Make new friends, but keep the old...

The song we used to sing as kids makes it seem like making friends is so easy. Maybe it was when we were kids having fun on the playground, but I haven't found it to be very easy as an adult.
After 'little girl' was born I had a tight-knit group of new mom friends that hung out at least once a week. We all met in a Moms support group at the hospital where we delivered, sharing tears and laughter about the trials of caring for a newborn. More recently I've met other moms at playgrounds and through organized groups, like our neighborhood Moms group. I've definitely enjoyed meeting new people and have made some good connections, but unfortunately developing a new friendship takes time.
I'm willing to wait it out, but please share suggestions on how to meet new friends as an adult. Are there any local bakeries or coffee shops around town where moms seem to linger and meet up?
Has anyone used the website www.meetup.com to make connections? Please share any good or bad experiences.

Shoe Shops?

I always end up going to Tacoma to get little girl's feet sized at Nordstrom. Is there some place in town to take her?

I took her yesterday for a little mommy/daughter shopping day. What could be better than shoe shopping at Nordstrom followed by yummy lunch at the cafe?

Of course all of our time was focused on finding shoes for her long skinny feet. Of all the adorable shoes at Nordy's, little girl's feet only fit in two pairs! Of course the adorable See Kai Run shoes are too wide. As are the Nike and Converse. So sad. We made off with a cute pair of Puma tennies and Crocs for running around the back yard, but that is it! Even though we had a hard time finding shoes that fit, she still had a great time picking out shoes and trying them on. I'm finding that she doesn't mind shopping if it is shopping for her! Hmm....sounds a little too familiar.

Tuesday Date Night

Who thought a Tuesday night could be such a great date night? Last night we were offered free Mariners tickets. Our friends even offered free babysitting for a promise of exchanging the favor in return. How could we say no, and what a generous offer!

It was a great night! Although at times Seattle seems too far away, at the end of the evening I'm always glad we made the drive...even when we go over our monthly gas budget! I've always had a great time at Mariners games and I'm looking forward to a time when little girl will enjoy them too. I have fond memories of going to games with my dad and getting completely spoiled, and I hope this tradition continues. Although I don't think I understood the game of baseball until I was well into my twenties, watching games as a kid sitting in the nosebleed section and looking through binoculars began a quasi-love for the game and a tolerance for the endless season of baseball. Thanks to TiVo baseball season is a little more bearable!

Summer Holidays

I'm looking forward to spending tomorrow with little girl. Unfortunately her dad has to work, so it's another mommy/daughter day. Hopefully the sun will be shining and we can explore new parks in the area or go hiking at Tolmie.

The "Lacey Today" section of The Olympian recently came out with a map of "Places to play in Lacey". The map conveniently lists the parks in Lacey, but unfortunately does not list the features of each park, like playgrounds or off-leash dog areas, pretty much making the map worthless. I found more detailed information on the Lacey city parks website.

Farmers Market Saturdays

In the past month we have probably spent 3 of 4 Saturday mornings at the Farmer's Market. Even when the clouds loom overhead the tasty treats and live music lure us in. We love the fresh fruit and veggies and we can't wait for the yummy cherries, berries, and peaches that will pop up in the next few months.
This past week we picked up some tomato starters, basil, rosemary, and bell peppers. I've never been much of a gardener, but I'm hoping this year I will be successful. Perhaps I'll even get Susanna to try our homegrown items as she learns about how they come to life.

Speaking of Farmers Markets, the Tumwater Farmers Market opens on Wednesday, the 28th. There is a Procession of the Produce parade celebrating the opening at 11. The market is open every Wednesday from 11 to 2 at Capitol Blvd. and Israel Rd.

Fun Weekend Activities 5/16-5/18

The Lacey Spring Fun Fair and the WSU Master Gardeners Plant Sale are this weekend. We'll try to hit both at some point. Hopefully the warm weather will make both enjoyable, but probably crowded.

Warm Spring Days, Is Summer Around The Corner?

It's almost 9 pm and it's still 76 degrees. I love the first warm days of spring, and today we tried to enjoy the sun as much as we could. This morning I spent about 20 minutes driving around the east side trying to find a park I've heard is great. Of course I didn't have a map or the name of the park, so after about 20 minutes of driving around I ended up going to the sure thing...the playground by the Port. After nap we played in the backyard pool and blew bubbles, listening to the summer tunes of "Buena Vista Social Club". Who new a $9.99 blow-up pool from Target would provide hours of entertainment.
Please comment on your favorite parks around town!