Not Ready...

...to throw in the towel on this little blog just yet.  I know...about once every year, I remember I have a blog in the first place and I update it.  Maybe I should set a reminder to update the blog.  I have grown to love Instagram so much that that's where I do most of my memory keeping.  I really love it now that it magically connects to this fabulous little space called Chatbooks and creates a lovely book out of all my Insta posts!  If you're anything like me and often feel mommy-guilt about not creating these fabulous-real-picture-and-handwriting-scrapbooks, please check out Chatbooks.  You won't regret it!  And your mommy guilt will subside (well, until you see someone pull out their real picture memory book...but don't worry...you'll quickly get over it).

We are in a season of life where we are listening to our now 9 and 4 year olds arguing one minute and being sweet the next.  If you have children, you've been here.  So...does it ever stop?  Wait, I remember my relationship with my brother (who's 6 years my senior)...so I can answer the question for myself in the memory of my parents telling us to draw an invisible line between each other in the car on the way to church on Sundays.  Ha!  When the moments are good, they're very good.  And when they're not...I just breathe through them (kind of like I breathed through contractions).

Since my last post (less than a year ago--not by much, but still less than a year ago), we've experienced a lot of life.  Obviously.  We've all had birthdays, had a Spring Break staycation, had dance recitals (Hallie's 6th and Harper's first), traveled to Alabama, visited with friends (oh how I enjoyed visiting with so many friends over the summer), went to the beach, started a new school year with an intern, and welcomed a new niece to the family.  I would say it has been a year {almost} filled with joy, laughter, and blessings.

Maybe tomorrow I'll post some pictures from the past year.  It'll be hard to pick just a few, but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

So, little corner of space in the blogosphere...you're still mine.  And I still love you for holding all my memories over the past 9 years.  I won't give up on you.

A visit from the Big Guy!

Hal and Harper had a very special visitor come to Nonna and Pop's house! Santa Claus AND Mrs. Claus! Harper was beside herself...completely in awe. She even said, "Santa...um, Santa...do you have a naughty list?" I'm sure she was checking to make sure she wasn't on it! Ha! We enjoyed the visit!! 

Pre-Christmas at RahRah's, seeing Santa on Christmas Eve & reading traditions! 

Christmas Morning!! 

Christmas morning...and Pop falling trough the ceiling! Oh my! 

Christmas with Kelly & the girls! ❤️

Spend the night parties, Famijy Crafting...and "The Rat"! 

Trip to the AG store with Nonna! What a way to close out 2015! 

Happy New Year! And heading home...sad times! 

Sisters! 

2016 is off to a great start!! Here's to a great year! 

Travel Time

We took the day off yesterday to rest and regain our strength so we could travel today...had plans of getting up super early and getting on the road. That kind of worked. We left around 5:45...everyone just as tired as we were yesterday. And we were making good time until we hit Louisiana and it started raining. And then raining harder. And here we are, almost to Meridian, and it is STILL raining. We should have rented a boat! Ha! Thankfully, even though it has taken us longer, we are safe. ❤️

The girls have been great--sleeping off and on, drawing, watching movies...and a little bit of arguing in between. 

Their sweet little elves brought the girls Snackeez this morning--the perfect traveling cup! 

Now a little throwback to Saturday night while I'm thinking of it. Jonathan and I were gifted with the sweetest gifts by his parents. Check these out...

If you're interested, here's the guy's website who pencil sketched these amazing drawings (from a picture): www.jredwardsstudios.com

And Harper got some cute gifts (and one not-so-cute really LOUD voice changer...haha), too. But Hallie's was the most precious...her grandparents took a picture that she painted probably 2-3 years ago and had it turned into a "Budsies" (stuffed friend). You can check this out at www.budsies.com! 

Stay turned for more of our Christmas adventures! I'm determined to stay up to date (or at least semi-up to date)!

Merry Christmas! 

T2015

We headed to Alabama for Thanksgiving break...we haven't been there in several years for Thanksgiving, so it was a nice change of scenery.  I did spend the first three days in bed sick with strep.  Not a fun way to start vacation.  But, I was incredibly thankful to be with my family so they could take care of the girls for me.  It did put a damper on Hallie and Harper's plans (and mine, too...but they didn't care about that).  The girls' cousins were supposed to come stay on Monday, but with me sick, they (understandably) postponed their visit.  They headed over Wednesday morning (two days "late") and the girls were thrilled.  We stuffed our bellies full on Thanksgiving and saw two movies--The Peanuts Movie and The Good Dinosaur.  Both were pretty good.  The Good Dinosaur being my least favorite.  Before the girls headed back to Birmingham, I took them to the creek to take some pictures...it was high noon and the sun was super bright, so the Hubs is going to have to do some editing for me.  But overall, the colors are gorgeous (as are the sweet faces).

*Abby Brooke*

*Hallie Shea*

*Hattie Grace*

*Harper Shea*

Hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving...I am so thankful for my family.  And so thankful for the bond these four girls share.  They're family, but they're also friends.  Makes my heart smile (even if they can all drive us full speed ahead on the crazy train sometimes)! :o)

JSOD

This year, both girls are taking dance...it started in September and they both love it.  We do not love the location this year (we really miss the Bosque studio), but we still love Joy's!

Happy Hallie-Ween (and Harper, too)

October 31.

We are thankful for Western Heights Baptist Church and their Fall Festival.  It's where we've taken the girls the past couple of years, and they love it.  This year, I wasn't quite on top of things when it came to Halloween costumes.  Usually, Hallie has decided a year in advance what she wants to be and sticks to it.  This year, she had no ideas.  And Harper changed her mind 10 times on the actual day of Halloween!  Instead of spending a ton of money on something, we figured out what we had at home.  Here's what we ended up being...

Belle the Ballerina Princess Fairy and Fancy Nancy!

HSE2

October 26...I was challenged to take a black and white photo for five days.  This one was Day 4.  And it takes my breath away.  Harper is such a free spirit.  Very opinionated.  Very loud.  Very, very loud.  But she is also very reflective and has a sweet soul.  We are thankful for our youngest blessing and cannot wait to see what God has in store for her.

Storybook Pumpkin

October 27

Woodway Elementary has a fantastic library and librarian!  The kids have the chance to create a pumpkin storybook character with their family.  Then the pumpkins are judged.  It's such a neat time.  We had a blast creating Hallie's storybook pumpkin--all together as a family.  What a joy to get to do at-home projects!  Hallie chose to do The Very Hungry Caterpillar and came out with second place in third grade!

Hallie-lujah!

October 9...praising the Lord!

Our sweet, precious oldest love gave her heart to Christ tonight.  For several months, we have known God has been working in her heart.  She has asked a lot of questions about being a Christian, being baptized, and what it means to be saved.  She told us tonight she wanted to pray for Jesus to come into her herat.  So we all sat down as a family on her little bed and prayed with her.  She prayed and asked Jesus to come into her heart.  It was the most wonderful experience I have ever had...absolutely precious.  We are so blessed and so thankful.  Praise the Lord, Hallie is a new creation in Christ!

Hallie is telling RahRah and Gramps her good news!

So thankful for FaceTime so Hallie could call Nonna & Pop!

And Abby was at my parents' house, so Hallie got to tell Abby, too...that interaction was absolutely priceless and precious!  Abby was genuinely so thrilled for Hallie!  What a blessing!

A little family picture!

The following weekend, Hallie's grandparents (RahRah & Gramps) came over and gifted Hallie with a precious devotional journal.  Hallie was thrilled.  She is so loved and we are so thankful for her life!

New Year. New School.

August 25...Hallie and I started new school years at a new school!  We were both nervous, and it has taken a little time to adjust, but we both LOVE Woodway Elementary!  Occasionally, Hallie will say she misses her Mountainview friends and Miss Dodd, but she has grown to feel right at home at Woodway!  We are so thankful.

This was right before school started at Meet the Teacher...Hallie and her new teacher, Mrs. Guerra!

My FABULOUS First Grade Team!!

Me, Carly, Kaitlyn, and Kristiana

First Day of School--August 25, 2015

Ready for a great year!

New spaces.

End of July...early August.

A lot of sweat and love went into getting my classroom moved from Mountainview to Woodway.  So thankful for friends and family who helped without complaint! 

 

Before...whew...I wasn't sure my room would ever come together at this point!

After...thankfully, my room came together quite nicely!

Sweet Hubs gathering the millions of cords to make them look "prettier" for me!