New Friends

One of the many things that made the move to Canada difficult for me was the fact that I would have to say goodbye to not just my family in South Carolina, but also my friends. When I first moved here, I really didn't know anyone besides Ryan and his family. I had met a few of his friends a couple of times before I moved, but I was pretty much starting over in the friendship department. Since that time, I have become friends with a handful of girls that I wouldn't trade for the world. But I have learned to never pass up the opportunity to make a new friend. Today, Reagan and I were fortunate enough to BOTH make a new friend.

Tiff from Still Seeking Sanity lives only just a few minutes south of the US/CAN border, so she and I planned to get together and meet IRL the next time that I went down to do a little shopping. Today was that day. Reagan and I loaded into the truck this morning to venture down across the border. Of course, last night my husband Ryan started expressing his opinions about my decision to meet Tiff and her family. I can't help but wonder if he has been secretly been hanging out with Sara (who has a paranoia of an ax murderer attacking her during her sleep) because he started asking me how I was so sure that this person I was going to meet wasn't really a serial killer just posing as a mother of four! I ignored him, and continued with my plans!

I had shown Reagan pictures of all of Tiff's children, and I think that she was just as excited as I was to meet the crew. As soon as we pulled into her driveway, Reagan was trying to unbuckle her car seat and climb out the door. She ran to meet the adorable Emma who was standing at the gate to welcome us and then ran into the house to meet the boys and to play. Tiff and I hugged and immediately started chatting as if we were old friends. Honestly, to an outsider, no one would have had a clue that we had all just met! Tiff took a picture (being the truly awesome blogger that she is!) to document the occasion. Being the slacker that I am, I forgot to take my camera! Thank you Tiff for sending this to me...
After visiting at their house, we loaded the kids into our respective cars and headed off for the mall. Because, as any of the local Canadian moms here will tell you, you simply CAN NOT cross the border into the States without making a trip to Target. That would just simply be wrong. I somehow managed to leave Target with only buying 2 new beach towels and 2 cute little sundresses that were all on clearance. Tiff had a good laugh at me while I was desperately trying to find my diet peanut butter, but I was unsuccessful. (If anyone knows a store that sells the stuff... LET ME KNOW!) If not, Tiff I'm ordering it online and having it shipped to your house to get next time because they don't ship to Canada. And yes, there will be many more visits with Tiff and her family!

I have to tell you, Tiff's children are AMAZING! I can not believe how well behaved they all were. Emma is the oldest and she turns 5 next week, Grant and Ben are her twin boys that are two, and baby Drew is five months old. Tiff never had to raise her voice to them, she never had to ask them more than once to do something, they stayed close to us at all times in the mall, they sat STILL and ate all their lunch without having to beg them to do it... they were little angels compared to my wild child Reagan. I am hoping that some of Emma's good behavior wore off on Reagan today, and I'm hoping that Tiff doesn't think that Reagan is a bad influence on her kids because Reagan is already begging to go see Emma again! The girls were so cute together... talking, holding hands, dancing. Reagan started crying when it was time to say goodbye, and she cried even harder when she saw their van turn to go home while we continued straight ahead to go North.

So, today was a very good day! It was the first of what I am sure will be many play dates for both the kids and the moms! And, it was hopefully the first of many friends that I have met while blogging that I will finally meet In Real Life!