We ended the year the best way I can imagine — with a playdate.

Not just any playdate, but Sophie’s very first bonafide Mom-drops-you-off-and-you-stay-by-yourself-at-your-friend’s-house playdate.

I approached it with my typical trepidation. Sarah had come to our house several times, and we’d been to her house — together — for the first time just the day before. Sarah’s mom has three older children, so I’m sure she thinks I’m nuts, but kindly didn’t say so. When the girls didn’t want to part on Wednesday afternoon, she suggested another playdate the next day. Solo.

Sophie was so excited. She wouldn’t let me walk her to the door, so I parked, got her out of her car seat, then stood in the lawn and watched her march to the front door, knock loudly (for her) and wait, alternately grinning hugely and striking a casual, I-do-this-every-day pose. Sarah and her mom came to the door, we spoke from my lawn perch, and the three disappeared into the house.

When I returned a couple hours later, Sarah and Sophie were in the front yard with Sarah’s dad. They’d had a treasure hunt (resulting in the gift of a stuffed dog for each girl!), gone for a ride in the wagon and probably ripped Sarah’s room apart in fine playdate fashion. Sophie was even wearing one of Sarah’s jackets.

I have lots of good (and some sad) memories from 2009, but one of my favorites will always be of Sophie and her best friend Sarah, blowing New Year horns in Sarah’s front yard.

May 2010 hold lots of fun playdates for you and  yours!