and her family too.
the Duerksen Hotel was opened up to a blog friend on wednesday night.
laura (a piece of cake) has been planning her move from LA to Connecticut for several months
and we have been emailing all year.
so i said "do you want to stay at our house as you drive through?"
it sounds crazy.
but it wasn't.
it was awesome.
nick and laura phelps.
cross country travelers....living their very own national lampoons vacation.
their kids jumped out of the van and our kids came outside and it was instant friendship.
same for me and laura.
i filled them with margaritas and yummy dip and crackers.
we let the kids run wild and the grown ups sat and talked.
until eleven.
we put the kids to bed but they were still up at midnight.
laura and i stayed up till nearly 3:00 talking...about everything.
i liked her before...i love her now.
the kids were up by 7:30.
short night.
bright and early up playing with their hamster named gingerbread.
my kids are begging for a hamster.
except waffle...he doesn't want one....unless he gets to eat it.
sean wrote a comic about Dudes...he gave it to laura.
it was sooooo sean.
the four girls (annie and annie and belle and talby) played barbies.
and dolls.
annie phelps had a huge bag of american girl dolls and accessories....my annie was so happy.
talby took all the rest of these pictures....
they are perfect.
i love her angles....it's probably just cause she's short though.
it's a long story....
and in real life my butt is not that big.
right laura?
right?
laura?
hello.....laura?!
but i AM a giant next to her.
it was such a great night.
i loved every minute.
the Duerksen Hotel was opened up to a blog friend on wednesday night.
laura (a piece of cake) has been planning her move from LA to Connecticut for several months
and we have been emailing all year.
so i said "do you want to stay at our house as you drive through?"
it sounds crazy.
but it wasn't.
it was awesome.
nick and laura phelps.
cross country travelers....living their very own national lampoons vacation.
their kids jumped out of the van and our kids came outside and it was instant friendship.
same for me and laura.
i filled them with margaritas and yummy dip and crackers.
we let the kids run wild and the grown ups sat and talked.
until eleven.
we put the kids to bed but they were still up at midnight.
laura and i stayed up till nearly 3:00 talking...about everything.
i liked her before...i love her now.
the kids were up by 7:30.
short night.
bright and early up playing with their hamster named gingerbread.
my kids are begging for a hamster.
except waffle...he doesn't want one....unless he gets to eat it.
sean wrote a comic about Dudes...he gave it to laura.
it was sooooo sean.
the four girls (annie and annie and belle and talby) played barbies.
and dolls.
annie phelps had a huge bag of american girl dolls and accessories....my annie was so happy.
talby took all the rest of these pictures....
they are perfect.
i love her angles....it's probably just cause she's short though.
it's a long story....
and in real life my butt is not that big.
right laura?
right?
laura?
hello.....laura?!
but i AM a giant next to her.
it was such a great night.
i loved every minute.
laura & nick, i hope the rest of your trip is excellent.
i hope you buy Dramamine today.
i hope your new life out east is beautiful.
i hope you stay in touch forever.
and i am so glad you weren't crazy weirdos in real life.
my kids want to know when we are going to Connecticut.
maybe we will cross country it in 2011?
that would be an adventure.
but you already know all about that....don't you laura?
Your butt is soooooooo not that big!!!!
We love you Meghan and your entire family.
Your home is beautiful because of the people who live in it.
You are all welcome to visit CT!!!!
Miss you so much already....
Posted by: Laura | July 02, 2010 at 10:36 AM
So fun! And as someone who has moved across country (Canada), I know that it would be such a treat to stay with someone you "know". What an adventure! Love it! Good luck Phelps family!!
Posted by: Lora | July 02, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Looks like fun...can you tell about your pool and what's involved in maintenance, is it worth it? Is it easier to just go to the Y?
Posted by: angie | July 02, 2010 at 10:46 AM
You are not a giant... she just looks miniature!
I LOVE Sean! His face is so cute in that picture :)
What a fun two days :)
Posted by: Heather @ Cookie Mondays | July 02, 2010 at 11:00 AM
So excited y'all got to meet in the middle of the USA. You both look fantastic.
Posted by: Michele Renee | July 02, 2010 at 11:19 AM
loved the butt picture ... shows your guys fun personalities! So awesome that your families made a great new connection.
Posted by: julie | July 02, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Thanks for introducing me to a new blog! I bake and decorate cakes too so I was very happy to read Laura's blog.
Posted by: Janine | July 02, 2010 at 11:29 AM
that just looked like so much FUN.
you are both adorable.
~
tara
Posted by: Tara @ the cinnamon post | July 02, 2010 at 11:30 AM
i so love when OLF become IRL friends. so glad you got to meet. (and the margaritas look like they'd be worth a cross country drive.
cannot imagine the shock of moving from california back east. gah.
Posted by: purejoy | July 02, 2010 at 11:45 AM
It's so strange and wonderful to see the Phelps, my good friends, on your blog, a blog that I've been reading for more than a year! You two DEFINITELY go together as friends -- thank you for sharing these adorable photos.
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 02, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Looks like so much fun!
On your cross country treck to CT, can you swing thru SC, please?
Mi casa es su casa!
Posted by: Dana D@BoysMyJoys | July 02, 2010 at 11:57 AM
The sweetest post I have read in a long time. It is amazing the friendships that have been made because of the internet. Sweet, sweet, sweet!!!
Posted by: jeanne | July 02, 2010 at 12:13 PM
There is almost nothing better than making a new bosom buddy. They are such a rare find and so exciting when they appear!
Posted by: jaz | July 02, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Loved reading about this. Can't wait to check out Laura's blog, too!
Posted by: Kimberlee J. | July 02, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Love this post. I have my complex issues of the size of my bum & I just KNOW it's not as big as seen in photos or in the mirror!! ha!!
We just moved back to midwest from living in CT for 11 years...let me know if you need any good ideas of where to go!! Thimble Islands - a MUST. and pizza in New Haven. We're planning our own road trip out there in a few years when kids are a little older - I'm already looking forward to the adventure!!
Posted by: jody | July 02, 2010 at 12:42 PM
How Bizarre this blogging world can be. I've read Laura's blog and yours and now here you are on the same blog!? I doubt if anyone will ever cross country past my door. It's a little out of the way... just a little. Maybe I need to move? Hmmm?.....nah. I like my little old piece of Canada. And I can just turn on my computer to visit all of you.
Dana
Posted by: Dana@Bungalow'56 | July 02, 2010 at 01:22 PM
you two are lovely! the picture of you two hugging looks like you have been lifelong buddies.
we embark on our semi-cross country roadtrip in a week - all the way from Memphis to Denver. woo-hoo!
Posted by: candace | July 02, 2010 at 01:26 PM
what a fun house!!!
www.kellyloves.wordpress.com
Posted by: www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com | July 02, 2010 at 01:27 PM
you are GORGEOUS!! I just said..."she is so pretty"...and my 17 yo daughter said..."I KNOW!!, she has the most genuine smile"!!
We love you...you are our new best friend, k??
Posted by: Trena McNulty | July 02, 2010 at 03:31 PM
I was sent here by Beth at Dirty Laundry, and she was right: YOU ROCK!
I have two virtual best friends I can't wait to meet in person. What fun!!
And can I say, we just put up a similar pool in our yard ... and you've solved the dilemma of how to keep the grass out of the water! Must go get one of those oval buckets right now!!
Posted by: Maria Boyer | July 02, 2010 at 03:43 PM
What a generous heart you have!!! Who knew that living in the land of OZ would prove to be beneficial in the blogosphere world?
I love your blog...thank you for opening your heart, your life, and now your home to all of us!!
Posted by: Brooke | July 02, 2010 at 04:42 PM
That is the coolest thing ever seeing two bloggers meet up in real life - awesome photos, sounded like such a cool time!
Posted by: PaisleyJade | July 02, 2010 at 04:58 PM
glad you had such a great time....that was a huge leap of faith inviting people to your house....just shows what a great person you are...
april
Posted by: april | July 02, 2010 at 05:22 PM
Awwwww.... 2 of my favorite bloggers together! Looks like a wonderful time. How great is it that 2 people who have never met, but been blogger friends, can come together and have such a fun time together? Made me smile :O)
Posted by: Lora | July 02, 2010 at 05:39 PM
Looks like fun... so cool that you could come together and meet in real life :D
Posted by: Nikki | July 02, 2010 at 06:04 PM
that is so fun! talk about a leap of faith gone well!
and connecticut rocks! lived here my entire life :)
Posted by: Robyn | July 02, 2010 at 06:34 PM
Fun, fun, fun. So glad you first meet was awesome. Amazing friendships can be forged through blogland.
Posted by: Lisa | July 02, 2010 at 08:15 PM
soooo fun! my online BFF & i have never met but i know we'd be up 'til 3am, too. :) umm... hey. are those star wars sheets craigs from when he was little? my husband had them, too. and i feel terrible that i've used them as drop cloths. :( i know they're like gold now. i didn't know at the time. but we have them, too! love waffle meeting the hamster [& that he has his own cutie afghan!] & sean laughing at his comic. :) so cute. FUN FUN!
Posted by: Rachel / cREaTe | July 03, 2010 at 01:46 AM
so cool!!! love laura's blog and i was just wondering how her trip was going!!!! and here she is!!!! love, love love this!!!!
Posted by: jess | July 03, 2010 at 08:20 AM
i'm going to come over and camp out just to see your home inside instead of the photos(:
i'm sort of related w/amy d as my daughter so how bout it???? (:(:(:
blessings,
lindalou
Posted by: lindalou | July 03, 2010 at 01:03 PM
My 2 favorite bloggers--- together-- how awesome! Looks like it was a fun visit, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during your conversations!!!
I was away last week and was missing your blog so much....back to my computer and now I am caught up on all of your adventures!
Posted by: Krista | July 03, 2010 at 04:46 PM
the hiney picture is so cute. i want to get together with a fellow blogger like that. so fun!
Posted by: Mindy Harris | July 03, 2010 at 06:53 PM
I just love the blogging world! How much fun to have a fellow blogger come and stay with you. It looks like y'all had a great time.
Posted by: Melanie | July 03, 2010 at 09:26 PM
Love Annie's pictures! How brave brave and wonderful of you to open your home. Your time together looks like a blast!
Happy 4th!
Posted by: Sixty Fifth Aveune | July 04, 2010 at 07:25 AM
Thats so cool and scary. 2 of my favourite crazy bloggers together!!! Fun.
Posted by: Anya | July 04, 2010 at 05:16 PM
like...when are you coming to South Florida???
Posted by: julia | July 05, 2010 at 03:38 PM
Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!!
I love Laura's blog (& yours of course!)
So glad you got to meet & hang out!
I told Laura she should have done her road trip through Nor Cal so she could hang out with me & Heather, but it was totally out of the way. Bummer!
Glad you had such a great time!
Posted by: mel | July 07, 2010 at 11:08 PM
Too cool!!
I love Laura's blog and so good to find yours now, you're photos are wicked. Am so looking forward to my online bud visiting me next year all the way from Canada to New Zealand!
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I just came across this. I love the pic of the Thin Mints in her car (you can barely see them) as that was my parting gift to them as I tearily said goodbye that fateful June day!!!
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