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.