Just another day at the beach...

When Reilly was in kindergarten, Ryan and I went in for her very first parent teacher conference. 

We weren't afraid. 

We know our kid well enough to know...

she rocks.

I know...EVERYONE thinks that their kid rocks....but with Reilly there was very little NO room for doubt.

Little did we know...there was a problem...

a problem we had NO idea about...

Reilly wasn't making friends....

Reilly had a friend.

Chelsey.

She didn't really see the need for more friends.  Chelsey was enough for Reilly and Reilly was enough for Chelsey.

The teacher was concerned.  They would only sit next to each other on the rug at circle time.  They would only sit together at lunch.  Whomever arrived first was forever saving a seat for the other.  Mrs. Simko thought they needed a little seperation.  She was worried that this friendship would stifle them socially. 

Fast forward EIGHT years.

These kids have become...so much more than friends...

they have become our family.

Reilly and Chelsey still do everything together.

They are still very much BEST friends.

Reilly has taught Chelsey to be a little more out-going....

Chelsey has brought a little calmness to Reilly...

Reilly toughens Chelsey up a bit...

Chelsey is a big BIG goof ball...

The best part of Reilly and Chelsey's friendship is that...

They have brought our families closer.

and...that closeness lead to this day.

This day... this amazing day...

of...

Sandy feet...

and...

pre-teens

smiling!

and...

little boys...shivering from the freezing ocean...

and...making sand cupcakes with munchkins...

and soaking up the sun...

and relaxing...

and being goofy...

because that friendship...lead to all of this...

because when those two little girls became friends...

we all became friends...

and these are the kinds of friends you hold onto...

These are the friends who become family...