Annabel & I in 2008
Last weekend some very good friends of ours came to visit from Newcastle. Annabel and I worked together for just a few months nearly 10 years ago and somehow, wonderfully the friendship has lasted. There have been times when we haven’t seen each other for a long time, or have barely spoken, but when we get together it is always as if no time has passed. There has been girls nights out in Manchester and catch ups in London.
What’s really great though is that our lives have gone in pretty similar directions now. While I am settled with Hubby and Monkey, she also has a lovely husband and an 18 month old Doodle who is lovely. If anything mummyhood and the challenges it brings has brought us even closer together, although we have never lived so far apart before!
We both struggled with our little boys in their first months, with breastfeeding difficulties and then with colic (and in their case the added trauma of reflux poor things) and having been through it all so recently I tried to be there to support her as much as I could. We then went for a visit last August and had an absolutely amazing time together. We had planned to meet again earlier this year but life does get busy sometimes and they have had a particularly busy year and moved house not long ago!
This weekend we finally met up again and had the loveliest weekend. They arrived Friday night so they could transfer Doodle from car to travel cot, which went off without a hitch. This also meant we could have a full day of fun and catching up on the Saturday. It is a friendship that is just so easy. We all get on so well and are very similar. We have extremely similar views when it comes to parenting and food etc. so it is just so easy to all be together in one house!
Monkey did really well with the additions to the household and we had no stresses over Doodle playing with his toys etc. and actually as the weekend went on they gave each other some lovely cuddles and kisses 🙂
We spent Saturday at a very local country park which has a fantastic sand and water play area and the kids (and Dads) had a fab time in there.
After lunch at the cafe there we went over to one of the fields and ran around chasing bubbles, balls and each other! We had such a lovely time and there was one moment in particular when Annabel and I were sat watching our boys run around, talking about how far we’ve come and how lucky we are with all of our boys, and our happy little families. We were so lucky with the weather too and it was a gorgeous day!
It was lovely opportunity for both of us to get a family shot too, as any parent knows it is not always easy getting a family photograph! Monkey wasn’t hugely obliging to start with and there was a lot of wriggling but we got a lovely shot of the 3 of us in the end (though I am definitely looking and feeling preggo and chubby in it! :)).
On the Sunday the wet weather set in and they headed off with plans to pop in and see Annabel’s brother on the way home. It was an absolutely wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing them again when we are a family of 4 (eek!). It’ll be lovely to see our families grow up together over the years too.
With this we are ticking Goal 4 from #GetGoodSummer off the list, and what a great way to do it :).
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Sounds like you all had a great weekend hon. There’s nothing like spending QT with your best friends is there, and even better when you have kids around the same age. You’re looking fab too lovely xx #getgoodsummer
Thanks lovely it was fab and just so easy and relaxed 🙂 xx
Oh I love love love this! I love catching up with friends that I haven’t seen for a while and it’s like you only saw each other yesterday. Such an uplifting happy post! I read somewhere that if you have stayed friends with someone for 4 years and over it’s very likely they’ll be friends for life. I thought about it and it’s true. Cherishing friends is important. By the way, you definitely DO NOT look chubby, you look positively glowing! #brilliantblogposts 🙂 xx
Aww thank you, I do like the sound of that theory, I do love friendships like this one! xx
Is always so nice to have a proper catch-up and spend time with good friends. Lovely way to tick off one of your #GetGoodSummer goals!
Definitely, thank you 🙂 xx
Catching up with friends is always great fun, but more so when you have been apart for a while and still have so much in common. Thanks for joining in again! #FamilyFriday
You have hit the nail on the head, pleasure, thanks for hosting! xx
It sounds like a fantastic time with some good friends, it’s lovely when you have friends you can just pick up with again no matter how long it’s been since you last saw them. #getgoodsummer
Thank you it was fab and just so lovely to see them again! xx
It’s lovely to have friendships that stand the test of time. #familyfriday
It is, there are some people you just click with and somehow stay friends with for a long time! xx
Lovely to have such good friends, and for your children to be so close in ages, too. Looks like you all had a brilliant time, and those family photos are gorgeous x
It was so nice and hopefully we will have many more lovely days over the years! Thank you! xx
So lovely to catch up with old friends. I know what you mean about getting photos – esp when in laws have to cope with phone cameras!! Congratulations on your new bump 🙂 #countrykids
Oh gosh I know, recipe for disaster haha. Thank you 🙂 xx
Sounds lovely-how wonderful to have such a special friendship that has lasted time and distance x
thanks Iona, I do feel really lucky to have kept such a lovely friendship 🙂 xx
Sounds like a lifelong friendship, and something special. I know what you mean about the photos, and you all look great 🙂
Aww I really do hope so! thank you 🙂 xx
It’s so lovely that you have kept in touch with your friend and that both families get on so well. It looks and sounds like you all had a great weekend in the sunshine with lots of fun and laughter. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
thank you it really was lovely, love catching up with good friends, thanks for hosting! xx
Ah, you’re so lucky to have such good friends with a child a similar age. It’s nice to be at that similar stage and that your hubbies get on too. I’m finally getting to see one of my oldest, best friends in a couple of weeks time with my boys (hubster working) but although she has a little boy who is only one year older than JJ unfortunately we will not see him as he will be staying with his Dad who left her when he was just 6 months old. It’s such a shame but I guess there will be other times. Glad you had such a lovely weekend X #countrykids
Ah shame that he won’t be there but hopefully there will be other times. It is lovely to have friendships that last and we are really lucky that our families seem to grow at roughly the same rate!! xx
What a fab time you had! I love meeting with friends and watching everyone play together it is amazing. And you look fab! I love shots with piccys of the bump in and it makes me all broody xxx
Sounds like a fantastic weekend
Sounds like you had a really fun weekend.
thanks we really did 🙂 xx
What a fun time together! I love it when you can pick up with friends right where you left off. That’s a special friendship, for sure! #magicmoments
It is lovely when that happens isn’t it? xx
aww you all look so happy on the photos. I always think that proves you had a great time. How lovely your friendship has lasted.
Thank you, definitely a good sign 🙂 xx
Looks like you had a great day. Lovely photos x p.s beautiful little bump x
thank you! xx
What a fabulous way to tick off your fourth goal! It sounds like a lovely weekend was had by all. You are looking lovely!! Don’t you think otherwise! Thanks for linking up with #GetGoodSummer
thanks Claire, it was a great way to tick off a goal 🙂 xx
Catching up with old friends is the best thing. We just did the same, and when I get five minutes, I will write about it 🙂 Lovely post, glad you had such a good time x #CountryKids
Thank you, catching up with friends is just lovely isn’t it, even if tiring too 🙂 xx
It’s so lovely catching up with friends who you haven’t seen in a long time, especially when you live so far apart 🙂 #magicmomemts
It really is, and a moment to be treasured 🙂 xx
awww honey what a super weekend! we have a similar one planned soon .. hope ours goes as well
Thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments (sorry i am late to pop over)
Thank you, aww hope you have a lovely one too! xx
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