Sisters, Moving and the DERBY...

So I had an utterly FABULOUS weekend. Matt decided that I was way too tense, stressed, and exhausted with life so he sent me to good old OC for the weekend with my sister (have I mentioned how awesome he is (despite the alarm clock issue)?) If anyone is fortunate enough to have a similar sister relationship like I have, you are a lucky, lucky person. Both of my sisters are pretty much the only people in this world that are as insanely similar/drastically different as I am in a way that just works. We can be doing nothing, be psycho busy, annoyed, happy, hungry, whatever... But somehow we always understand each other, can laugh about absolutely everything, and not be mad five minutes later despite whatever is said. My sisters can tell me I look like a train wreck (and one did... last week). We can talk about serious stuff like parenting, marriage, the future. We can also talk about the Real Housewives of wherever. There is nothing quite like a sister relationship and it is something I really really REALLY hope will be a positive thing in my girls' relationships. Unfortunately my oldest sister lives in Georgia, so it was just me and Stacey (the one I live in the same neighborhood with). So essentially all we did was shop, eat, and watch movies. We were so excited to go to the outlets to get some clothes for ourselves, but we both ended up buying a bunch for our kids and like two things for ourselves. You know times have changed when you walk into a store and go to the kids section before you look for yourself. 

Background on the whole same neighborhood thing... Stacey and her husband Ronnie (their kids are Tyler (he is three, EXACTLY one year older than Layla to the day) and Madelyn (less than three months older than Olivia) moved 3 1/2 years ago to the most amazing neighborhood in the world. When I first drove through it, it truly looked like it was from TV, as in Desperate Housewives-esque (perfect trees, green grass, kids outside playing, etc). We weren't ready to move but I knew I would die to live here. We already knew that we wanted to be in this general area (because of school systems, etc... which sidenote, there is nothing that has made me feel more adult-like than discussing quality of school systems when moving. I mean seriously. Yikes). My major need was a grocery store within three minutes (Okay five is fine, but I have three small children... I can't be driving to Africa every time I need milk or diapers. And I ALWAYS forget something). Long story short, we found several houses that we didn't get (the devastation... for real), and then we ended up getting an absolutely AMAZEBALLS house for a ridiculous price, in the same neighborhood as my sister. Not only is it the same neighborhood, but we both back to the same strip of woods AND we have a bike path connecting my street with hers that also goes to the tennis courts, park, and pool. In the winter when there are no leaves on the trees, I can make out the back of her house. It is literally our dream come true (in this sentence, the "our" is me and Stace. Our husbands were fab enough to oblige). So many people have been like, "Wow, you really want to live that close to each other?" Yes, yes, and YES. Besides the amazingness that is living so close to my sister, our new neighbors are pretty great as well. It is a "pop in, what is everyone doing tonight, let's do happy hour and let the kids play, huge party for every random holiday" kind of street. We were welcomed with open arms into the group (even though most of the people here are original owners) and I couldn't be happier. Life is good. 

Soooooo Derby update (we leave a week from Thursday. OMG!!!!) We got another package!!! It is making me so so SO excited to go away with the hubs. I opened it and... 

A hat box, of course!! 

I feel like I have it in my head what people wear, how it is, etc... but this is just awesome and super helpful. Inside was even better: 

Mint Julip glasses!! I have never had one, but clearly I will be indulging. I think it would be a sin not to. 

This little booklet had facts, attire suggestions, etc. It even had the recipe for these beloved Mint Juleps if anyone is curious (and doesn't know how to google): 

Underneath the booklet was our itinerary, which looks pretty fab. It even included this: 

I mean, that is pretty great. 

One thing I learned from this lovely little booklet is I needed ANOTHER dress. And it HAS to be pink. Apparently the day before the actual Derby is Oaks day, which is the "little sister" race. It is a Pink Out, so everyone has to wear pink in some way. I was hoping to find something at the outlets this weekend and I did! (It was one of the two items I bought for myself). I found the most perfect nearly neon pink dress at J. Crew. The only problem is that it is a size too big, but I'm calling this lady who did my alterations for a wedding I was in at almost 8 months pregnant (if she recreated that dress to fit me when I was that large and in charge, I'm pretty sure she is a miracle-worker). 

So Matt survived all weekend without me (I wasn't really concerned. He can handle it better than I can). He told me one story that was pretty comical.. He was putting pajamas on Olivia and I recently got her these silky/soft Disney princess top and bottom set (sidenote... I bought Livi about five pairs of top/bottom pj's at the outlets because if she does not have some sort of pants on, her diaper is off in about 0.384 seconds and it is just a bad, bad situation). Anyway, he put the princess top on her and just another random pair of sweatpants. Apparently she had a conniption, went back in her drawer, found the matching bottoms and insisted (in the form of cries and grunts) that she match. She is 16 months. This doesn't bode well for the future that she is this particular, but it is just crazy to me that she is becoming a toddler and not just a baby. I will tell her some random task to do without showing her anything, and she will do it. She understands me! You'd think with my 3rd that I would get used to this but I really don't think you ever do. Realizing when your child actually understands you and is becoming a little person of their own is a scary/crazy/sad/exciting time (Sad because they are growing up so fast. And no, I don't want another one). 

I'm pretty sure this was a rambling mess... but that is my life these days. 
Happy Tuesday! 

Tweet