Oh My GOODNESS.
So basically, today was
incredible.
I woke up to my baby girl asleep next to me in the bed I had growing up, in the room that was mine. It was so surreal in just that moment to look around and realize that everything had come "full circle" in its own way: I was back in my childhood home, in that
"little back bedroom, where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar" - YES, that's a Miranda Lambert song, but it fits beyond perfectly, since my family did in fact build that house and regardless of where I go in this world, that place.. that
single place, is always going to be HOME. To have Syd there with me all morning was more than I could've asked for. It was perfect.
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left: me, 1986 || right: sydni, 2013.
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So once I'd put myself together, I opted for a mid-morning start on the road and called my cousin, Maricor, who I haven't seen in almost two years now. No excuse is good enough to justify that, but I had every intention on catching up with her, Madison, and now little Sophie, who I hadn't even had the chance to meet yet... until today. To say I was
EXCITED was a bit...of.. an understatement.
It's been WAY. TOO. LONG.
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| cousins | left: pre-kiddos | right: today! (: |
& today....... I got to say......
Hi, SOPHIE!!!!
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| adore. her. a whoooole bunch ♥♥♥ |
Love at first sight. She's so stinkin' cute. So off we were to CPK in Easton [because I'm still not fancy enough to eat anywhere other than that in Easton, hahh], for some lunch and short jaunt around Easton before the girls grew tired of the whole experience.
Some cuteness overload for you.. meet Sophie and her lemon:
I can't even take it.. this child is too cute for her own chunky-monkey-cheeked good.
BUUUT, this is definitely not to discredit her older sister Madison, at
all. That girl is equally as adorable, in her own sassy way that I love to pieces.
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| ♥ my silly madison girl! ♥ |
Silly little lunch buddies:
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| madison & sophie girls ... love my nieces! |
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| fountain fun | easton towne centre | columbus, oh |
Anyone who has children will totally understand this next picture:
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| we tried. that's all we can say... we... tried. hahaha.. |
Duh. Madison making silly faces, Sophie on the phone.. and the two adults coaxing between gritted smiles for the kids to look at the camera ;). Whatever. It's perfect. Hahh...
P.S. - It wouldn't have been a visit with my cousin without raiding her arsenal of
Sephora product; since she works there and we're of the same complexion composition, this has always been way more fun for me than I need to tell you. Haha. Today was super-special, because I got the VIP hair treatment: a personalized salon-de-Madison styling, complete with spare socks and all. I. Love. It.
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| oh, i'm a lucky tita [auntie]! |
We spent the rest of the day at Maricor's, hanging out with the girls and watching movies, catching up on our lives and realizing that we'll be seeing
so much more of each other. I can't wait to get the girls together [Sydni's back with Nana & Pappy for swim lessons this upcoming week, sad face that she couldn't come with us today!].
[pre-courser of what we can all expect when that does happen......:]
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| cousins! [exactly 1 week apart (: ] | 2010 ... sydni & madison |
Anyway, today made my heart so happy I can't even explain it. Not
only did I get to see my cousin, her beautiful kiddos and spend nearly the entire day with the three of them, but my amazing and talented friend Laney made it to town for one last visit for a while... since she's moving to Oklahoma for a job at the end of this week. I've known this girl since like, 7th grade, and can't believe she's moving so far away! We've made it a point to stay integrated in each other's lives, and I know we'll continue to do so. GOOD LUCK Laney, on your next adventures... you deserve every bit of this!
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myself & laney!
left : skyview ranch, 1999 | center : vrooman wedding, 2008 | right : easton, 2013.
love you, my friend! |
Laney and I grabbed some dinner at Easton before I
finally got on the road back to Cincinnati. I'm home now, and admittedly feeling a little disoriented. The drive home is obviously shortened in a significant way now that I'm back in Cincinnati, which means my family is
so much closer. It was amazing to have this time today and I'm looking forward so much so to more of it.
I'm one happy, thoroughly exhausted girl.
Goooooood night (:
xo |
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