Love This Family

We were so blessed to have Dave's cousin, Adam, and his fabbbbbbulous wife, Whitney, live close to us for the first seven months we lived here.  Whitney and I became instant great friends and hung out everyday.  We became very close and to say I was devastated when she moved away last December would be an understatement.  I love her kids dearly, and we miss them everyday.

January 1, 2012. We came to visit to see if we could live here.  We went to a basketball game with Dave's future business partner and Adam and Whitney were so nice to watch our kids.  We got back in time to hang out for a bit and then watch the ball drop.

Family/friends. Isn't it nice when they can be the same thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The four of us had a lunch group every Tuesday.  It was awwwwesome.  The host would cook and we would all gorge ourselves silly. Sigh. That was fun. 

Love you Whit! And Ivy, sweet sweet Ivy who is having a hard time in the picture because...I can't remember.  But I love this little girl so much.  We had such a special bond.  For whatever reason, she loved me too. 

November Instagrams

Girls trip to Dallas! Miss these girls! Sorry we didn't take the picture sooner Adrienne, Leah and Genevieve.  Great friends plus good food = a very happy lady!

We danced, we laughed, we shopped, we ate...all my favorite things! I had a great weekend in Dallas! Love all my Dallas girls! 

Voting.  It's a family affair.  #proudtobeanamerican #gomitt #audreylovedeverysecond

My view while brushing my teeth this morning.  My heart is heavy about our country's view on a lot of issues, but I am so grateful for my own views and belief system.  

A good reminder.  

No school + beautiful weather = zoo. #gorillagivingthestinkeye #thatbirdisshowingoff

We miss you Memor.  Thank you for coming! 

Last night's entertainment.  I love a good show. 

This little sweetie wrote each girl in her class a nice note and signed it, "From ?" For example, "Dear Sarah, You are sooooo nice. From ?" My little secret spy makes me so happy. 

King of the hill. And king of my heart. 

Goodbye baby boy clothes.  Thank you for keeping both of my baby boys warm.  Most of these were from my nephews, and not they are being passed on to my nephews.  #lifecycleofclothes

 

Life is better with Grandma and Grandpa around. 

A little present for Dave from one of his patients.  Just for today, Dave gets to have his cake, and eat it too.  

Audrey said, "Mom, since you are cooking all day tomorrow (Thanksgiving), I will cook today!" SO we had soup, bananas, pineapple and strawberries with sugar.  At 3:30 when she was hungry.  Now it is actual dinner time and we are at Chick-fil-a.  Because who wants to cook the day before Thanksgiving? Not me. 

Giving thanks. 

Wish bone time.  Joshua wished for Squiggles (our elf on the shelf) to come back.  Audrey wished for another baby.  Good thing Joshua won. 

Unbeknownst to us, Siri was listening in our girls night conversation with Rachel, Whitney and Christina.  Poor Siri, such a third wheel.  It made for a good laugh! 

Park day, and a potty break.  

Seeing Santa

To kick the Christmas season off right, we headed to see Santa.  Austin looks quite bored here.  He was okay with Santa from afar...

Until he saw that Santa had candy. 

We went with our friends, Chrissy and Pete. That's a whole lotta kids! And baby Owen isn't even in the picture! 

We went on a trolley ride around downtown.  It was so fun!

 

 

11.24.12

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving 2012.

Austin was very grateful for his Mom.  ;)

The spread.  It says, "Give Thanks"

My cheeseball turkey.  Thanks Leah for the recipe! We had Adam and Whitney and kids over for the feast.  We were both moving soon (us to our new house here, and them to California) so we wanted to keep things easy.

After dinner the kids and Dads played football outside while Whit and I cleaned.  Once it got dark, we set up the bounce house and the kids had so much fun jumping

The best picture I got of the boys.  Sweaty and full tummies...a great combo. 

We went upstairs and Audrey had us each say our favorite Thanksgiving food and what we were grateful for.  I'm grateful for her. 

Orange Dream

My friend, Michelle W., introduced me to this amazing orange shake.  When she told me about it, I wanted to gag, but then I tasted it, and I was hooked.  Orange sherbet and chocolate syrup.  It tastes like those chocolate oranges.  But much better.  I don't normally like those chocolate oranges, but I loooooove this shake.
11.21.2012

We went to Braum's one night, and alllllllll the kids wanted to drink my shake.  Notice they each have their own ice cream cone, but all they want is mine!

 

 

Little Friends and Soccer

Still trying to catch up...
Austin and his lovely friend Riley at the park. (Wiweyyy!!)
 

End of the soccer season and getting his much anticipated medal.
 

Joshua and Troy.  Sweet little friends.
 

Ivy and Austin.  Love these two together!
They love each other, and their binkis!
 

 

 

Home

It was time.  It was high time that the 38 and 32 year old buy their first home.  We were (finally) done with school and knew we wanted to settle here, so we started looking for a home to buy.  We started looking in late October, and we come across a neighborhood we loved and decided to build.  My parents come to visit and we took them to our site we were planning on buying, and we were so excited! Until...

One Sunday morning afternoon, Austin feel asleep at church (church was from 12-3).  This never, ever, ever happens (I had to take a picture to document). He usually falls asleep on the way home from church and sleeps for an hour or so, and this day we didn't want him sleeping more so he could go down at the normal time.  Dave knew of an open house, so after church, instead of going home like we usually do, we went to the open house.  I walked in and was sold.sold.sold.


Walking in the house for the first time.  November 18, 2012
We put the offer in on December 7, closed January 11th, and moved in January 15th.  We had them paint the walls, and add crown molding, but I always want to remember what it looked like the first time I saw it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was in the Parade of Homes in October, and people kept putting offers on the home but for whatever reason they kept falling through.  Dave and I feel so blessed that we were able to put on offer on it, and move in so quickly.  It feels so nice to finally be a home owner!