We left Chicago and dropped Bill off at a car dealership so he could pick up his “new” (to us) car. I then started the long drive to Rochester, Minnesota (about 5.5 hours, but took us 7 total from when we left Chicago).
We arrived around 4pm and headed right to Beth’s house to start the afternoon fun – kids playing and a delicious dinner prepared by Beth.
I had waited for this moment and it was glorious! Although it felt soooooooo normal it was almost hard to deal with. It felt like we were in Beth’s yard yesterday.
again – the kids jumped right in.
Beth and Nicole with Beth’s little boy Owen.
Becca and Nolan with Beth and Owen.
the girls were having a blast in this water pool.
becca saying hi to a wet charlie.
kids a go go.
Becca, Evelyn and Nicole, Brita and Rachel.
the girls instantly started playing with Kaia – so fun to see my girls join the “big girls” playing.
a group photo, but then we realized Owen was napping! I think Claire and Ellie look so beautiful in this picture and I love Thor shooting with a stick.
Benjamin, Thor, Brita, Claire, Ellie, Cayden (above), Kaia, Addison and Evelyn, Charlie, Nolan
all packed in and ready to eat. Classic charlie in the background picking his nose.
the full crew – Thor (3), Eleanore and Claire (3), Kaia (a few days from 5), Benjamin (3), Addison (5), Charlie (5)
Brita (1), Nolan (19 months), Cayden (3), Owen (8 months), Evelyn (17 months)
Ellie and Claire looking SO big.
pure LOVE! this is how my friends love my kids. over the top. this picture makes me tear up.
these two boys are so precious to me.
the next morning we all woke up at Rachel’s house. Rach and I were able to go for a long run together. it was a hot, beautiful day. The kids were outside playing with scooters and bikes. Bill had also arrived in Rochester later that night and had seen a lot of friends so he was around in the morning.
charlie has been dying to ride a bike so Bill decided to help him ride a bike that day.
a few tries and away he went!!!
so proud!
he could even turn. can’t wait to get to Spokane and get him a bike.
by mid morning everyone arrived to play in the backyard.
the kids did great playing and considering there were 12 kids there it was surprisingly peaceful. only a few whiny moments about squirt guns!
I love having kaia in the big girl suit and claire next to her in the same one.
the little kids were awesome around the water table.
took a quick break to play on the neighbor’s swing set.
Nolan and Ellie playing
lunch was easy with a huge stack of PB&J, carrots and grapes.
we were trying to get a girls picture with all of the girls wearing the dresses Rachel bought for them all. the three bigger girls.
Kaia, Ellie and Claire.
trying to get Evelyn to stay with the girls.
no go.
I have NO WORDS for these following pictures! I was honestly tearing up snapping these photos. Watching these two boys love being together it was hard to realize they were separating an hour or so later.
the original 3!!!
Bill took the kids to Hudson while I stayed in Rochester and was able to hang out with my dear friends for another 24 hours.
We ate at ZZest and snapped a photo by the river.
Beth, me, Rachel, Becca, Nicole, Sara
Tuesday night Becca and I stayed in the same room and talked ourselves to sleep. It was like college and we wanted to be roomies.
Wednesday morning we headed to the RAC (my dear old athletic club) and did some stairmaster together and then hit up my favorite Fran class and was pumped to see a bunch of my old workout buddies.
I swung by the park the girls were at before leaving and Beth snapped this photo of Nicole and I . I NEED to frame this! I will miss these friends more than I can say!
Becca jumped in too. love you all friends and can’t wait for our next reunion!!!
Off to Hudson I went to see Kacie and Erin!!!
