Many the Miles. . . and I'll Be Happy

(Have you heard that Sara Bareilles song?  I love it.  It's a good road trip song.)

This is my favorite place on Long Island.  The kids and I just came back from a week there visiting one of my favorite people on this planet.  

"El" and I were roommates for three years in college.  We made each other dinner.  We listened to each other complain about our long to-do lists.  We washed each others' dishes left from the night before.  We knew all about each others' greatest strengths and hidden weaknesses.  We flew to each others' weddings.  We still laugh at the silliest of memories.  And now she schools me in how to mother in the most dignified and deliberate ways.  The way she lives her life is still so beautiful.  My kids like her, too.  

El and her kids are just here for half a year from Japan, so we snuck in a trip to see them on US soil.  Next to being with her and her four smart and hilarious kids at home, we love going to the beach with them most.  This beach is about two blocks from their home.

 
And this little cutie isn't mine, but I was ready to take her home with me after a few days with her.  She's the twins' age and I kept thinking that triplets don't sound so hard.

 While the older kids were in school, we checked out the children's museum in Bridgehampton.  Everyone found something they loved.

And on another day we walked to the local library for a great morning of books and storytime.  The actual library building is a renovated home with the classic cedar shake siding.

On another day we watched her kids in their group violin lesson.  Their music is so impressive.  Notice the aforementioned cutie on the floor doing snow angels with her own practice violin made from a box and a paint stirrer stick.

Other highlights included watching our kids imagine up their play scenarios, staying up really late talking, eating all of her super delicious food, visiting the lighthouse at Montauk, and getting her nutrition tips while our kids played in the backyard one day. 

How far are you willing to drive without your husband with three kids to be with someone like this?  Traveling the 440 miles was easy to be with a girl this great.