MOPS Convention 2012

 

The past weekend I traveled to Dallas, TX to attend the MOPS International (Moms of Preschoolers) Convention with my bestie Rachel.  We are both apart of our local chapters of MOPS and both serve on the leadership team.  At Convention you learn and see the vision of MOPS international.  Our vision is every mom needs a friend and every friend needs a community.

We stayed at the beautiful Texan Gaylord.  It was amazing.  Since growing up in Memphis I have been to Opryland (another Gaylord property) in Nashville many times.  They are very similar and both HUGE.  

It was funny when people would ask Raych and I where we were from.  She would say Connecticut and I of course Cincinnati.  We instantly got funny looks because most people were there with other members of their MOPS group.  

Rachel and I met in junior high school when we were 12 years old. We instantly became good friends.  Our lockers were next to each other all through jr and sr high.  We stayed close through college and kept in touch even though neither of us were in the same city.  We were maid/matron of honor in each other's weddings and have enjoyed going on vacation with our families.  She is mommy to Alex, 4 and  a sweet little girl Ana who is 2.  I know her family so well and she knows mine that we feel like we are sisters. 

 We saw this shirt at the first session on thursday night.  Love it!   

 It says "Early bird registration  $209, Plane Ticket $450, 4 mom, 2 bed, 1 room $676, leaving the kids with dad for the weekend...PRICELESS!!!  

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.  Psalm 127:3

 Christy Nockels lead worship at all of the general sessions.  She is one of my all time favorite christian artists.  Rachel even sang one of her songs at our wedding.  It was amazing and beautiful worshiping with her. 

My very good friend Jenn moved to Dallas almost 9 months ago with her husband Greg.  She just gave birth to their son Tyler in April.  Saturday I was so excited to go to lunch with Jenn and Tyler.  We went to a little pizza joint close by.  It was SO wonderful getting to hang out and catch up with Jenn.  They are both far away from home and don't have any family in Dallas.  

I also LOVED getting to snuggle with this precious little boy.  He was so good during lunch and let me hold him a lot.  Loved getting to meet him and getting some snuggles since I was missing my babies.  

There are practically no chickfila's in Connecticut so I told Raych if I saw a CFA while out with Jenn that I would bring her back some.  Raych was in heaven when we got back to our room late Friday night and she got to snack on some nuggets.  You would have thought I brought her the holy grail!  haha!

 We had so much fun listening to amazing music and speakers, laughing so hard our bellies ached, catching up and spending some great girl time together.  

Friday night they had a "mom prom" with dinner and a special concert by Plumb.  We helped each other primp and get ready just like we used to in high school.  Hilarious and SO fun!

 We clean up pretty nice!  

 We stood in line F-O-R-E-V-E-R to meet music artist Plumb.  Her concert earlier in the night was so great.  I love listening to live music in concert because you get to hear the stories behind the songs they have written.  It makes you fall in love with their music in a whole new way.  

It was amazing meeting Plumb and so worth the wait in line.  She was so real on stage and very personable when we met her.  I seriously wanted to ask her if I could be her friend!

View from our room!  We loved having an atrium view.

Loved, loved, loved spending a girls weekend with my best friend.  Definitely a weekend to remember!  We missed our families like crazy but we came back better wives and mommies!