Old Friends, New Memories...

Our August just got a little more exciting. We met Jay and Susan during our first Naval School less than a year into our marriage. We were stationed in Charleston, South Carolina and shared a duplex with them. We were really lucky when we moved into base housing to be literally surrounded by other members of the church. Our neighbors right next to us, and the two directly across the street--two families of which we are still good friends. I'm actually surprised that Susan's family still likes us after finding out what geeks we are. I believe my first words to her were "Hey Neighbor!" through the screen of our window when we moved in...but the friendship began and she has been one of the greatest friends ever. Both of our families have grown since then. We lived near them again in Virginia where she continued to watch out for us

and be the mother hen that she always was. Haley and her daughter Sarah are just a couple of months apart. We were pregnant together with about 3 other girls. We used to hang out in her house all laying around sick and tired like a bunch of beached whales.


When we lived in Virginia we would dress the girls the same when we went out just to see how many people would ask if they were twins. Our kids like to play and get along well...except for the time that Sarah pushed Haley off the trampoline and smashed her face in her pizza, that was a funny story.

Alex is adorable and sweet and smart. I mean, how much do you love an 11 year old boy who is sweet to babies and loves to read?

I somehow didn't get a picture of Spencer but we love him just as much. When he was little my favorite was his constant questioning of "but why" in the sweetest voice ever. Nathan we just met but he fits right in with his clan that we love so much. Jay has been in Iraq for the last year and they were just reunited last month. He is finishing a tour in Newport, Rhode Island so his family has joined him for the month of August before school starts again in Virginia. Newport is only an hour away so we have been taking full advantage of our fun friends.
Last Friday we drove up to amazing Newport and attended the Officer's Club on base. We decided that the kids probably wouldn't enjoy the fish fry so we did dinner somewhere else after playing on the rocky beach in front of the O Club...the most amazing view of the inlet and bridge. ( I can't for the life of me figure out why this is all underlined...)

Then Saturday their family met us down in Groton where we were able to see Clark's sub come in from a three week trip out. We watched it come in from the ocean and head up the river.
We are glad to have friends nearby for a while. For all the fun things we've gotten to do here, a familiar face can be the most treasured. For the first time in my life I am realizing the value of long time friends. I am grateful to have crossed paths with so many special people along my way. Sometime I may tell you in detail about hearing Jay and Susan through our shared wall in Charleston. We heard them up late giggling and when I teased her about it the next day she insisted that they were doing taxes....is that what they are calling it these days? The funniest thing is, they really were doing taxes. See how fun they are?