Beach Time with the Stephens

Oh my goodness. One of the best parts of our trip was when we got to see Allie, Brad, Kai and Baby Caden where they live in Carlsbad. (San Diego).

Allie and I met at CU freshman orientation and ended up as dorm neighbors...then roomies. And as we know, being roommates creates a bond unlike any other. We have memories of sharing a love for holidays (st. patricks day parties and pumpkins thrown through a window after our epic Halloween party), study breaks with our special "concoction" (apple cider and peach tea and honey), nights at Borders Book Store and a THE.MOST.AMAZING. Spring break trip (hiking in the Grand Canyon, waterfalls, meeting Australians, then Phoenix, the Mexico, then Lake Havasu...all in one trip). We ran The Frozen Foot 5K together every winter/spring at CU and hoarded Bride magazines in our little green Grove Street house. She stood up with me in my wedding. And we hadn't seen each other since Mimi was around 18 months. We really hadn't talked since she was pregnant with Kai (her first born), but somehow that never seems to matter.

I was giddy and over the moon to meet Allie as a MOM! And to meet Brad AND to hold that baby Caden. 

It was just as special as I imagined...and more. (Our kids frolicked with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop..pretty amazing).

(I think this is how Mimi felt about being the ONLY girl. But Allie's sweet present of a grown girl coloring book and pencils helped...until she warmed up, of course :)

 When the rain stopped, we couldn't wait to walk to the beach. 

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So sweet. Mimi is so blessed by my friends who love her too xo

Brad was such a good sport with me trying to capture every moment of their life in the short time I was there...

Then we spotted a SEAL! We had never seen one in the wild before! 

Bode had the most fun throwing mud into the ocean.

Love you Al!

Thanks Stephens! Let us return the favor sometime!!!!

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