Ode to arranged friendships...

When I was in 2nd grade a girl named Bettina (yes, Bettina) who everyone wanted to be friends with because she had these cool shoes that you could color and had glow in the dark laces came up to me by the monkey bars and said, as she held a piece of loose leaf paper, "You are my 18th best friend." Well, I remember just feeling flattered that I was in the top 20.  Let's face it, making friends can be stressful.  There's so many variables. It can be emotionally exhausting.  Hence, the beauty of childhood forced friendships. I find someone that I love to hang out with who also has a child in the same age bracket and boom baby. Friends. No stress. No facebook likes. No need for her to call and invite. Just forced fun every time. When you're little you don't choose any friends because unless you really click with someone at nursery, you don't have a huge social pool to choose from. Even though Ashton most definitely did not choose Liv, destiny has chosen her for him.

I don't know if Ashton would choose this arranged friendship but he is learning to be very tolerant, especially when she wrecks his forts and makes him so mad that he karate chops the air.  

Liv screams like she is being stabbed when she has to leave him.  I think Ashton's face depicts his feelings regarding the matter.  He's not thrilled, but very tolerant, mostly because he has no choice.

While Kim and I turned the kitchen into bath and body works and make some homeade sugar scrub, Ash and Liv entertained themselves outside.

They were fairly bored until Kim busted out the store bought sugar cookies with pink frosting...

And then both of them couldn't keep their eyes from rolling back in their heads because they were too delectable. Seriously, look at both their eyeballs and then you will want to go to the grocery store right now.

Liv really started working up a sweat trying to impress Ashton with her best chalk skills.

And when the sidewalk became too boring, she found a new canvass for her talent....

Even though 99.3% of what we do is girly, Ash is always willing to participate.

Especially if it involves a good treat.

Or a pool...

Making friends can be a complicated and emotionally draining process. I'm so glad that I have spared Liv that experience thus far. Whether they like it or not, I think this forced arranged friendship is the way to go.  Ashton will thank me later...after they are married.