8 weeks of Rosemont Love

(Yes, that's Cavin in my belly - as opposed to TexMex.)

And then there's Rosemont.  Yes, I am blessed enough to have eight more best friends from my college era.  These girls have seen it all...and then some.  And we are everywhere: Texas, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, even London!  Yet for the last 13 years (?) we have managed to get together as a group and relive the good 'ole days.  Marriages, babies, life changes...hasn't stopped us.  We close our ears to our husbands complaints and head to (usually) San Antonio for some queso, massages, and girl time.  Last year, I remember turning to Stacy and Erin and saying "I didn't realize how much I actually needed this until I was here". Because with these girls I can be real.  We say it how it is.  We talk about how life is friggin' hard.  How it is confusing and heart breaking.  How some days we love where we are and then other times we want to go right back to our 20s.



(Rebecca - you weren't in the first picture so I had to add this one!)

A couple of us sat on the front porch of our B&B last year over some wine and really got into it.  We talked about how things were difficult, how marriage isn't always perfect, and how we sometimes feel like our kids are going to grow up and land in jail.  There was no facade or 'keeping up with the joneses', or competition that I occasionally feel when I get into similar conversations with others.  It was real. And that's what I love about these women.

When my mom got sick they stepped up.  I received a constant stream of text messages, phone calls, photos of their adorable kids (thanks Katie!).  They were there, even though they couldn't be physically.  And when she died they rallied together to send me 8 weeks of care packages (each girl was responsible for a certain week).  They sent everything from queso and our favorite cereal, to custom thank you notes, to wine, childrens' museum tickets, adorable dog collars for the furry ones, a hand made framed momento of my mom, donations to the Avon walk, pajamas, spa stuff, and more.  Every week it lifted my spirits b/c it meant people were thinking of me and loved me and were there for me.  And it wasn't about the 'stuff'...it was the thought.  It was the fact that they knew they couldn't physically be there so they thought about what the next best thing was and took action.  Because that's what best friends do...they are there.  They blew me way.  And I'm one lucky girl.  I am humbled by their generosity.

It is fitting that the last gift I received from them was a beautiful bouquet of daisies....our sorority flower.  Here's the thing about daisies: they are a wildflower and they grow in bulk in beautiful fields...and they live a lot longer than typical flowers.  They say a lot about my relationships with these girls - beautiful, wild, and forever-lasting.

Keep the old because they are gold

Do you know those people you just cannot live without?  The ones who when you are at a low point they first cry with you and then they sit with you and then they lift you up?  And when you are at a high point in your life they are there too.  And even when they aren't physically there...they are there. And when you don't talk to them for months on end, you pick up right where you left off.  If you don't have people like that then you need to find them. They are called best friends and they can be found right there by your side.

A couple weeks before my mom died I found myself in the hospital, alone sitting by my mom's bed. I had just heard "the prognosis is not good" from my mom's lead doctor. My heart was beating fast and my mind was racing. But I just couldn't move my body. So that's what shock felt like. I knew I needed to make a lot of phone calls - to Mike, to my aunts and uncles...to my dad. But I couldn't move. 20 minutes went by and I don't believe I move a muscle. My computer was on my lap set to gmail and I clicked on "compose". The first four people I turned to was Meredith, Jana, Eileen, and Adrienne. Because I needed God. But I was mad at God. And I needed them to remind me that He was there. So I asked them to pray...and to send me Bible verses. Because my mom was dying and I didn't know what to do with myself. Then I picked up the phone, lost it with Mike (who put me back together), composed myself and made the tough phone calls to my dad and my mom's siblings.

When my mom died those girls cried too...because having known me for - I don't know - 19 years (?) they were close to my mom too.  And when it was time to go through mom's house in Houston guess who was there to make it more of a party than a sob-fest?  You got it. 

Meredith brought her baby girl Norah to hang out and I instantly fell in love with her.  Oh-my-Lordy that girl is such a cutie and she had no problem skipping a nap to enjoy the parade of fashions as we all tried on my mother's clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc.  Norah even ended up with a fabulous Christmas sweater (watch out Plutts!) from Lois' collection.

While the girls stuffed their faces with queso and chips in the kitchen I stole Norah for some self portraits. 

Obviously, it didn't work out that well so I confessed and reluctantly asked someone to take a picture of us.

Meanwhile, Jana played dress-up with Cavin. 

Judging from Cavin's expression I'm going to need a lot more Norah in my life if mom's jewelry is going to get any real use.

So thank you old friends for taking care of me while I went through my mom's personal things.  Meredith, Jana, Eileen, and Adrienne.  And you aren't the only ones.  There's my Rosemont girls too. And the new friends I've met here in California. Bottom line is when Sh#$ hit the fan, my girls were there in many ways, shapes and forms.  And I am speechless with the amount of support I have received.  I can honestly say there is no way I could not of gotten through any of this without you.  Thank you for the support, the laughter, and the tears.

(Rosemont - you're next!)

Meet Baby S's future buddies...

Introducing Drew and Maddy...our good friends' beautiful newborn babies. Andrew is Alison and Brandyn's little guy on the left who is a whopping 2 weeks old (in this picture). Madelynn is Michelle and Matt's beautiful girl who is 2 months old (in this picture)! Both are eagerly awaiting Baby S' arrival and I'm certain Baby S cannot wait to get to know them too.

This picture was taking a week ago and all of us were able to witness Maddy's first ever rolling over! She is clearly headed for Harvard.

And even more exciting, our good friends Lesley and Mike are expecting another baby boy in 16 weeks! More boys fighting for Maddy's affection....

Let's Celebrate Baby S - Bay Area Style!

My very good friends Lesley and Marisa threw Baby S a shower in the bay area and we had SUCH a fun time. Besides Baby S, the focal point of the shower was Marisa's beautiful and very yummy cupcakes she made:

The food was fabulous too!

Unfortunately, my camera died at the beginning of the shower so I don't have many pictures; however, some of my friends took pictures so I'll have to get those from them. Here are a few I did have:

We had a great time and Baby S left with quite the loot (including lots of diapers that the hosts asked guests to bring)! Thanks Lesley and Marisa!!

The Spruiells head to Tahoe

Back in February, we headed to Tahoe with some close friends (Sy, Karen, Shreeraj, Bindu, and Dorothy) that Mike went to business school with. When we showed up, they surprised us with a baby shower! It was so generous and thoughtful of them!! Since we were a bit caught off guard we don't have many pictures except this one....

How hilarious is that?? They couldn't find a sign that said "It's a Boy" so they improvised.

Here's my girl after a long day of playing in the snow...

And our attempt at another family photo (minus Toby), which didn't work out too well b/c the dogs were clearly distracted by the very exciting thing going on to the right...

Rosemont Reunion 2009

So I'm backing up a bit as I've got LOTS to catch y'all up on!

Back in January...yes January...my closest group of girlfriends from college (whom i refer to as "Rosemont" b/c that's the apartment complex we lived in our senior year) headed back to where it all began...San Antonio, TX...where we graduated from Trinity University 10 years prior.

While planning the trip, we realized that all the things we wanted to do involved eating and drinking....it is amazing we were not 1000 pounds in college.

Here we are at our favorite bar - Bay's

The next day we went to the spa for some pampering, mimosas (non-A for me), world's longest pedicure, and to annoy all the other spa patrons as we cannot seem to control the volume of our conversations....it was a lot of fun!

We also did a 5K around Trinity....we each visited our dorm rooms. At TU, you have to live on campus Freshman - Junior year so we have a lot of pictures of that...

Here we are at the fountain....in pledge class order :)

A picture of Erin and I where we spent WAY too much time in our early years at TU...sweating our butts off in the gym by playing volleyball...

And the group out in front of the Bell Center (minus Mully and Rios)

Karen and I at Rudy's....very yummy BBQ!

A SERIOUS highlight for me...tortillas and queso from Taco Cabana. Someone had to introduce Baby S to some good Mexican food b/c we are NOT getting that in California.

And Tyler (Erin's sweet boy) visited us at the end of the weekend to gather his mom and head back to Austin to hang with the grandparents...

Tea for three?

There's this great place called Lovejoy's Tea Room down in Noe Valley that is walkable from my place that I had been dying to try out! It is a quaint place that has a very home-y feel to it with mismatching table cloths and cute china that makes for a perfect tea party. Naturally, Lesley, Marisa, and I had to check it out. They bring you sandwhiches cut into triangles, salad, scones, and sugar cookies to compliment your tea...and it all comes out on this tri-level platform thing in the center of your table. and to top it all off you get tiny plates and forks to enjoy it! And did I mention the bottomless pot of tea??

Obviously you can tell nothing from this photo other than we drank tea. We have empty plates and our food is no where to be seen. Probably because we basically inhaled our food...it was that good! We promise to take more pictures the next time so you can get a real idea of this place...it was so cute!!! You'll have to take our word on that...or just look at our smiling faces.

I promised you pictures...

Well you are getting one (until Erin sends me more)...

This will make your heart melt!!

Remember Tyler Jackson? Well, he's a whopping 5 weeks and 4 days old today...clearly he has enough experience in the world to know he is the cutest baby ever! If only he could speak...what would he say?? Maybe something about how his brother Herbie is his new best friend or how he's got the best mommy and daddy in the world!

Mike-1, Sy-0

GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chargers suck!!! (aka Sy is a loser!)

This was my first Broncos game at Mile High stadium and I was sold! It was a blast!!

And that's how a Bronco is born...

When's the next game???

Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

Our very good friends Craig and Amanda, flew to our side of the world over the Labor Day weekend to do what we do best in California...taste some wine! It was Amanda's 30th b-day so we had LOTS of celebrating to do.

Craig had our entire itinery planned out with multiple tours, wine tastings, and yummy lunches and dinners. Mike and I just promised them some great weather and good company.

Lunch at Mondavi was a highlight of the trip. We ate a 3 course meal outside in their garden and each meal was paired with one of their wines. Most of the food prepared in the dishes came directly from their grounds...it was so good!

Some of the barrel rooms we visited...

And the Newlyweds....

Tyler Jackson is here!!!

Erin and Chris' beautiful baby boy arrived last night at 9:04pm after 13 hours of labor. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce and 20 inches long. Both parents sounded "high on life" (as Erin described it and just so grateful for their bundle of joy. They brought tears to my eyes as I listened to both of them talk about the little one.

Tyler was cool, calm, and collected as he entered the world and spent his first hour of life with his eyes wide open looking around the room. Maybe he was looking for his brother Herbie????

I spent the next hour calling all the girls of Rosemont. Since it was late no one answered so I got to leave lots of voicemails with a shaky voice (I was pretty emotional about it after talking to Erin) until I got ahold of Stacy! So at least I got to talk to someone about it. :)

Erin and Chris - CONGRATULATIONS!! We are so thrilled for your new addition and cannot wait to meet the new 'Man of Rosemont' very soon.

God Bless baby Tyler.

(Pics to come.)