[Martin complains that Frasier makes practical jokes seem like work]
Martin: This is supposed to be fun! Like a day at the beach! Oh, you do this kind of thing all the time.
Frasier: Like when?
Martin: Like the last time we went to the beach!

Thursday Match’s sister Travel Girl and Match’s Cousin came to visit. Cousin brought his adorable doberman puppy Z. Isn’t he precious? He’s as big as Monkey but all paws and puppy clumsiness.

Cousin told us all about this farm he’s been staying at with friends, where they ride around on ATVs equipped with LED Light Bars, swimming, and fishing all day. It’s pretty much Match’s version of heaven. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to visit soon. I’m sure Monkey would love to play with Z again. When they left Z had to be carried away because he wouldn’t budge from Monkey’s side. Those two were too cute together.

It was nice to visit with Travel Girl. She’s back from Peru but she’s moving in with her boyfriend in Arizona, so that was our last little visit until Christmas. But she’s back in the states and just a quick plane ride away!

Yesterday Monkey and I decided to escape the heat and traveled to the beach with Couple Wife and her babies. We met up with another one of her friends and headed out. Unfortunately most of Northern California’s population had the same idea and the beach was crowded.

I still had fun enjoying the sun and running in the sand with Monkey. I wish Couple Wife was a bit more outdoorsy. Her and her friend just sat in the sand with the kids and didn’t want to put their feet in the water. But then again babies are hard work so I can’t imagine how hard it would be to juggle them and all their stuff! I had my hands full enough with Monkey, who thought that running after kids in the water was some sort of sport.

It was nice just relaxing and watching the kids be entertained by sand. Couple Toddler had a great time sharing his cookies with Monkey. I have a feeling Monkey is going to love it when we have a baby because of all the extra snacks he’ll no doubt get to enjoy.

It was a nice day at the beach, but I still prefer the uncrowded Oregon coastline.

Tonight Match and I will be watching the fireworks at the marina. I’m so happy he has the 4th off! Happy 4th everyone and I hope you’re all doing something fun with your loved ones.

Ted: [to Marshall and Lily] Are you kidding me?!? All you ever talk about is having kids, and now you have one little freakout, you want to get a dog instead? No, unacceptable! You’re gonna turn around, go home, get naked, lie together as man and wife until Lily is great with child! Right now. [couple still look at him] I’M SERIOUS, GO GO GO! -How I Met Your Mother

Last night Match and I got together with Couple Friends for a long overdue double date. We joked that the last time the four of us got together was a baby and a half ago! We got together at Old Chicago Pizza and ate our weight in pizza, drank beers and caught up.

Couple Hubby told us both a really sweet example of the decision to have a baby. He said it was like when you have to give a speech in class. You hate to go first, but at the same time, you get it done with, and then you can sit back and relax. If you want kids at all, you know that you’re going to have them eventually, so you might as well just do it. You’re never going to be ready, but once you get up there and give that speech, you will feel relieved. He said it’s not that you’ll be relieved when the kids grow up, but some stages of raising babies is tough, and when you get through that stage, you get that sense of relief and accomplishment.

I loved his little talk and I think Match did too. Couple Wife chimed in that no one is ever ready and that if you wait until you are, you will never have kids.

After dinner we had a few drinks

then headed to Couple Wife’s parents house to visit Couple babies. They were so stinking cute! They warned us that their kids would make my ovaries hurt and they would affect male reproductive parts the same way. I started cracking up and said, “Umm I don’t think you can say the same about a guy and not have it sound really perverted. Oh man, those kids make my sperm ache.” That is just plain awkward!

We played with the kids and couldn’t get over how big Couple Toddler has gotten. He is 2 years old already! When Match and I first got together, Couple Wife was pregnant. I was literally there from the beginning. When he toddled over and cuddled up on my lap, I won’t lie, my heart strings were pulled. He is such a cutie pie.

Little Couple Baby Girl snuggled with me too, and kept nuzzling my head which was downright adorable.

I’m so glad that even though we live further away, we still have our Couple Friends. I can already see us one day with our own babies, all of us getting together and watching them play. Someday…

The World is going to come to an end tonight. Yes think about it. End of the World, Nostradamus, Notre Dame, Fighting Irish, Irish, St. Patrick’s Day. This is it Bro. Bro-pocalypse Now… Bro-Mageddon. -Barney, How I Met Your Mother

Hosted by Glamazon and Mamarazzi
I confess…

That I haven’t written the rest of my post about the Gay Bachelor party because I am waiting on pictures from Tahoe Girl. But she’s terrible about emailing me back so I may have to post without them. Sad panda. Here is one teaser pic that I have from my camera. It’s a terribly flattering picture of me. Being attacked by a cartoon penis. Be jealous!

I confess…

That I do not think the world will end tomorrow. I did tease Match that instead of hanging out with him, I will be hanging out with Geeky who is coming to visit me for a girl’s night out. How bad am I gonna feel if the world actually does end?

I confess…

That our weekend is chock full of fun stuff. Tonight we’re having a long overdue double date with Couple Friends. I don’t think the four of us have had a date night in at least a year and a half. Or as I told her, 1.5 babies ago! After that it’s the aforementioned girls night out with Geeky. We’re going to start out at a Cuban restaurant drinking mojitos and we may end up at a gay dance club. Because that is how we roll.

I confess…

That it’s starting to feel like summer and I’m loving all of the fun social activities. Double dates, girls nights out, weddings, hen parties, high school reunion, road trips, camping, bbqs and pool parties. Bring it on summer, I’m ready!

Robin: So if it weren’t for you, Ted and I would still be dating?
Lily: OR you would have stayed together far too long, had an incredibly bitter breakup and not even remain friends and [teary eyed, to Robin] you and I would never have become best friends.
Robin: You don’t even have to say that. [Hugs Lily] -How I Met Your Mother

I’m playing along with a little q & a in the first ever We Want to Know Wednesday. Click on the button to join in the fun!

So here we go:

1. Do you make friends easily?
I make friends in line at the grocery store. Making new friends comes really easily for me, but I guess they are more acquaintances than actual friends. It has been harder to make friends the last few years though. It was so much easier in college. At my last job I worked alone 90% of the time. Now that I’m not working it may actually be easier. Especially if I can sign up for some classes. The older I get the more I’m realizing that I don’t want just acquaintances either, I want real quality friendships, and they are harder to come by.

2. What 3 qualities are a MUST in a friend?
#1 honesty-if I can’t trust you then we can’t be friends. #2 sense of humor-if we’re hanging out and we’re not laughing something is very wrong. #3. Dedicated-I have had friendships fizzle because I felt like the only one putting in any effort. Friendships are relationships too and they can’t just be one sided.

3. What makes YOU a good friend?
I’d like to think I have all of the above qualities I mentioned. Sometimes I’m brutally honest but most people appreciate that. I am also the kind of friend who goes all out. Birthday, wedding, whatever it is. I will make the extra effort and do something special. I love making presents for my friends and spending quality time together. even if that quality time is chatting on the phone, texting or online. Just making the time you know?

4. Have you ever met a bloggy friend in real life? Yes? Tell us about the meet up. No? Who would you love to meet?
No I have never met a bloggy friend in real life but I am getting braver. Remember when I used to not post my face? Now I post pictures and I even posted a video blog. I’ve come a long way people. So I wouldn’t say never. I feel closer to some of my favorite bloggers and I feel like I know you already. Meeting up would be a lot of fun, and I don’t doubt that one day I will grow girl balls and actually do it!

5. Who is your best friend? Tell us about them.
I know it’s cheesy, but Match is my best friend. When we first met we sat down together and it felt like we had known each other our whole lives. There is no one I’d rather spend time with and I love how silly we are together.

I’ve been in relationships where my partner wasn’t my best friend and that is so not the case with us. We tell each other everything. Sometimes we stay up late at night just gabbing in bed for hours. I love that about us. I mean, who wouldn’t love this guy?

I have a good number of close friends that aren’t bestows but they are great people. Couple Wife is my go to for a gossip fest. Geeky and I are getting closer too. Monica, Tomboy and Tahoe Girl are all great girls and I’m so happy that we’re friends. Old Married Wife and I have drifted, but we are still pals. PHD Girl and I have been friends since 2nd grade, and even though she’s on the East Coast I like to think we’ll always stay in touch. There are also the new friends I’ve made through Match’s job, Sassy and Good Girl. I’m hoping to make closer connections with them as time goes by.

My whole life I’ve always had an easier time being friends with guys, such as Ex Best Friend (he’s not my ex friend, just my ex, it’s a long story). I just realized we’ve been friends for almost 7 years now. There’s also Chandler, who kept me company all of those weekends when Match had to work nights and I was bored to tears. I value their friendships but I make sure Match is always #1. The older I get the more I am enjoying couple friendships rather than the one on one platonic boy/girl friendships. I think as a single person that’s fine, but I realize if you’re going to be best friends with the opposite sex, it really is best if it’s your significant other. Saves me a lot of drama and unnecessary jealousy!

I am also extremely close to my mom, even though she lives in Oregon. I don’t talk about her often on the blog but we talk at least once a week if not more. She’s the first person (besides Match) that I tell about anything exciting or newsworthy in our lives. Except any argument that I have with Match. She gave me the best advice a long time ago when it comes to relationships. “You keep your relationship to yourselves. If you come to me to vent, you’ll get over it the next day but I will hold a grudge against him because you’re my baby girl.” If there were ever any real issues of course I could tell her, but she’s so right. Plus her and my Pops love him so much they’d probably just side with him anyways. I’m lucky that we have such a close relationship. It wasn’t always perfect and we don’t do very well if we’re together for long stretches of time, but I am very lucky to have a mom that I can count as a friend.

Then there are my blog friends. There are some of you that have been loyal readers for over 3 years now. I’ve followed along with your lives and I feel like if we’ve gotten to really know each other. You’ve been with me for all the big moments, and I’ve shared some awesome milestones with you too. I am so lucky for my bloggy friends. You know who you are and I just want you to know how much I appreciate our friendship.

CAROLINE: Hello.

JOEY & CHANDLER: Hello.

CAROLINE: And who is this little cutie pie?

CHANDLER: Well, don’t, don’t think me immodest, but, me?

JOEY: You wanna smell him?

CAROLINE: I assume we’re talking about the baby now.

JOEY: Oh, yeah. He’s got that great baby smell. Get a whiff of his head.

CAROLINE: I think my uterus just skipped a beat. -Friends

Couple Wife, Couple Baby and Geeky made the hour and twenty minute trek to our new place in the East Bay yesterday. It was so nice to see them! I was amazed that they made the trip, especially with Couple Wife’s due date just 5 days away. I was floored by how much Couple Baby has grown. He looks a lot older than 19 months. He’s talking so much too. His little comments make my uterus skip a beat. When he looked at Couple Wife and said, “Love you Mommy” I about fainted from the cuteness. The girls asked me when Match and I would start trying and I said we still want to wait awhile. I want some time with him alone first!

We talked about Match’s new schedule and how the first week was rough. I am happy to report as I did to them, that things are actually far better than they were on Tuesday. Match is getting into the swing of things and he’s actually really loving the academy. In the next few weeks things should tone down as far as writing papers for stupid things and the recruits getting in trouble all of the time. The RTOs promised they’d focus more on learning and tactics which is what Match is excited to do.
It was great catching up with Geeky too. Her Firefighter Guy asked her to move in with him in December and they’re making some major steps in their relationship. According to Match Firefighter Guy is “going to marry that girl!” and I know she’d be thrilled if he proposed. Hopefully we’ll still get together regularly with them and Match and Firefighter can start getting to know each other. With their busy schedules our two guys haven’t had much of an opportunity to meet. They have a million things in common just like me and Geeky and I know they’d be fast friends.

The three of us girls chatted about anything and everything as girlfriends do. I also talked to the girls about how much I want to go on a honeymoon with Match. We just found out that he’ll be starting work right after academy is over and there won’t be any time off. So hopefully he can accrue enough vacation time in the next six months that we can at least take a week long honeymoon somewhere. I’ve given up on taking a long Royal Caribbean cruise or that trip to Mexico we wanted to take. Now I’d just be happy taking a trip together for an extended weekend at a nice hotel. I don’t care what we do or where we go as long as it’s quality, relaxing time with Match.

After lunch I brought the girls and CB back to our new place to show them around. They loved the place and I was so proud to be able to show it off. Finally a place with room to spare!

While we hung out the girls looked at pictures from the wedding and Couple Baby entertained us with his adorableness. He’s really good at animals sounds so he spent the afternoon telling us what different animals say. My favorite was his pig impression, with his mommy impression close behind. “What does mommy say?” “No no!”

After they left I was a little sad and moped around the house a bit. Match said it was probably because they reminded me that my friends are further away and it made me miss them even more. Their visit also reminded me that I need to start branching out and see about making some new friends in our new town. Hopefully we can have a get together soon with some of Match’s academy buddies and their wives. I’m loving our new town and I’m excited to meet new people. I’m also really glad that our old friends are willing to make the trip out to visit us. It meant so much!