Life with Lauren: New Beginnings and Friends

I love the beginning of each month. It's no secret that the last few days of the month are pretty much the only time I get a little stressed out, with the almightly billable hour hanging over my head, and feeling like loose ends at the office need to be wrapped up. But once I take care of what needs to get done (and no matter what, I always miraculously get everything done in time; one of the benefits of not growing up as a serial procrastinator, I suppose), the first of the month blooms before me. It feels like a whole new world of possibilities opening up and I rejoice in the ability to do things like jump in the pool with Lauren spontaneously before her bedtime (like we did as a surprise tonight, au naturel of course). It's kinda like finishing your finals at the end of a semester in college. You feel exhausted and drained but also giddy and at peace, because you know you gave it your all and have earned a period of time to recharge and fill yourself up with guilty, wonderful, simple pleasures before the cycle returns and you buckle down yet again.

Of course one of those guilty pleasures involves spending time with friends. And I'm happy to report we've been doing exactly that, pretty much all summer long.

*****************************************************************************************************************

Lauren's friend Reagan recently joined us with her little brother and rockin' parents Michelle and Jason, plus Michelle's 16-year-old cousin Lauren, for some swimming and bbq. Both girls are 5 going on 15, particularly when it comes to posing for pictures.

[Oy, this scares me.]

Again, our waterslide was a big hit.

Sadly, it was the slide's last hurrah. The next day, something happened and it began listing terribly to one side. No amount of air could save it. Luckily, Frontgate has a good return policy, so back in the box it has gone. Made it through quite a bit this summer, though.

The gals hammed it up in the pool.