Finally!!!

*Disclaimer - I forgot my camera in the car*

Did you noticed that I caved.

Yeah… for all your “good for you’s” and your “go go girl”… I caved. Kat made a deal I could not refuse. (Thereby making Kat the… Godmother)

The girls and I woke up Saturday morning and headed down the road. It was a GORGEOUS day and we listened to the Wicked soundtrack the whole way. Gert had the map and was following the blue line as we went along. It is a long drive and they did really well.

We finally made it to the greater Metro-Atlanta area. Essie spied the sign for Dave & Busters and wanted to go there… BADLY. Maybe next time. She then took the map and navigated our way to the mall where we were to meet… well… we knew we were meeting Kat & a “surprise” friend, but that’s all I knew.

Arriving to the mall a little early, The Ladies and I wandered around the mall a bit, being accosted 3 times by the man with the hair straightener kiosk. Now, I’d love one of those thingies, but I wasn’t about to go to lunch where there were SURE to be camera’s, with one piece of hair straightened. So I brushed him off… I don’t like those pushy Kiosk people.

It was finally time to head to Maggiano’s. We went through the revolving door (3 times) and then decided to take a seat on the bench in the entryway. Essie asked who we were watching for and I shrugged and said “I have NO idea.”



So we watch.. .and wait. 2 Stunningly GORGEOUS women walk up, and Essie says “They look like bloggers.” And looking.. they did seem to look familiar, but when the only picture you know of someone is a ¼ inch square avatar, it’s a little hard to tell. WELL, Essie was right, they WERE bloggers!! It was SHANNON & ANGIE!!! They recognized me and thus the excitement began!!!

We started chatting about this and that, speculating who the “mystery” bloggess was who was to grace us with her presence. My children showed off their incredible show off skills. I was immediately struck by how completely at home I felt with Shannon & Angie!

THEN

The door revolved and in walks…

KORI!!!

Now there was a surprise!! I had just seen her 2 weeks prior and had NO idea she was planning on joining the fun!!! Of course one of the first things we had to do was check for matching socks!!

We then all stood there, yapping, waiting for KAT!!!!!!!!… who finally showed up… and then proceeded to sit in her mini-van… I think she was waiting to make a grand entrance. Which she and her Katie did... Really, those girls know how to take over a room. You could tell Kat was pretty proud of herself and her little surprises....

Kat's phone then rang, and it was the final "surprise" person... and the were an hour away. Of COURSE we didn't mind waiting, and she was gracious enough to up the speed to 95 so we could eat as soon as possible. Kat took her drink order while on the phone... she was apparently very thirsty.

So, she called again when she was about 10 minutes out, and then rest of us went and sat down, ordered drinks and kept up the chatting... when... who should walk in???

LULA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh how exciting!!! I adore Lula and have been dying to meet her!!! She is all I thought she would be and MORE!!!!!

At one point my Gert completely freaked Miss Kori (Germaphobe) out by slurping a noodle straight out of the community spaghetti bowl.... From then on the whole bowl was considered "Gert's Spaghetti"

Here's a group shot of our table. Are we not gorgeous!! And Lula, that sharp eyed girl, spotted Michelle Obama at the table next to us and was quick to point it out to the whole restaurant.

Our waiter was really good... he knew what was in everything. Believe me... I know... I asked.

Kori is quite the little detective.....

And a LOT of fun with a spoon and VERY protective of her Creme' Brulee.....

As we were standing outside the restaurant after we ate, Lula did a little evangelizing with the cranky people....

Sadly then Lula had to leave... bummer. The rest of us headed over to Kat's to hang out and yack some more... (as in talk, not as in puke, though apparently Kori was borderline after Kat's driving....) When we got to Kat's, several ladies had to go potty.

Then we took our drinks out on the deck and officially started the Mommy Blabbers Sorority. And had a little finger intervention with Kori... she's better now. Really.

Time went MUCH to quickly, laughs were MUCH to hard, oxygen was much to scarce, and before we knew it, Shannon, Angie & Kori had to leave. So we took the traditional picture-at-Kat's-house... you'll notice we followed the "no hips" rule:

The Ladies and I were spending the night at Kat's. Sadly, and ironically, Kat's cat had ingested some... gunk... and wasn't feeling well. But still let me snap this pic

Kat and I then sent the children else where and we sat down to chat. Here is a close up, cat-eyed view of our legs while we were chatting. I adore that Kat... I can tell her anything....

After The Ladies went to sleep, I headed out to spend some time with Mr. B. He wore a plaid shirt, just for me. The humidity was starting to REALLY mess with my hair but he said he loved it. We had a wonderful time together, of course WAY to short....

The Ladies & I slept in Kat's AMAZING guest room. That's me on the left, Essie in the middle and Gert on the right... like you couldn't tell.

When we awoke in the morning, Kat had made pancakes!! And GOOD ones at that!!! I'm telling you - that Kat is the hostess with the mostess.

After a lovely breakfast I told The Ladies it was time to go. My bedhead & I gave Kat a big hug

And we headed home.