Fairy tale frienships...

Believe it or not, my life isn't really a fairy tale. I know. 

Like everyone we Kings have our ups and downs. While we relish the good - sometimes the bad seems to stick around for a while. And when that happens we turn to each other and to our support system and our happily ever after resumes. 

But - parts of my life are a dream come true. 

Like these women.

Kerri, Jenni, my Momma, Dee, Me, and Chrissy

I met Jenni in kindergarten but we became besties in the first grade. We were both in Mrs. Sadler's class (seriously the best teacher ever) and pretty much from that year on, we were inseparable. We took cheerleading and dance together. We had sleepovers. We shared secrets. We played dress up. We lived life in pure bliss. Some people I meet are shocked to hear that I have been friends with someone for close to 30 years, but I can't imagine my life without Jenni.

As time went on our friendship just grew. And soon after, our Moms became best friends, too (because they basically had no other choice). How awesome is that? My best-friend's mom is my mom's best friend.  They are basically Laverne and Shirley, Cagney and Lacey, and Clairee and Weezer - all wrapped in one. 

I love their friendship. They take care of each other, make each other laugh. Love like sisters and fight like them too. They have celebrated each other through the good and supported each other through the tough. Dee introduced me to the wonderful world of REAL mayonnaise (yum!), fried bologna (yum!), and chocolate gravy (still debating!). She made me eat a half sandwich at a time so I wouldn't waste food. She punished me like her own daughter and loves me like one, too. And mom does the same for the "Tuley girls". We are each other's people. 

The times in my life when I have laughed the hardest have been with them. And when I have needed to shed some major tears, they have been there to wipe them away. They have loved me, supported me, cheered for me, cried with me, challenged me, and every now and then loved me enough to tell me they were disappointed in me. I, too, have offered words of wisdom and advice, support and love. I know every story, every heart ache, and every celebratory moment of their lives. Kerri and Chrissy seem just as much like my little sisters as Jenni's (especially when it comes to spunk and attitude because, well... I'm a fiesty one.) 

(I'd also like to be credited for teaching Kerri the art of basketball because I had some mad skills and passed all that knowledge to her on afternoons that Jenni was at tennis practice.)

And as we get older, sometimes life gets harder. Our moments of support are a little bit bigger than that bad breakup or silly rumor. We talk about things like mortgages and taxes. We pray over our desire for healthy children. And we offer support before it's even been asked. And when life hands us things that we don't like or understand, we have each other. 

Dee was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2004, breast cancer in 2009 & 2011 and has recently been met with some new medical concerns that are out of our control. My heart swells thinking about the poise and grace Jenni has demonstrated as she has become the caretaker, decision maker and rock for "my people." She teaches me every single day to love with freedom, to wait with patience, and to act with faith. I ask for your prayers as they navigate the decisions that are to follow. 

I pray that my kids are given a friendship like ours. That they each have a person that they get to spend their ENTIRE life with - beginning to end, good and bad, happy and sad, easy and hard. I so badly want them to have a constant reminder of honesty and goodness and integrity and love. 

Because that is what I was gifted. For some reason, I was blessed with this one tiny fairy tale friendship that I cherish in big and small ways. 

Always.

Hometown Christmas...

We drove to Waco early on New Year's Day. "The plan" was to wake up, throw kids in the car (because it was already packed), grab breakfast and drive north. But it was New Year's Day. So everything was closed. Except Old MacDonald's or McNasty's as Gigi calls it. I really should just quit planning things. 

We made it to my hometown in record time and got settled in. The kids and Ryan hung out at my parents house while I grabbed lunch with Lyndee and Jenni of the RaRa's. It was probably the best hour and a half lunch I had all year. Just time to breathe with your besties, buddies, first loves (you know what I mean). Laughing, chit chat, tears, discussing our husbands quirks, the usual. And dessert.

I even got a nap in that day. GLORIOUS.

We then devoured a delicious NY Day roast, potatoes, black-eyed peas, cabbage dinner at the granny hour of 5pm and then it was time to hit the town. Lyndee was booked for the evening but I wanted to go bowling so Jenni talked her crew into joining us and y'all. 

It was a BLAST.

Landry was too small to actually bowl, but she sports the "bowler's belly" quite well, don't ya think?

And while the littles were taking breaks, 

GiGi was quick to hold them.

Radley LOVES to go bowling. He has already requested that his 6th birthday party be at the bowling alley (which kind of puts a damper on the theme that I had "planned" but well, we've already discussed that).

Emmy's general rule of thumb these days is "I do it all by MYself!!" I am actually rolling my eyes as I type this. So all 24 pounds of her carried that 6 pound ball up to this handy dandy bowling ramp and did it. All by HERself. 

SMH. 

We also let Ryan do it all by himself, too. 

Emmy did have a hard time actually reaching the top of the ramp, so she let "Ladley" (lad-lee) assist from time to time. 

This series melts my heart. 

The ball drops... 

She waits in anticipation...

HIGH FIVE LADLEY!

(I really need to learn to take better pictures - sheesh. Focus, Katy. Focus).

And after the first ten frames, who was the winner?

Yep. Me.

For the first time ever. 

The Kent's arrived to join in the fun. Aren't they just adorable?

And we got an extra surprise that the Echterling crew showed up, too! They were celebrating Grace's 6th birthday.  Courtney, Charis' little sister, just had Olivia 6 weeks ago so I worked in some cuddle time with her between frames. :)

Here are all of the Petite RaRa's (minus Mason)

Back Row from Left: Michael (16), Cousin Carter (6), Corbin (7), Brennon (13)

Front Row from Left: Cooper (almost 2), Gracee Jo (6), Landry (9 months),  Karli (5), Radley (5) and Emersyn (2)

I literally cried when I was snapping this picture. Lyndee and I met when we were Emmy's age. Jenni and I became besties when we were Gracee's age. And Charis movded to Robinson when she was Brennon's age. And now look at us. Look at THEM. 

Dreams are made of this. Really. Who has best-friends for that long? Not just knows someone, but has best-friends - tried and true. The kind that will have your back no matter what. The kind that will drive to where ever you are just to give you a hug the day you lose someone. The kind that you have so many memories with you don't know if they are yours or theirs or both? The kind that forgives and forgets. The kind that you give your whole heart to and they never give it back. 

The kind that go to baptism class at a Catholic church even though they aren't Catholic just so they can be your daughter's godmother.

The night was almost perfect. Just wish Lyndee could have been there. 

My hometown Christmas ended at the place that we "grew up" one Friday at time. 

We ended the year with Ryan's best buds and rang in a New Year with mine... I think that sounds like a tradition I could get used to! 

Super Saturday...

Back to our weekend....Saturday morning the women folk headed out to the "trifecta" as I like to call it (I actually just made that up for this story, but now I like it, so I'm going to stick to it) otherwise known as Target, HobLob and Nail Salon. It was glorious. 

We returned in time for a quick kid hand off and the men folk headed out for some golf. 

I forced asked them to take some pics of their day...

Super jealous of my dad's legs.

Then we all headed out to Freddy's for dinner.

Yum.

Then the BIGGEST kids (people over the age of....30...gross) got dressed and headed out on the town.

These guys were too busy in a brawl to take over a galaxy far far away.

Master Pops was the ref.

And THIS is what we pulled up to Northgate in.

A minivan.

My parents rented it for the weekend so we had plenty of space for everyone.

I.Loved.It.

Seriously.

We {kinda} tried to act like we still "had it" but we quickly realized that 10 years away from the bar scene may have hindered our street cred. 

(for the record - I did win the 'trick shot' game.)

Look at us. Maybe we do still "got it".

(I know we "got" some wrinkles)

It was just fun to get away with these two guys. We are at the point where we have all lived a part longer than we lived together and while that makes me sad, I also love to witness the lives we create for ourselves. And know without a doubt that they will always be by side when I need them.

We played pool and shuffle board, chatted, laughed, and did all the things I would love to do every weekend with these two guys.

It was a "super" Saturday... can't wait for the next one!

Oh Robinson, Our Robinson...

15 years ago I was saying goodbye to some of the greatest people I know, my classmates and friends at Robinson High School. I canNOT believe that it has been 15 years. In my head I am still a kid - clearly not this adult/wife/mom of 3. :)

On Saturday we held a small informal reunion and had the best time reconnecting and catching up. 

May I introduce to you, {part of} the Class of 1997....

Our class is kinda awesome - in that we kinda like each other. A lot. I know that high school isn't the easiest for everyone, but I really do think that we were a class that "got" high school and even if you weren't BFFs  - you were still friends. 

We are very small town, most of us made it from kindergarten to graduation together. We had a few "newbies" join us and others that sadly left. Like most, we fought but we made up. We held back to back Powder Puff Champion titles as well as Back to Back 3A State Marching Champs (because band REALLY was cool at our school. No seriously, it was.) 

We were "the last great class" of RHS, or so we like to think so. 

(My sweet husband didn't realize his hand was in the way of the flash)

 I love that we could all walk into this room and instantly pick up where we left off (which was our 10 year reunion). Facebook has helped us keep in touch and get to know each other again. We keep up with kids and jobs and moves much easier than before, but regardless, we are able to laugh about the past and dream about our futures. 

I love that we are already planning our 20th reunion so we can get together again. 

I love that we didn't stop talking all night.

I love that we wanted to know about siblings, parents, and kids, too. 

I love that we still searched for the "good gossip" of the week. 

I love that we could all talk to anyone in the room and be at ease. 

I love that we wanted to celebrate each other's successes. 

I love that we are us. 

Can't believe it's been 15 years! Here is hoping that the next 15 are just as kind!

S-E-N-I-O-R-S! Seniors, hey! Seniors, hey! 

:)