Because I am used to the chaotic and crazy lifestyle I live, I sometimes forget how it can look to the outsider. It feels normal to me to walk down the street with a gaggle of kids surrounding me, fighting or singing or playing (or all of the above). And when I combine my circus life with that of my close friend (whose blog could also easily be called Life At The Circus as she has 4 boys ages 5, 4, 3 and 3 months) well the chaos only multiplies.
We’re accustomed to it though and unless one of us takes a step back and observes, we often forget how crazy we look are. I can recall a trip to Einstein Bagels a few years ago. We sat at the table enjoying some adult conversation while the kids chewed on bagels. Only when I got up to refill my drink and stepped away from our table, did I realize how incredibly loud our table was compared to the rest of the restaurant. Embarrassed, I quickly went back to the table to quiet our troops.
Last week her husband was crewing on the same boat as mine and we decided to go together to watch them sail into the Annapolis Harbor. 
There we were walking down the streets of downtown Annapolis, me with my babe strapped to me in the bjorn, her pushing her little man in a stroller and the other 6 holding hands around us. We looked like a summer day camp out for a field trip. All we needed was the long rope with knots for the kids to hold.
City dock was not ready for the circus times 2.
I don’t think I have ever gotten so many stares in my life. We eventually met up with our husbands and then decided to go for ice cream. The line was out the door and rather than add 12 more people to the line, we decided to send part of the crew with the dads while we ordered the ice cream and brought it to them. As I left the ice cream shop holding my 3 year olds hand as she held her cup of ice cream in her other hand, and I juggled 4 cones in my other hand, multiple people stopped to ask me what I was going to do with all that ice cream. The looks and the comments were never ending till I met up with my circus and handed off the goods.
As we headed back to the car, an hour after bedtime with our youngest ready to nurse, I found myself quite tired and perhaps a little on edge. Scott suggested that maybe we tried to cram too much fun into one summer evening (watching the race, going to the playground, and going out for ice cream) and perhaps some of those looks were justified b/c we just might be a little crazy for taking all that on in one outing.
Still I am thankful for friends whose lives are just as crazy as mine and who are willing to come along and share the adventure with us! They make the ride to insanity all the more fun and memorable!
Our conversations used to be about teachers and homework, now they are about how we’re going to school our own kids. We used to discuss boys and dream about our future, now many of us are married to those boys and discuss how many children we plan to have. They were the ones I called when Scott first told me he liked me, and when he first kissed me, and when he asked me to be his wife. They were also the ones I couldn’t wait to tell when we were expecting our first baby (and our 2nd, and our 3rd, and our 4th).
So many things have changed since we were in high school. We’ve traded in the plaid uniform kilts for nursing bras and maternity clothes. We see each other a lot less frequently. Used to be we saw each other every day, now months can go by without a phone call or a visit.
But when we get together again, in many ways it truly feels like nothing has changed at all. Because these friends knew me then, but they know me now as well. They’ve been around as I’ve grown and changed and so our friendship isn’t solely rooted in the past, but very much in the present and the future as well. In fact in many ways, I feel more closely bonded to them now, than when we were teenagers.
This month 3 of the 6 girls from my high school circle of friends had babies. And this week the gang all got together to swap delivery stories and introduce the newest babes to each other, and celebrate these precious new lives!
And even though I got home at 1am and still had to feed my baby and get up a few hours later to feed him again, I truly had a fantastic time and left with a full heart… so grateful for these women who have been part of my life, my heart, and my family for so many years.
I know that many think Valentine’s day is just a day created by Hallmark. Others think it’s a cheesy holiday for saps. Say what you will, I’ll jump at a chance for a date night with my hubby. And I don’t mind a sweet card and some cinnamon heart candy either.
But, after having kids, Scott and I found it rather difficult to go out for Valentine’s day. Since we don’t hire babysitters, we typically rely on friends or grandparents for babysitting and you can’t ask another couple to babysit for you on Valentine’s Day. So, for a few years we just did an in home date night after putting the little one (and then ones) to bed.
But, then one year we got an idea that we both LOVED and a tradition was born.
We decided to celebrate Valentine’s day on the 7th instead of the 14th. This way, we weren’t asking anyone to skip out on their own Valentine’s plans. And the best part is, it also frees us up to babysit for a friend so that they can go out on Valentine’s day. We love it!
This year we babysat for our very dear friends. Since we had 5 young ones at our house on Valentine’s night, we decided to throw them their own party. We had heart shaped meatballs and spaghetti for dinner.
Then we did a fun painting craft after dinner. I asked the kids their favorite craft and they told me painting. So, I found these wooden hearts at Michael’s for $1 each. Throw in some acrylic paint and some old tee shirts and we were set for fun!
We topped the evening off with a heart shaped cake. (check out the recipe here…it was so fun to make). Mental note: need 2 tubs of icing next time!
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go out on the 7th due to one of our many snowstorms this month. But, we do have plans to go out tonight and I am greatly looking forward to a nice evening out with my man!
Celebrating Valentine’s day, not on Valentine’s day so that we can babysit for our friends is a tradition that totally works for us. Visit here or here for more fun picture posts!
This year in addition to the farm animals, the kids enjoyed some other treats at the county fair.
Rides
Cotton Candy
And a visit with Spiderman himself
So, what’s your favorite part of the fair? The animals, the rides, the food, or the super heroes?
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"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."
- by John Leonard
Nothing says labor day weekend to me, then a house bursting at the seams with friends. For the past 8 years, we’ve spent labor day with my group of 6 best friends from high school and our growing families. While we’ve changed locations over the years from rustic accommodations, rental homes, and friends houses, some things have remained constant. If ya wanna see some pics of how the group has grown and changed through the years, check out this post.
As the kids grow, it’s been fun to watch them interact with each other. It adds an entirely new dimension to the gathering.
Believe it or not of the 34 pictures I snapped of the gaggle of kiddos (ages 5-1 month), this was the best one as it was the only one in which you could see each of their 14 faces (and the one with the least tears).
This year the kids put together a talent show for the parents (much thanks goes out to Andrea for corralling them for this). 
Check out their moves in their opening number.
Nothing like poker chips to keep the kids entertained. 
I find it rather poignant that while we are enjoying the comfort and familiarity of our lifelong friendships, our children are simultaneously cultivating their own friendships. 
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There we were walking down the streets of downtown Annapolis, me with my babe strapped to me in the bjorn, her pushing her little man in a stroller and the other 6 holding hands around us. We looked like a summer day camp out for a field trip. All we needed was the long rope with knots for the kids to hold. 
