6.01.2011

Black & White Wednesday: Intersection of Long Road to China & Darling Street

This is one of my favorite intersections on the Long Road to China.

The Fab Five and we Darlings have met up on several occasions over the years.
It started innocently a few years back...just Lisa and me having an impromptu lunch. Lisa's job takes her near and far...luckily, one of the "far" spots is an hour and a half across the border into the Garden State.

Lisa Waving Color WM
We've spent time together at photography workshops, get togethers with friends/fellow bloggers, etc. Our rendezvous' vary...sometimes they include some of the kids, all of the kids, both the kids and husbands, you name it. We're even apt to throw in a Texan or Two, we're crazy like that!

This time we decided to make a weekend out of it and, despite the rain that poured down on our BBQ causing us to move indoors THREE times, we weren't dissuaded from having the stellar time we always do.

Blog Collage Kids Yard I

Lisa, ever the overachiever, wrote all about our weekend last week HERE and, in true Dita fashion, I am late to the party...but I come bearing gifts...lots and lots of photos!

The girls cornered the market on bubble blowing and perched high atop the swing set for the better part of two days.
Blog Collage Girls Bubbles II

They did occasionally take time out to make some tea for themselves and their littlest tea party guest.
Blog Collage Girls Tea Party



The boys played video games, ate, watched movies, ate, horsed around, ate, riled the girls, ate, smooched Reagan, ate, slept and ate.




Blog Collage Saying Goodbye Reagan
Adoring Look WM
NickSweetieReaganBW WM

After her bath, Reagan discovered the joy of light sticks and I'm not sure who had more fun with them; Reagan or my mom watching Reagan's fascination with them!
Blog Collage Ragan Lightsticks
The slightly over 20 contingent gabbed incessantly, drank yummy sweet peach tea cocktails, ate, enjoyed one another, ate, smiled watching our kids play so sweetly together, snuggled Reagan, ate, moved the food in and out and in and out again...ate, slept, ate and generally had a great time just hangin' in on a rainy weekend (eating!) so effortlessly together.

Sweetie got "sweet" on Handsome Nick!
C'mon, with a face like that and the personality to match, can you really blame her?
Blog Collage Brothers & Sisters
And I believe I could hear Sarah's heart pounding with excitement from 10 paces when the Boy Wonder would sneak up on her in plain sight and "scare" her. Yes, I can hear the screams of glee still in the backyard!

Saying goodbye is always the hardest part.
No one was happy to say goodbye to our friends...but it did hit Sweetie like a ton of bricks...
she sobbed "Nick, NIck....NICK!" the second their car pulled out of the driveway.



She definitely deserves the Oscar....or the NICK, as the case may be!
Blog Collage Saying Goodbye Kids

There was no consoling her and, as you can see from these photos...it was so heartbreaking even JR got misty...AND Wonderboy, well, he got awfully quiet and just kept telling me he missed them and what a good time they had.
Blog Collage Until We Meet Again

Of course, we've begun making plans for the next visit already, but for now, the memories of our wonderful weekend together remain tucked in each of our hearts.

Lisa Waving BW WM


To see some great images from some fantastic photographers, click on over to The Long Road to China


the long road























11 comments:

  1. Good friends are hard to beat : ) I am so glad you have found a good one in Lisa. The kids are the cutest : ) I always love pictures of your babies. Always : )

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  2. awwww. I love all your gorgeous photos of your beautiful children. What a fun weekend, rain or not :)

    had to laugh at how much the big boys "ate". I have a teenage boy too!

    Have a great week!

    xo ellie

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  3. These are such lovely photos showing great emotions and bond between the children!

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  4. You guys have all the fun! The kids, Hubbies, backyard fun and food - all good - including the gorgeous photos to remember it all by!
    Happy Memorial Day!

    Alyzabeth's Mommy

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  5. Love it girl! Well except the crying part at the end; ) But it truly looked and sounded like an amazing time.

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  6. What a fabulous weekend! You girls (and your families) are awesome!

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  7. Having fun with family and friends doing the simple things. It doesn't get much better than that.

    I'll bet Sarah was saying wonder boys name in the car as they drove off too.

    It's great to see everyone enjoying each other.

    Valerie

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  8. I'm sure they had a fabulous time at the Darlings because you are the perfect hostess! And your family is wonderful! What's there not to love! Now who said technology was bad? All these beautiful frienships because of blog world :)

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  9. These are fabulous Dita! Love the bond and friendship that both of your families share. Beautifully captured...as always.

    The one of Lisa in her car is so cute!

    Have a great rest of your week. :)

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  10. What a perfect week-end - even the rain couldn't dampen the fun and friendship shared. (Sigh.....reminds me a little of our week-end together last fall. Pine....)

    These pictures are fabulous girl - love this format and it like a story board. I can just hear all the giggles. But the eyes Sarah and Sweetie are making at the boys. Oh my....you and Lisa are in trouble. (What am I saying - we're all in the same boat - we'd better hang on....waves are a comin')

    Maddy's right - amazing friendships through this bloggy world. So glad you and Lisa found each other.

    Love you! mwah

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  11. It has only taken me two weeks to get here, but FINALLY..... I have come to THANK YOU for an unbelievably fun weekend!! We had such a wonderful time and we feel like you rolled out the red carper for our family! It was so nice to be able to hang out and let the kids have fun and do their thing too!! We are missing y'all and need to see you and all the Darlings soon. Maybe a road trip to PA once you all get settled from your INCREDIBLE trip to paradise!!

    Lots of love and WELCOME HOME~

    xoxo,

    Lisa

    PS. Love each and every photo that you captured.

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