Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a good weekend! I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's post. Did you do anything fun this weekend? My weekend started on Thursday, when two friends and I left for Dallas! Most of you know that Noah moved to the Dallas area back in May, and since then he's moved into a new apartment building in McKinney. I'd planned on taking this trip back in June with my friend Teresa; she and I planned it for us and my best friend Missy. Little did I know that this would coincide with Noah moving and being able to help him get a little more settled into his new apartment! Also, can you believe that our hotel was literally right across the street from his apartment building? I consider that a kiss from the King! Won't He do it? (IYKYK)
Here's what we did:
We got to the hotel at 5:30 and Noah was there five minutes later. I was giddy over seeing him! You can tell by the cheesy smile on my face. Man it was good to be the recipient of his amazing hugs again! He is my tallest son (and the youngest), and his hugs are like bear hugs. They're the best, and he is a hugger. Sometimes I go days without hugs and it sucks. We went to eat Mexican food for dinner at a swanky restaurant, and Noah bought my dinner! How sweet was that?
After dinner, Noah drove us over to the Legacy Park Drive area, which is a Dallas version of Rodeo Drive. He was in Heaven seeing all the fancy cars, and I was swooning over some of the big names that I saw on storefronts! We didn't get out, though, we just rode around while he chauffeured us around. It was nice that he drove for us! After this we went to his apartment, and I got to meet my grand kitty, Toodles.
His roommate Jacob has a cat named Jerry; the female cat in Tom and Jerry is named Toodles. She's precious with her little black socks. She's also very vocal!
While they slept in on Friday and while Noah was at work, I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the hotel patio. This is Noah's apartment building; that top floor balcony on the right belongs to him and Jacob!
There's this cool area in McKinney called Adriatica; it's designed to look like a Croatian village. We walked around a little and went into the little market while we were there.
We ate lunch at Spoons on the square, then we shopped a little while waiting on Noah to get off work.
I bought one little piece of artwork that my friend Jenna painted; she used to live here, then she moved to McKinney and painted for an art studio on the square, and now she lives back in this area again.
When Noah was finished with work, he picked me up at four, then he and I went to Home Depot to buy him some patio furniture.
See my hotel in the background? Isn't that crazy? My friends bought him this furniture as a house warming gift! He picked out these two chairs and patio table, then we went back to his apartment to put it together. He also bought a welcome mat and a bathroom mat.
We ate dinner at Mooyah's burgers (Noah's pick), then he drove us around to his work places. He works for two different hotels near McKinney; we drove by The Star, which is the practice arena for the Cowboys, then we went around to a few more areas that he wanted to show us. It was a fun night, and he was an excellent travel guide!
He came over to say goodbye on Saturday morning, and by ten, we were back on the road. I think I cried for the first two hours; I hate saying goodbye! I love seeing him there and so happy, but the goodbyes suck. Life just feels so hard right now, and there is still so much change happening that my head is spinning. I miss this boy so much! I will see him again at Thanksgiving, and then for a week at Christmas; I'm making plans to go again in February, Lord willing!
It was a really fun trip, and I had the best time with not only my sweet Noah, but also my dear friends. We cried together, we laughed together, and we had good, clean fun. There's nothing better! What did you do that you loved this weekend? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog, friends. Love to all!
Jenn 🖤
So thoughtful of them to buy that furniture and what great friends you have! I love that you did the McKinney moms meal at Spoons. I think Adriatica is near Preppy Empty Nester and of course Mix and Match Mama and that crew. I know you miss him but I think Noah did a brave thing taking a risk and I am happy for him that he gets to spread his wings. I know you will be so excited for him to be home for the holidays and then you definitely should go back in Feb. if you can. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI know! I literally have the very best friends ever. It's my second time to eat there; it's really good! I am so proud of Noah for that very reason, but man it stings that he's not just around the corner or even a half hour away. There's something about knowing you can't get to him quickly, you know? I am excited to go back the next time.
DeleteWhat a great weekend away seeing your Noah! That area looks pretty. McKinney is a huge area. When we went to Boston a couple of years ago, I looked up cities in the US info (you can take the girl of social studies class but not social studies out of the girl), and McKinney was the 14th largest city by population in the US. That surprised me since there are no professional sports teams in it (that which is my own barometer for how large a city is!). It looks like Noah is doing great on his own, is a wonderful son and was a great tour guide for you gals. How fun!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a great weekend! I am so glad I had the opportunity to go and that I was able to take off a day from work. I didn't know that, but I did realize how large the area is while I was there this time! It was so good seeing him loving life there.
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip you had and what a bonus to be just over the road from Noah! He does look like he gives the best hugs.
ReplyDeleteYes! It was the best time. And he does!
DeleteYour son is such a good host — you must have taught him well. We had a cool front and rain move through Waco this morning so it feels more fall-like. I empathize with saying good byes — our families lived in MN and goodbyes were always the hardest! But now I see this was God’s intended path for our life.
ReplyDeleteHe is! Thank you for that, I will take that credit. Oh, I know you get how hard it is to say goodbye! Even knowing it's part of God's plan doesn't make it easier, but I was thankful for the few days I had with him!
DeleteSounds like a wonderful weekend and so glad you had some time with your son, and lots of hugs too. It's good to see our kids in their own environments, doing well, but the goodbyes are always hard. I've never spent any time in Dallas but have friends there I'd love to catch up with. Maybe one of these days I'll get there. Have a good week. Change is hard. I always say God has taught me more through change than probably any other means in my life. It has taken me years to learn not to immediately resist : )
ReplyDeleteYes! Me too; I have missed him! I hope you get the chance to go there soon; it really is a great place. There is so much to do and so many places to eat that are so different than what I have here!
DeleteSo glad you had such a nice trip...and that Noah is doing so well and enjoying Texas! I know you will savor those hugs for weeks:)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will cherish them for the weeks until I see him again, that is for sure.
DeleteOh what a beautiful area Jen- your heart must be so full for him!! So glad you had a great time :)
ReplyDeleteIt was such a fun weekend!
DeleteI'm so glad you had time with your son. His building and balcony really look nice. What better chauffeur could you have had. Also, glad you had time with friends, and shopping and sight-seeing. Hope you have a good week coming up.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really cool building! I love that the garage is in the middle of the building and that he has covered parking. It felt very safe. Thank you for that!
DeleteThat is so neat that your hotel was right across the street! It sounds like you had such a wonderful visit. His new cat is adorable.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that amazing?! I was blown away by that little detail. It was such a great weekend! Isn't she precious? She has little black socks on three of her feet.
DeleteWhat a fun getaway you had! There's nothing like quality time with dear friends and then to top it off with time with your precious boy must have been the icing on the cake! I bet his hug felt amazing!!! I've also heard that McKinney is a charming spot - how wonderful that that's where he landed! Sounds like he was the perfect tour guide, too... and Toodles is adorable!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a fun friend trip! I'll be living off all the hugs I got from now until Thanksgiving!
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