so much, and also my old roommate, Jennifer. It was a very late night for us since we had gotten up so early.

Saturday started off with a great room service breakfast of eggs Benedict. That has to be Kyle's and my favorite breakfast, and we almost never have it, so it was a perfect start to the day. Then I headed off to the bridesmaid's luncheon (Sara was sweet to include me). It was fun to get to know Sara's friends and family and to get to spend more time with her.

I got back to the hotel room just in time to watch the UT/Georgia game. Unfortunately, I couldn't even keep my eyes open and slept through the first half. What a great feeling to wake up at half-time to see that the Vols were up 28-0! They kicked Georgia's butt. Where was this team a few weeks ago when they headed to the Swamp? LSU did beat Florida on Saturday, so that was icing on the cake.

After the game, it was time for the wedding. Sara could not have looked more lovely and the ceremony was beautiful. I am so happy for her. Sara completely deserves her happy ending and I am dubbing her Princess Sara of Happily Ever After (wink, wink Sara). The reception was fun and the food was great. Kyle and I got to catch up with our good friend Kembree. I'm telling you, Kembree, I am completely living my life vicariously through you! If I thought I was busy, Kembree's got me beat a thousand times. But what a fun life. We also got to catch up with another friend from UT, Shannon. She looks great and is happy and very enamored with her adorable niece, Eileen!

We were also able to squeeze in a walk down Beale St and a quick drink in B.B.King's. And you can't go to Memphis and not have BBQ! Especially when you can.not.find.good.bbq.in.the.North. Yummy. You know, God knew what he was doing when he taught Southerner's how to cook.

After watching the ducks at the Peabody Hotel and getting gifts for the girls, we drove back to Nashville. We got to see Jennifer again and this time her hubby Matt was home. We took lots of pictures and Whitney was a perfect poser. She is so cute. Made me miss my girls.

Then, we headed to The Cheesecake Factory to see my friend Kim and her husband Jason. Kim and I were roomies our Sophomore year and she looks gorgeous, too! I had the best time catching up. Its so nice to see such great friends, some I haven't seen in 10 years, and learn about their lives and meet their new families. We couldn't have had a better time.

We also spent the night with my Aunt Sharon and Uncle David and did some more catching up. My cousin Daniel is so grown up, when Kyle and I got married he was just five! and now he is playing hockey and is in high school. I don't know how time flies so fast. My uncle is going to have a new show starting next week on the new Fox business channel. When I get details, I'll post them so that everyone can tune in!

On Monday, it was back to the airport to fly home and I was so ready to see #1, #2 and #3! As soon as we walked through the gate, there was my dad with Kellen and Jenna (Riley was still napping at home with my mom). I have never been happier to see two little girls. And I don't think I could explain the feeling in seeing their faces so excited to see us. If somebody could bottle that feeling, they would make millions. Then, we went to dinner and I swear Riley got bigger over the weekend! She is at that toddler stage where she can look older overnight. My mom had put her hair in a ponytail and she just looked like a big kid. How does that happen?

My parents left early this morning and it was great to see them and I know the girls had a great time with them while we were gone and my parents had a great time with them and I hope the girls didn't wear them out too much! Jenna always has a hard time saying good-bye. Luckily, it won't be too long before we see them again.

And now, we're home. Thank goodness. Its nice to go away and have a little break and we had such a good time, but there is no place like home.

Oh and for an update on our fantasy football league...I won my game for the week. Kyle also won his and he also won overall for the week, but he only beat me overall by 3 measly little points. So, who's number 1 and 2 in the league...Kyle and Rebecca. That's right, I am in second place OVERALL, using the strategy of picking only Colts players and former Vols. Forget the research and bye weeks and all that, just pick UT players. I love football.

And I love catching up with old friends. Good luck Sara and John. Have fun sailing off into the sunset...