I’ve known Leah and Carrie since our elementary school days at Pleasant Hill in Palatine, Illinois and we’ve stayed close through high school, college and multiple moves. (We missed you, Michaela!) Now that we all live in different cities, our visits aren’t nearly as frequent as we’d like but anytime we get together, we pick up right where we left off and I’m reminded again just how much I wish these ladies lived in my neighborhood. There’s a level of comfort you have around friends you’ve known your whole life – friends who know your family and who have seen you at your very best and your very worst – that I find myself craving and missing a bit since Ryan and I have moved to new places post-college. Phone calls and texting help, but there’s nothing like being together in person and I’m so grateful Leah and Carrie were able to take time out of their busy lives to visit us.
Thursday
After their arrival on Thursday, we popped into the grocery store to pick up supplies for dinner before walking to a nearby park so Leah’s son could play for a little while.
I haven’t seen her sweet boy since he was six months old (and I was 17 weeks pregnant – I visited Leah in Chicago the weekend before I announced my pregnancy on the blog!) and it kind of blew my mind to see how much he has grown since February. It’s crazy to me to think that at this time next year Chase will be a toddler, too!
Ryan met us at the park after work and then our little gang walked back home to grill out and enjoy burgers and wine on the patio. The weather in Charlotte was wonderful during their stay and we spent a lot of time outside!
Friday
On Friday, our morning began slow and we sipped coffee and dug into a frittata I made during Chase’s morning nap before finally getting it together enough to load everyone in the car and head out to Patterson Farm for some festive fall fun.
Chase apparently likes to welcome our guests by eating them. He clearly felt right at home in Carrie’s arms! And speaking of Carrie, I have to take a moment to highlight some of her amazing accomplishments. Carrie is a general surgery resident in Michigan and is so incredible. I’m in awe of her work ethic and intelligence and hearing about the work she does on a day-to-day basis blows my mind. She works so hard and I’m one heck of a proud friend. I know how hard it is for her to get time away from the hospital, so having her meet Chase and visit us in Charlotte meant so much to me.
Patterson Farm is located north of Charlotte in Mount Ulla, so it was a bit of a drive for us, but well worth it.
How cute are Leah and her little boy? I just love his orange overalls!
Leah is such a wonderful mom and it’s so neat to see her parent such a fun and lively little guy! She’s so caring and patient with him but is also incredibly candid and honest with me when I have questions about what’s to come in the future for me as a mom. She’s been such a fantastic resource for me as a new mom and I am so grateful for her advice and support.
Leah’s son had fun looking at the animals on the farm and we did, too!
They had goats, sheep, ponies, ducks, pigs and more. I told Ryan we will definitely have to bring Chase back when he’s a bit older and can appreciate the animals and play areas a little more.
Once we made it home, we joined Ryan and Sadie for an evening boat ride before ordering pizza for dinner back at the house.
Saturday
On Saturday, we had another leisurely start to the day (oh how things change with kiddos!) but we eventually made it out of the house for brunch in Davidson.
We managed to snag a table outside on the patio at Toast which worked perfectly for our little group. Chase was a little more challenging during brunch than he has been when we’ve taken him out to eat in the past, so I was grateful for outdoor seating and the ability to easily get up, swaddle and soothe him without it disrupting people around us.
After brunch, we walked in and out of some of the cute shops on Main Street before driving home in time for Leah’s son’s afternoon nap.
I ended up leaving my camera away for the rest of the weekend, but the remainder of our Saturday night included a trip to a local bakery for cupcakes and cookies and dinner at a local Mexican restaurant that was absolutely delicious!
When I dropped my friends off at the airport on Sunday morning, I was sad to see them go, but hopeful that a reunion trip we’re planning to make to meet my friend Michaela’s baby (she’s due in November!) will happen early next year.
Thanks again to Leah and Carrie for making the trip to Charlotte to meet Chase and spend time with us. I loved every minute we had together and love you both so much!
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What a fun weekend with friends. There really is something so special about friends that have know you your whole life.
Aww looks like such a perfect weekend. And as much as the boys probably seem to be SO different in age right now, it’s neat that the gap will get smaller and smaller and they could be best buds when they’re a bit older. Glad you enjoyed what looks like amazing fall weather 🙂 And also, you look amazing, Julie!
Good morning Julie!!
What, you are from Palatine?! I am from and currently live in the western burbs of Chicago 🙂
I agree that it’s so great getting to spend time with liifelong friends, and I’m glad you got to experience that this weekend! Looks like you ladies and your little guys had a blast.
Have a great start to your week!
Christina
Looks like such a lovely weekend! 🙂
I can’t imagine a more perfect weekend! 😀 Beautiful fall weather , family and friends!
Chase will enjoy that farm for many years to come! I have taken my kids to the same place in Marble Falls, Texas for 11 years! Now, they are 14 and 12 and they look forward to it 🙂 It is a bit of a drive as well, but well worth it. Great memories. I’m glad you got some time with your friends. You all looked so happy!
looks like a fabulous weekend! Question- I’m on the hunt for some cute brown booties but having some trouble. Where did you get yours/brand? I love them!
whoops, just saw your Friday post. Thanks!
🙂 Hope that helps!
So much fun! looks like you all had a great time! I’ve recently reconnected with my best friend from middle school who has a son 1.5 years older than mine and is due with number 2 about 4 months before me!
Old friends are the best! I have a group of high school friends who I stay in touch with too. When we see each other, it’s like no time has passed.
What a super fun weekend! I love getting together with girlfriends!
Julie, it will go by so quick. One day you’ll wake up and you’ll have this independent little boy calling you mama and you wonder how he grew up so fast. At that point you might ask yourself, am I ready for another one?! They are so much more fun when they start interacting and playing with you. Enjoy the time because you will blink and Chase will be running around the house chasing Sadie.
I’m so glad you got to see your friends! I can relate, my best friends and I all moved to different places after college but when we get together, it seems like not a day has passed. When I was in the Charlotte area, my best friend and I went to Cantina 1511. I highly recommend! 🙂
Cantina 1511 is so good! We went several months ago when we first moved here but need to go back!
Everyone looks great!
It looks like so much fun reconnecting with friends that are now moms!
I LOVE seeing the Fremd High School crowd (as far as I’m concerned, ha) grow up! I remember being on Poms with Carrie – crazy that she’s now saving lives in a hospital! We just had our 10 year reunion, and I hang out with the Fremd kids in Denver frequently, so I feel like I get a little taste of home from time to time. It’s difficult to get together, but when we do, you’re spot on – we go right back to chatting like no time has passed at all.
Thanks for sharing – so glad you guys had such a great time! Hope you’re able to make it out here to see Michaela’s baby next year, eek! 🙂
Weekend reunions with childhood friends are the BEST. So glad you were able to catch up with your friends!
SO FUN! i love getting together with old friends and our new babies – hopefully they’ll share that same bond!!
Your friend Leah has adorable boots. Could anyone tell me what color those are? I’m on the hunt for something similar, but I don’t know what to call that color when I’m hunting on the internet.
I loved them, too! She told me they’re Frye boots. 🙂
Yep, they are made by Frye and they call the color cognac.
Love your top! Is that one top or a sweater over a blouse?
It’s a sweater over a long tank!
Can you tell us where you got that purple sweater? its super cute and looks really soft!
What a lovely weekend- reconnecting with old friends is always so much fun!
Looks like a perfect fall weekend!
That is so fun that you got to have your friends visit! I love those orange overalls!!!!
You can’t make new old friends, can you? I treasure the people who’ve been with me for a looooong time, it’s nice you’ve been able to keep your connections alive and thriving!! Also, how great is it that in this group of your girlfriends, little Chase will be having playmates all throughout life – they’ll all be close enough in age! Fun!
Looks like the perfect weekend.
Friends that you can pick up where you left off with are the best kinds of friends to have. That is so fun that you can share raising kids together too!
This sounds like such a great weekend! I so hope that my high school friends and I continue to stay in touch and spend time together when we’re married and have kids. 🙂
Sounds like you guys had a fun weekend together. I love getting together with my oldest friends. No matter how long it’s been since we last saw each other it’s like no time has passed at all.
A weekend with good friends is always so much fun – I have realized as I have gotten older that its not the quantity of time I spend with friends its the quality of what we do in that time that we are together 🙂
What a perfect weekend with your girlfriends! I’m right there with you — even though I’ve been in San Francisco for three years and have made some great friends — nothing replaces my life-long pals I left behind in Florida!
Aww looks like you guys had a blast! It always feels good to hang out with your best gal pals especially when you don’t get to see them much.
Julie, what a sweet sweet blog post! We loved visiting and spending time with you all! Chase is an absolute doll! We only wished you lived closer… :/
Love weekends like that! The best!
looks like such a fun weekend! How do you curl your hair? It always looks so perfect xox
Toast is always such a great option for brunch!
Your hair looks amazing!!!! How did you get it to curl so well?? I have fine hair too and its so hard for me to get it to look like that!
Thank you! I wrap it around the outside of a curling iron and spray the heck out of it with Big Sexy Hair Spray before brushing it out.