5 ladies + 5 month old... a remote girls only lakehouse weekend.

after our time in dallas, we loaded up carlye's husband's SUV (thanks, jerm!) with us five girls +  all our luggage + 1 baby + all her gear + a cart full of groceries for a mini roadtrip up to the mann family lakehouse (big thanks to jeff & jody) on texas' lake texacoma (half texas and half oklahoma) - obvi. 

without a doubt, each of us left that weekend so happy, so refreshed and feeling even closer than before. there were no high heels. no fancy dinner reservations. just leggings, snacks, wine, games and hours of real conversations. we got a glimpse of carlye's new world - kicking ass in her mom role. we got to know livi's schedule. and we finally got to see olivia's facial expressions and giggles in person. as wonderful as photos and videos are, there's nothing like real time together.  

we missed lisa, shmizz, and of course, tone. for real - it'll always be 8 in our minds. we talk about it a lot. it does feel so weird when we're not complete. as cliche as it is, we're better together. we're all so different, but it just works. to know that i have this many dear and true girlfriends in my life is not something i take lightly. i don't know how i got so lucky, but i'm so grateful that i did. here's to hoping for many more trips like this in our future. 

the girls.

welcome to five J point lakehouse... jeff, jody, jeremy, jenn & josh

little livi in her sleep sack aka straight jacket

livin' a little country

the weekend kicked off with a killer cheese plate compliments of jenny & me

our view


carlye with tiff, the resident mom-in-training

yup, we're in texas y'all

so peaceful & private

breakfast alfresco -- looking from the inside out.

picnic table brunch. the cowboys came along.

those cheeks! 

most exercise of the weekend - walk down to the beach. cocktails in hand.

our cozy abode

a whole lot of laughing

pretty much the scene of the weekend

the newest mrs. in the group

the group's mommy-to-be in seventh heaven practicing all weekend

my turn with bottle time

we skyped lisa right into the weekend from michigan 

two different kinds of bottles being consumed all weekend

dinner time.

mexican fiesta makin'

loooooved the texas flair. go america.

that's no joke.

late night game time. apples to apples.

so many laughs. jenny was convinced me & colby were in cahoots.

clueless: penguin... all dressed up & nowhere to go. taka tak taka tak taka

frolicking.

what girlfriends are for

sunshine & mimosas.

priceless

absolutely!

hello, little olivia. nice to meet you. xo, your aunties

last weekend me, tiffany, jenny and colby flew to dallas to see carlye and meet olivia. when i touched down in dallas i was really sad to find an empty carseat in the car. little livi was at home napping while us girls headed to lunch. i couldn't wait to meet her - none of us could. your dearest friends having children is something indescribable. it's surreal, but so special. the love each of us "aunties" feel for these new babes is so strong. 

we spent our first nights and days in dallas smooching on livi, giving big (furry) brother dozer the attention he's craving, eating rounds of fried chicken sliders at Max's Wine Dive, and afterwards crashing in an adult slumber-party style sleeping arrangement. it was our own version of "chicken soup for the soul" -- the fried variety. 

the little babe loves her bath time.

me with olivia.

dozer the hound doing some posing.

wine night.

auntie pete. and her gorgeous long locks. 

the mann family

something said often that night with both food & drink: "we'll have another round" 

livi's gear, sophie and her new shades from aunt jenny.

dover has totally perfected the front paw pose.

dinner out at max's wine dive in uptown.

dozer doing anything to get some attention. um, mom? your instagrams used to be me! :(

hi doze.

when livi is down for her nap, dozer jumps in for a little cuddle time with mom. 

olivia's perfect nursery.

jenny's first diaper change - ever. look at livi laughing... "um, do you know what you're doing?"

all aunties on deck for a diaper & dress change.

the mann men -- livi's personal security

rub-a-dub-dub, livi in the tub.

the weekend was all about love. 
carlye & jerm... you've done good. real good.

only time will tell...

happy election day, folks. 

off to the polls we go. none of this early ballot mail-in crap. 

for me, it's all about the experience. welllll... that and the "i voted" sticker.

i'd probably actually consider the mail-in variety if they included a sticker in the package.

i'm serious. that's not a joke.  

 i'll be rocking my "i voted" sticker all day long. 

loud & proud. 

p.s. today only:

Phoenicians - Citizen Public House is offering you a free Chopped Salad (yum!) if you flash your sticker.

Nationwide - Exercise your right to vote and Urban Outfitters will reward you with 20% off your in-store total.

see - it pays to vote. 

and to wear the sticker. 

have a good weekend y'all. i'm headed texas to squeeze these cheeks.

me, colby, jenny and tiffany are off to texas to spend the weekend with carlye and finally meet sweet little olivia. 

the little babe has no idea how excited her aunties are to meet her, kiss her, and spoil her all weekend long. 

i mean, seriously? look at that smile. 

the five of us + baby will be holed up at the mann lakehouse for a  cozy sweatpants + wine + snacks all day kind of weekend. no heels. no agenda. can't. wait.  

shmizzle & lis - you'll be missed :(

and the gold star winner of the week goes to....

a little shout out to d for being the best husband, friend, counselor, calmer, nurse and chauffeur around. when the going gets tough, d steps-up and goes above & beyond to make me feel better. i couldn't ask for a better partner. it's weeks like these that i'm reminded how very lucky i am. love - you deserve a dozen gold stars. you meant it when you said it - for better for worse, in sickness and in health... xo