A Day in Saint Peter and Mankato with Mandy (July 17)

Just thinking about this day makes me smile :) Mandy is one of my dearest friends from college, and I have so many memories with her. I'm so glad she's only 30 miles away these days, even if that means we see each other less than we ought to.

She teaches during the school year, but during the summers, we try to get together more often (and many times fail). After she got settled (for the most part) into her new home she and her husband Brandon built this past fall, she had Mark, the boys and I out for supper (recap here), and it was then that we decided we needed to take a day away from the kiddos to hang out together.

We had a fantastic time exploring the cute little town of Saint Peter, doing a little shopping and antiquing, and then we made our way to Mankato for a yummy lunch at Panera and to do more shopping. We had a really great day, and so much of it was great because of the conversation on the way there and back.

Here are a few photos from our fun day together :)

Dinner with the Dibbles (November 14)

It seems to be not too often that I get to see my dear friend Mandy these days, even if we only live 30 miles apart. Mandy was my college roommate my senior year, and one whom I shared some pretty crazy memories with. I'm so grateful that we live so close together these days, and that we've been able to share so much of our lives together :)

After a crazy busy summer for her and her family (they built a house and just finally moved...during harvest and hunting season, no less), Mandy and her daughter Claire (who is about 6 months older than Cashel) came over to visit and meet Kendrick, and they brought us supper (which is now my absolute favorite soup recipe of all times).

Cashel and Claire certainly kept us entertained (and busy), but they thankfully got along great! This is certainly not their first time hanging out. In fact, Claire and Cashel met the day after Cashel was born in the hospital:

We've occasionally also met up for supper either at their house or ours every few months since then...in June 2012...and June 2013.

What a change from then to now, huh?

And no worries: The kids definitely "played" with Kendrick too lol

Now hopefully it isn't a year before we see these two again! Of course, I plan to check out their new home very soon and have a girls' night in, sorting and organizing and putting things away :) Love you, my dear friend :)

Dinner with Mandy and Claire (June 3)

I don't see my old college roommate Mandy nearly as often as I would like to. But every once in a while, when we're both not swamped with the day-to-day, we try to get together and catch up.

Last night, she invited Cashel and I over for supper at her house with her and Claire Bear :) She made tacos, and we had leftover birthday cake (her birthday was last week - Happy Birthday, lady!) and ice cream, then we loaded up the kiddos into their strollers and took a little walk :)

It won't be too much longer before Cashel and I will be visiting them in a different location, though, as they are hopefully going to begin construction on a new home a couple miles out of Westbrook at the end of the month! Here is this sweet, sweet family in front of their current home, which they are hoping to sell before their new home construction is complete.

Thanks so much for the tacos, dessert and nice walk, Mandy :) Love you and miss you, lady!!