JOY-full!

What a cheesy title! I couldn't resist.

My very best friend in the universe, Joy Peterson, and her daughter, Addie, came to visit us on Thursday. Glory, hallelujah!! Just the pick-me-up I needed so desperately. And, no, I didn't get my fill of her. I wanted her to never leave. In fact, if I could, I would get her back here right this second.

We had a blast. I swear, there is nothing like an old friend. I adore new friends who feel like old friends, too, but there's nothing like someone in your life who has seen you through many years, many phases. Who knows your family. Who knows your heart. Who saw you as you met and fell in love with your husband. Who has caught your tears. Who stood by you on your wedding day. Who helped you through tough-decisions and easy victories. Who pray for you and with you. Who hold you close and count you as family. Who celebrated (and celebrates, again) the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. Who acts as a confidant in this child-raising thing. Who I intend to talk to at 3 a.m. every night for the first month of this new baby's life. There's just something about friends like that. I am blessed to have several of those, but Joy and I are the most alike--sisters without the blood relation, really.

Joy and Addie arrived in San Antonio around lunch time on Thursday. We already knew that we both had coughing, sneezing, wheezing babies, so we were okay with them sharing all the germs and fun they wanted to. However, Tyler did not put his best face forward in the first thirty minutes of our time together, as he had a breakdown all the way downtown. Turns out, he was hungry, even though he'd just had a bottle about 45 minutes earlier. Who knew?

So, we made it to downtown, solved a parking crisis, and headed to the Riverwalk. We were starving. Two pregnant women with two little ones and tummies growling all around means an immediate need for food. I had already decided to take them to Rainforest Cafe because it's just a blast. They have huge fish tanks, water falls, seemingly real animals (we sat with the monkeys and the tiger), and thunder storms every 15 minutes, or so. Tyler and Addie were both mesmerized with the atmosphere, although Tyler was equally entranced with his puffs.

After we ate more than we could handle, we walked around the river and made our way to the boat tours. What a blast to take a tour of the river by water! I had done this once before, but it was really neat to watch the kids enjoy the ride. Plus, our guide taught me some things that I didn't learn before. Most interestingly, the water in the river is crystal clear, even though it looks green. Fascinating.

We finished the boat tour and went back to street level so we could walk to The Alamo. We took the mandatory pictures, strolled through the fort, and perused the gift shop. Joy and I are not history buffs. We didn't stay long, and that's okay with me.

Our next stop was the Haagen Dazs ice cream store. This might have been my favorite part of the day! Addie tried strawberry ice cream for the first time, and Tyler enjoyed vanilla. We had a couple of little messes on our hands, but it was worth it.

By the time the ice cream had been devoured, it was time to go home. We got the kids in bed and stayed up a little too late running our mouths. We're good at that.

On Friday, we went to the outlets in San Marcos. Our precious children were such troopers because we were there from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Did Tyler ever take a nap during those eight hours? Not a chance. He was so sick and so sleepy and never took a nap the entire time the Peterson girls were here. Insane.

Even without a nap, we spent lots of money, ate a yummy lunch, splurged on chocolate, and devoured some Auntie Anne's Pretzels. I told you, we're pregnant and we're hungry. Get out of our way.

Needless to say, Friday night we were exhausted. The plan was to go right to bed, but we got caught up in 20/20. Joy fell asleep on the couch and left me to solve the mystery all by myself. In case you were wondering, I had it figured out in the first five minutes and could have avoided the anti-climatic conclusion that came 55 minutes later. I was not happy about that, but I sure slept well when my head hit the pillow!

On Saturday, we enjoyed a slow morning and I went to pick Danny up at the airport around lunch time. He had been in D.C. for nine days, and he was glad to be home. My welcome home gift to him: a sick baby and a "see ya later." Joy, Addie and I found some lunch at a local BBQ joint, sent her shopping spree home, enjoyed some more ice cream (this time at Baskin Robbins), and headed to the mall. I bet Saturday afternoon was my favorite day of them all. Joy and I had a blast in that mall. We laughed and joked and picked on each other and all that goofy stuff that girls do when they find a mall. It was fantastic!

Pizza for dinner and packing the suitcase ended the day. I never wanted the morning to come. Like I said, there's just something about an old friend that keeps you grounded and keeps you laughing. I need both of those. Often.

But, alas, our visit had to end. I dropped the girls off at the airport at about 6:15 this morning. I tried not to cry. The hardest part was realizing that we might not see each other again until AFTER we have these new babies. Like next fall. That's too long. It just about kills me to think of it.

Jason Peterson is a special man for sharing his wife and daughter with me for a few days, particularly while he was home sick. He's one of those old friends, too, and I couldn't be happier that he and my best friend get to share their lives together. Those two were a match from the get-go. Thanks, Jason, for being so generous with your girls and for loving us like family. We adore you.

If you have one nearby, be sure to hug an old friend today. It will warm your heart!

Joy and Addie at The Rainforest Cafe

Joy and the kiddos looking at the ducks in the river.

Tyler was in amazement over the ducks!

Joy and Addie at the river.

Joy and Addie on the boat. The little boy in the background was named Wyatt. It made me laugh because Danny and I have a funny "baby name-choosing" story about the name Wyatt.

Ty and me on the boat.

Joy and Addie in front of The Alamo.

Ty and Addie holding hands at lunch on Friday. Sweet!

I hope Joy posts some of her pictures so I can steal them and show you those. There's a precious one of Addie at Baskin Robbins that will just make you laugh out loud!