Girl time

I know a post a lot about the importance of Momma's getting their 'me' time... and I do it because it is so important!  This time my friend Ashley came out for a visit so I didn't have to go out there.  :)

Lucy was having a stare down with Ratty... angry eyes and everything!

She kept it up for a really long time... it was quite humorous.

It was nice because I know that the kids really like seeing her (almost as much as I do!) and this way I didn't have to drive a ton... win win!  It was nice because she just wanted to be outside (since this had been one of the first nice days) and the kids wanted to play at the playground (see post Warm Weather Community) so that's where we headed.  It was nice having an extra pair of eyes to watch The Crazies!  That is what we so lovingly now call Tristan and Lucy... Norah isn't mobile yet, as I'm sure once she is she will fit right in!  I think secretly that she really is enjoying all the time with the kids because she is gearing up for it herself ;)

Anyhoo, the kids got their dinner at the park and Norah, Ashley and I headed to our favorite little place.  Ever since she had eaten there last time and had their DELICIOUS tomato soup she had been wanting to go back and have it again, and we have been trying out different recipes to try and mimic but with no success.  The food here is great, but the service is S L O W on a fast day.  We spent over 3 hours there waiting for our food, but we didn't mind because that was a great time to just catch up and chat.  Norah was so gracious enough to sleep through all this time so we could have some quality talking.  Although she did wake up the minute I got my food... typical :)

I was honestly a little worried that they might not have the soup that day because they change their soups daily... but it seems that this one is so popular that is always on the menu plus the rotating kind.  SCORE!  So we ordered a big ole bowl of it and enjoyed ever last scraping we could get off the sides.  I think that we have also determined a little bit more of the ingredients that make it so delicious, so hopefully we can make one similar enough.  :)

I like our chats because even though we don't get to see eachother a lot its not like all that time has elapsed in the mean time.  We talk about life, jobs, husbands (!!) kids, and more recently culinary stuff. She has been very adventurous in trying all sorts of new offal meals (organ stuff) and into making her own cheese and butter!  I say this is the time for her to experiment since she had extra time (no kids and such) and the means to do it.  I love her interest in what is actually healthy and how to improve her life style without just going with what's trendy.  We bounce ideas and recipes off each other and what we like and don't like... or things the other person should try and report back haha.

It was a great little visit and I'm glad that we get to have them.  I always feel so refreshed afterwards.  Looking forward to our next.  And trying some homemade butter. :)

JVG