Wisconsin

Somehow two of my best friends ended up living in the same state at the same time.  Not Maryland where we all grew up and met, but Wisconsin.  I think they secretly planned this so it would be easy for me to visit.

Helen is staying with her parents for a few months in De Pere, where her dad is the president of St. Norbert College.  Her husband left for deployment in September, and she needed some support in the meantime while their first child came into the world!  Helen and I became good friends in high school when we played soccer together.  We ended up doing a lot of the same things in life -- attending the University of Maryland and getting married to Naval officers within weeks of each other.  We were bridesmaids in each others' weddings, and always know we can count on the other will lend a sympathetic ear when it comes to gripes with Big Navy.  Helen introduced me to her new baby, Gavin.  He is such a good baby - I think he only cried once while I was there!  And of course he is ridiculously cute and has a fantastic mom:)

flirt. 

Brittany is getting her Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology at UW- Madison (NERD!).  We used to see each other for way too many hours every day when we worked with the football team in college.  Sadly we only see each other about once a year now that we have both moved away, but we always maximize the fun in those short times.  Brittany introduced me to her great friends and her perfect cat, Sassafras.

the other science nerds Brittany hangs out with

Sass

It was a fun trip and I really miss living in the same place as these girls!  Of course a trip to Wisconsin wouldn't be complete without some cheese curds, beer and snow:)