Who goes to Connecticut anyway?

Amazingly, I packed everything I needed into this little blue rolling bag because I didn't want to have to pay to check on a bag. I shoved 3 days worth of clothes (2 outfits a day) and a few pairs of shoes (having to eleminate 2 pair I wanted to bring) and even my camera and an extra lense. I snapped some "farewell" shots with Alyssa and even had her take a picture of the butterfly on the back of my shirt that I loved. After packing and playing babies with AJ, at 2pm I dropped her off at Jessica's and she was happy to play there as I walked away (she had been talking about it all day wondering when we were going to go). I was off. My flight left Austin at 3:59 pm and I changed planes in Atlanta. I'm pretty familiar with the airport routine and there is something quite liberating to do all that airport business all on my own...pulling my rolling suitcase right behind me...self reliant and all. I remembered that they had my favorite hamburger joint, Checkers, and ate the yummiest fries that remind me of my childhood (Rally's turned into Checkers). It is an enjoyable time flying alone, and strolling through an airport with my tunes plugged into my ears...wanting to bust out dancing, but holding myself back. Gracing a big smile upon my face, people watching, in my own world.

I flew into Hartford, CT at 10:30pm and Natalie only flew in about 15 minutes before me (coming from Dallas). We thought about trying to fly together, but neither of us wanted to drive to the other before flying and after. I went down the escalator, and there were my girls waiting for me! Agh, it was so exciting! We giddily chatted all the hour long drive home, plopped on the couch and talked and laughed til nearly 2am (CT time). Just like old times, Natalie and I shared a bed and Emily had the dresser adorned with treats and flowers, magazines, and a suggested itenerary for our pleasure and enjoyment.

Friday we drove to Mystic, CT where the movie Mystic Pizza was filmed. I don't think I'd seen it all, maybe an edited version on TNT or something, but I knew it was the movie that started it all for Julia Roberts. They even had the movie playing on repeat on a tv while we ate, but silenced and appeard to be edited. The pizza was delicious, and even Natalie who is a self proclaimed pizza connoisseur loved it. I got the boring pepperoni and bacon (I'm talkin' entire sliced of bacon, not bits) pizza while Em and Nat shared a weird combination pizza with artichokes and pepperchini's and something else. Em's little girl, Abby, wanted me to sit with her and she nearly sat on my lap while we ate. I loved it:)

weird pizza on top, my meat pizza on bottom
We spent the afternoon at home and then got all gussied up to go out in the evening. We went to a casino, not to gamble, but to have our pick of unique restaraunts. I wore my new "80's" outfit and we had fun getting ready together, just like we used to do with Prom and Homecoming.
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Emily, Natalie, Me


After dinner, we decided to go home and get into comfy jammies and make brownies with ice cream. Emily was about to serve me up and asked if I preferred the edge. I said "actually I prefer the VERY MIDDLE because I like the soft part." I was joking, but she decided to carve out the complete middle and plop it in my bowl. I loved it! We watched the movie Penelope, to which Natalie fell asleep. I quite liked the flick myself--especially when we realized (after racking our brains and searching IMDB) the main guy in it was actually Mr. Tumnus.

Saturday morning we were supposed to head out on a drive of the coast. Em's Naval Hubby had to be called into work because of others "integrity issues" so we just relaxed at home all morning. Em made us pancakes with peanut butter and fruit on top. Aren't these girls just delightful? Check out the picts I took of them on my photog blog.
Then we went to find a lighthouse...packed in Em's 4 girls, and Natalie got the job of "taking care of them" while we drove:) He he, Emily and I giggled about that from the front seat.

It was a very overcast day, so the lighthouse shots weren't overly glorious--check the photog blog for that. Emily's daughter took this one of me photographying it.

5 year old Abby nad I blowing kisses
visiting the submarine with our gaggle of girls (Clark, Emily's husband met up with us here when he got off work) It was fun to check out the submarines, since he works in them and lives in them for up to 6 months at a time.

They often sleep 4 bunks up...how awful is that?
Once the little girls were with their dad, Emily took us to her favorite ice cream spot, Cows and Cones. It was raining fairly hard at that time and it was delightful eating our cones under a covering, looking out at the cows and chickens and rain. Natalie gave us these matching necklaces as a 30th birthday gift for us, as we take the aging plunge together.

The owner took this for us...it was deserted except for us and a dog that kept licking up our drippings.

It was pouring rain and we decided to just head home and relax and get ready to go out again in the evening. We just went to Outback and I got the yummy cheese fries.

I love Em laughing in this one.
Don't we look 16? Because it takes me back to 16 when I am with them, yet a bit more sophisticated.
Bidding farewell, just before we went to the airport.
Emily wrote a cute blog entry about our trip, and she is so much better at "suming up a person" than me. What I like about my friendship with these girls is that it is rather effortless. What's funny is I have so many memories with both of them, but not a bunch with both of them at the same time. There is no jealousy, no need for attention, no drama between us.

Natalie and I were friends first. In the same ward at church, practically down the street from each other. Became like sisters from the start. She, a grade younger than me.

Emily and I were friends. Were in seminary together, in the same grade, dated best friends, went off to college together, grew closer over time, a lot more after having kids similar ages. We also took college classes together.

Natalie and Emily were friends. They ran track together, were in love with the same boy, and roomed together in college for a semester.

I'm sad that I never got to live with them, but those are the brakes. It was so funny as we were together, reminding each other of events that the other didn't remember. Emily did not remember that she threw my Bridal shower at her house in Provo. Natalie didn't remember a rendezvous of streaking in the rain, and I cannot recall the photo that Emily posted on her blog of she and I playing guitars (check out my shiny hose).

Anyway, it's a comfort to be with friends who know me and love me. Who want to beat up the people that are mean to me, and embrace those that take care of me. I love these girls.

For my scenic shots, go to my photog blog.