Our Home

I hope everyone had a great Fathers day! I am so blessed with the father, grandfather, and husband in my life! Love them so much. We don't do too much for Mothers Day, not because I'm a selfless angel, but because if we don't go all out on Mother's Day, we don't HAVE to go all out on Fathers Day. See how that works?

We grilled burgers, ate way too much pie, and played dominoes with family. I LOVE my husband and am so grateful for the love he has for our girls.

I had to go to Tyler today to pick up a few things from our house and go by the bank. Last time we left the house we were all in a hurry, trying to clean and move out.

I went back today for the first time in a few weeks. It was so quiet. So clean. Wasn't it just yesterday that I laid my sweet little infant into that crib? Or tucked Maddi into her little iron bed the night before Kindergarten. I hadn't realized how much I'd miss that house and all the sweet memories we'd leave behind.

SO, here is a list of the top ten things I miss about our home and Tyler in general. Come on, you knew this was coming.

1. The pitter patter of feet (and knees, Macy!) across the wood floor that creaked early in the morning.

2. Painting, re-decorating, and rearranging while Macy sat in her swing on the back porch.

3. Laying the kids down and rocking on the back porch with my husband. Talking about our girls, school, and          if I was lucky, ACCOUNTING.

4. Watching Maddi run As Fast As She Could up the sidewalk when she got dropped off from school.

5.Working out, eating lunch, and laughing with Allison Carr. 

6.Walking around the neighborhood with Josh and the girls. Smiling at each other watching Maddi ride her bike down the hill. 

7. Arguing with Josh about who has to drop Macy off in the nursery THIS time.

8. Fresh, The Potpourri House, and Stanleys

9. Rocking my 10 week old Macy outside for way too long most days, because there was just nothing better to do.

10. Being only about 40 minutes away from Canton.

11. Wearing my pajamas all day long. 

I had to add that one. 

We're enjoying Longview ALOT and enjoy being so close to friends and family. Maddi has made several new friends in the neighborhood and is at her first sleepover tonight! She loves it here. Macy is standing up but still refuses to take a step. AND Josh and I both love our jobs. 

I'll be off orientation next week and then I can go back working my usual one-to-two days/week. I love getting to stay home with my kids but work is such a nice break. REAL. LIVE. PEOPLE. who don't throw themselves on the floor and cry about having to wipe. 

Loving my girls!

Sweet Sisters Making A Mess!

Our little artist

Loving the outside!

 She loves this bucket!

Just hangin' out

Football after work!

Maddi and Leighton. Isn't she tiny??!

Macy on the way to Church. 

Already dreading the nursery.

Watching the kids play

Macy and Sadie enjoying some pillows!

Animal crackers and juice. Doesn't get much better than that!

Love these girls!

Maddi's dentist appointment!

We'll be taking donations soon.

After they loaded her up on pain meds she got to watch a movie before the procedure

She did so well!

Right after her dental work I asked her to smile. :)

So sleepy! 

Feeling So Blessed

We have officially moved to Longview! To my parents house! 

We are waiting on our house in Tyler to sale before we purchase another one. Thankfully, we were able to move in here and not have to pay ANOTHER mortgage. 

I thought that moving in here would be chaotic. So far, we love it. Probably a. little. too. much.

The last time we lived here I was 17, attempting to raise a colicky, fussy, sleep hating infant. We called that thing karma Maddi. Who knew that she would turn into such a wonderful child that I can't get enough of. Also, Josh was finishing up High School, taking college classes, and working. I was just starting Kilgore College and cramming in as many classes as I could. We watched our friends start planning dorm arrangements and listened to all of their plans about going off to college and getting away from this town. I felt like the biggest burden and disappointment here. COMPLETELY dependent on my parents. I couldn't wait until Josh and I could get out on our own. OH THE POSSIBILITIES! How proud my parents would be. And we'd never have to move back in. 

We got married at 18 and lived with my parents for about 5 months until we bought our first house. The FREEDOM! WRONG! More like, bills! and Yardwork! and  WHO AM I GOING TO ROCK ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH? Eventually we adjusted and finally I graduated and we moved to Tyler so I could work at a larger hospital and Josh finished up school at UT Tyler. 

Three years later, WE'RE BACK! And I thought it would be chaotic and just as crazy as before. However, I was wrong. My brothers are older now and  Trip will be moving out soon. Josh and I both have jobs and NO more school, Maddi sleeps through the night and doesn't scream 25 hours/day.

What a difference 5 years has made. 

What a blessing my parents are.

Now if I can just convince them to get a pool. And a maid.

ABC

Maddi had her first field day last Friday and we all went to cheer her on!  Macy came also and crawled around the field and smiled for pictures most of the time. We loved it and loved getting to watch Maddi have so much fun.

Afterwards, we dropped Josh off at work and ran to grab Trip a GRAD-U-ATION gift. Can you believe it? Wasn't he just 7 years old chasing my friends around with scissors and his machete? Using his scissors to CUT THE SEATBELTS OUT of my dad's car.

So anyways, we headed to Barnes and Noble to pick him up a book series. Me, Maddi, and Macy. THE DAY OF his graduation. We plan our gifts for others like we plan for parenthood. THOROUGH. As soon as we walk in, Maddi starts saying she wants a coffee. And I say no. And I'm SoOoO mean from then on. At least until I let her pick out a book from the clearance section and I'm "The best, most special, amazing, excellent mommy ever!" Is it bipolar disorder or just 6 year old disorder?

We celebrated Trip's graduation that night and stayed up way too late playing ping pong. Because we're lame like that.

Maddi made a book for Mrs. Lewis (her teacher) to give to her tomorrow for her last day of school. At the end she wanted to put, "And we are going to move to Longview but we might be back in Tyler one day of our life and we might see you if we ever go get groceries." I told her it was too long and it didn't really make sense. She looked at me like I had 10 heads, grabbed a fistful of hair, and stomped off crying. Only to return 10 seconds later with a new ending sentence. "A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z THANK YOU!"

So that's what she put. And she couldn't have been more proud. And neither could we.

Macy has started standing alone today!!!!!!!
Yes, she's 4 months "behind schedule" but she smiles and sleeps a lot so we forgave her.
She goes from crawling to army crawling to pause to standing up.

Then we all scream, shout, clap, fist pump, and jump up and down at how much of a genius she is.

Then we have to do the same to Maddi.

And Maddi has never stood so tall and straight. Smiling ear to ear as we cheer her on for standing.

It's the little things, really.

Quick little update!

Soo much has happened this past week! Josh graduated with his MBA, we celebrated Macy's 1st birthday, Maddi got everything she wanted, ANNND, I started a new job!

Josh graduated last Saturday morning and we couldn't have been more proud! I am so glad he is done! No more long nights at the library, or working on projects, or studying ALL THE TIME. I'm so glad to now have help with these girls at night. I threatened him often with "When you get home the kids will be left at the neighbors house and I'll be on my way to Arkansas to start my new life. Waitressing at Chili's."

See how selfish I am?

Macy had her first little birthday at Mimi's house and loved her cookie and petit four. She loves all of her toys and clothes and books. She is one sweet sweet TODDLER!

Macy and I stayed in Longview from Sunday until Thursday afternoon because I had orientation at GSMC. Which means that I got to hang out with my parents and  Maddi and Josh had 5 days all to themselves. Maddi loved it and was so sweet when we finally did see her on Thursday. She also made me promise that I'd never ever ever be away from her that long again. And I did.

Macy did great at Mimi and Papaw's house all week. She crawled around everywhere, played outside, and was fascinated with the water hose. She also got to hang out with Taylor, Trip, Blake, Collin, The Cowans, Brooke, Jessica, TJ, and Amber. She loves having other peoples attention. I was certain my mom would have her walking by the time we left. If not walking, then cleaning because you CAN'T JUST breathe air, You must WORK for the air you breathe! But, she's still not. She's lazy like that.

I enjoyed getting to hang out with my brothers that week. They're so funny and FROM ANOTHER PLANET.

Once, I called my mom around 9:30 one night and Taylor (who is 10) answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Boo Bear (don't ask) what are you doing???!!??"

"Just laying in bed with mom watching celebrity rehab."

"........"

They really are funny and keep me laughing like no other. Boys are just so different than girls.

Although.......... 

Just yesterday Josh said, "I know this might sound weird, but the snuggle exhilarations is my favorite fabric softener." 

See how awesome your parents are, girls? Yaw'll just so dang lucky.

Yay he's done! Love him So So So much!

Love them so much!

I have the best family.

Macy, even your mother's OCD couldn't tell your father that that sign is crooked.

WAY Crooked.

He looked too cute putting it up.

Crooked.

Papaw! She loves him!

Love this little sprout.

"Look! My sign is crooked!"

Yummmm

Macy feeding daddy her cookie.

Macy is enjoying that sugar!

Macy and Reed! They share the same Bday!

Macy getting her shopping cart!

When Maddi first got to see Macy again! They laughed and played the whole way home!

And danced until bed time!

Love Love Love these girls!