Curveballs.

Well we have had some major changes the past few weeks! In early July our landlord told us he wanted to put our house on the market and that we essentially had 60 days to be out.  (He was nice it was just terrible timing.) At the time, I was due for my C-Section in 62 DAYS so it was extremely stressful thinking about finding a place we liked and moving so quickly.

The whole time I knew there was a reason behind it but it didn't help the fact that I was going to have to go through the hassle of moving in the 108 degree heat while 8 months pregnant....  (Our plan was for our next move to be into a house we BOUGHT, not another rental.)

However, God aligned the timing of everything.  We were actually test driving a car at Sewell when we got the call from our landlord which is why we opted NOT to get a new car.  If our landlord had called us the following day or week, there is a high chance we would have already bought that car!

As we started looking at rentals in Richardson, we realized that prices had gone up substantially in the 2.5 years we had been renting.  To get a house in similar condition with similar square footage was going to cost us more... Not to mention, Stella starts kindergarten next August so school was a factor while we were looking.  (Thus the car payment $$ being repurposed)

We looked at a few promising homes and even got caught up in a Craigslist scam that resulted in me working with a detective ... long story.  At the end of the day, God provided a GREAT home that was only 1.2 miles away from where we were living and is bigger AND nicer.  If we were going to have to move, at least we were upgrading and not downgrading.  It was a bit more expensive but since we opted to not buy a car right now, we will be okay.   Turns out, buying skinnier car seats is less expensive than buying a new car ha!

So last week while Logan was at a work conference in Charlotte and my Mom and Chris were in Colorado, I packed up our entire house with the help of LOTS of friends and my Dad and Kelley. There were a lot of tears and pity parties... Thank goodness the girls had camp.

Logan flew home Saturday night and we bit the bullet and hired movers for Sunday morning and voila! We are officially in our new home which gives me 6 weeks to NEST until this baby arrives! WHAT.A.WHIRLWIND.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has watched the girls, brought meals, helped me pack, taken over loads of boxes, and CLEANED OUR NASTY OLD PLACE!!! I could NOT have made it through this move without you all and I feel very blessed to have such a strong and servant-hearted tribe.  I hope I can return the favor someday.

Cheers to purging! AMAZING community! FRESH Starts! And a NEW BABY coming soon!!! Oh... and that MOVE BEING OVER WITH!!!

30A Vacation Roundup

Santa Rosa Beach 2017

+ Sunshine
+ Netflix
+ Seaside Shopping
+ Seafood
+ Rainy Days
+ Cousins
+ Oysters
+ Noodle Light Saber Wars
+ Double Red Flags
+ Tide Pool "Ride"
+ Mermaid Spa Pedicures
+ Blake Shelton Essentials on Apple Radio
+ DADDY arriving on Wednesday vs. Friday!
+ Ice Cream
+ Aloe Vera
+ Back porch cookouts
+ Pool Time

Thank you Gigi and Opa for a WONDERFUL week!

2016: YEAR IN REVIEW

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

 

No, I will not be coming to your holiday party...

When you have plans every single night of December and all you are is stressed, tired, and worn out.... Is the holiday season even FUN???? 

A few years ago, I asked myself this very question.... I used to LOVE a calendar full of squares filled up with fun plans but in the past few years (probably since having kids) these types of months/ weeks completely wear me out and I almost need a "vacation" to recover from my weekends.  (I love those of you who do Advent calendars but the thought of them gives me major anxiety for this very reason!) 

Although I have an extroverted personality, I definitely recharge my batteries by being home and not having plans.  If I spend too much time "busy" I don't have much left in my tank to pour into my people.  I find myself irritable, grumpy, and dragging instead of excited, joyful and energetic! 

So especially around the holidays when there is SO much going on (all really fun things) I really pick and choose what we commit to.  We make plans to have NO PLANS on many of our nights so that we can spend spontaneous time driving around looking at lights or having a family movie night complete with hot chocolate and popcorn.  We may not get to do everything on the "Dallas Christmas To Do" list but I am okay with that because I have more energy to enjoy the things we DO commit to and we can always catch the rest another year! 

So if you are wired anything like me, I would challenge you to make an effort to de-clutter your schedule over the holidays.  You don't have to say YES to everything.  I can assure you that you will enjoy your holiday season much more! You will be rested up and excited for the nights that you do have plans and enjoy your quiet evenings at home enjoying the warm fire and twinkle of lights on your tree.  

Our October.

October.  Why are you SO MAGICAL every single year? 

Painting Pumpkins. 

Dressing up for Open Gym.

Taking WAY too many pictures in WAY too many pumpkin patches. 

The Famous Arboretum Pumpkin Patch. 

Picking out "Family Member" pumpkins at the nursery. 

Pumpkin-spiced Lattes. 

Decorating for the season. 

Pumpkin Pie scented candles. 

Cooler temperatures. 

Park weather. 

Wagon & walk weather. 

I am so thankful.  What a beautiful season this is.... Literally. Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually.