Giggling and Smling

Staying in a hotel when you are 3 and 4 means one thing...you get to jump on the bed!!! I love this series of pictures, blurry and all, of the girls having a blast together! 

 LOVE this one...

Every time we go somewhere at least one person asks me if they are twins. I always say, "No, but they're a little over 13 months apart!" IT NEVER FAILS that the person always says something like "Oh wow!" or "You must be BUSY!" or "I bet THAT was a surprise!" or...the list goes on and on. Yes, WOW is right! And yes, I AM BUSY! And yes, it WAS a surprise! Going from mourning multiple failed fertility treatments for 5+ years to having 2 girls in a matter of 13 months...it has the been the best, the busiest, the most challenging and the most love-filled years of my life. Being a momma to these two is what I prayed for and dreamed about for so many years. I love hearing giggles and seeing smiles of these two sisters...and when I think about how we were all brought together it makes me smile and giggle a little, too! God is SO GOOD!

Moving

Being a Texan, I was not the happiest to move to Louisiana in July of 2011. It's different over here, y'all! BUT, that's where Shelby's promotion was taking us and we trusted that it was God's will for our family. Even though we were moving to a town where we knew NO ONE, that quickly changed. We have made lifelong friends here in Louisiana, but we have always known that it was somewhat temporary. (I can't believe that Georgia Claire was just barely two when we moved and Ivy Jane was 11 months old! WOW!) 

The Good Lord is MOVING US BACK TO TEXAS! Shelby is in a new role with Baker Hughes in San Antonio and we cannot wait to start our life there! It's no secret that Louisiana public schools are not the best...seriously, I think that everyone knows that!  Since we moved, my prayer has been that God would move us back to Texas before Georgia Claire started Kindergarten. Yes, there are private schools, and homeschooling is an option, but being a former Texas public school teacher, I wanted to give public schools a chance! So, that's exactly what we are doing! Searching for homes in the best district we can find and trusting that God will guide our steps. 

Shelby started the first week of January, so our time with him is limited right now. So, we spend all of our time together when we are together...even grocery shopping! One thing I love is that our Brookshire's grocery store has child-sized shopping carts...Ivy Jane said, "we can be just like REAL moms!" These two had SO MUCH FUN filling their carts and pushing them throughout the store.

Georgia Claire has ALWAYS been a daddy's girl. Whenever Shelby is home, she is by his side...even when he's working!

The girls' last week of school was hard. Ivy Jane started sobbing when she found out we would be in San Antonio house hunting and she couldn't attend one of her friend's birthday parties. Life is just not fair when you are a VERY strong-willed three-year old!

Really though, it broke my heart and I took pictures of her to send to Shelby. His response? "I did not need to see that!" My response? "At least you didn't have to see it AND hear it! If I have to live it, so do you, buddy!" 

Our first trip to San Antonio by ourselves to house hunt was not that bad...I was prepared with snacks, drinks, a little potty for the car, Kindles, books, babies, movies, etc! We stopped about half-way and had Chick-Fil-A and these two worked up quite an appetite!

 Hanging in the hotel...

 And then, Ivy Jane got sick...

It was AWFUL! Being in a hotel room with a three-year-old with a stomach bug is NOT FUN PEOPLE! NOT AT ALL! I sent Shelby and Georgia out to go play and enjoy the day, while Ivy Jane and I stayed in and rested. It lasted the entire day...throwing up every hour or two...oh my gosh! The following day I headed home with the girls and was SO thankful we made it home with no "episodes" in the car. I have never been SO GLAD to be home! I think the girls felt the same way! They both ran and jumped on their beds and said, "YAY! OUR COMFY BEDS!"

They have seriously become the best little running buddies of mine! They love to shop (Sorry, Shelby!) and just spend time with their momma...so thankful for these two and the PRECIOUS time I get to spend with them!

This past week I came down with a stomach bug and was sick for two days. The girls were TERRIFIC! I definitely DID NOT win any mother awards during those days...yikes! I basically got them snacks, drinks, games, and toys when they needed it, and kept the tv on NickJr and Disney Jr all day long. Poor babies. Oh! And don't forget the second day when it was so pretty and I couldn't get out of bed, I opened my wooden blinds and watched them play in the backyard through the window!

They were so fantastic...best playmates! So, the following day we got out and spent the majority of the day together...just us three! Playing at the park that they announced was "the best park ever!", having a picnic lunch, buying new shoes for the spring, and finishing with ICE CREAM were our activities of choice for that particular day.

Enjoying our time together as much as we can without daddy, but trusting we will be reunited SOON!

December Cuteness

I'm so behind on my blogging...life happens and time passes so quickly! Today is the day I can get a new cell phone and not pay an arm and a leg so I transferred all of my pictures. These today are VERY random but some of my absolute favorites from December...

The weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas we enjoyed selling Christmas trees at our family farm...such precious memories! When Georgia Claire wasn't playing with her cousins, riding on the hayride, or buying snacks at the snack shack, she enjoyed helping Aunt Kathy, Grandma and me behind the counter. I love this pic...two of my favorite girls of all time...

 Making buttermilk biscuits in Grandma's kitchen...these girls will be better cooks than me!

My two favorite men...my first love and my last...my sweet dad and husband heading out the door to sell some Christmas trees!

This picture is wrong on so many levels but makes me laugh at the same time! NO, the chainsaw is not on, but Dad wanted to teach Ivy Jane how to hold it properly! Ha! Every 3 year old needs to know that, right?!

 And then he showed her how to kneel beside it...ha!

I said, "Ivy Jane, before you get off the trailer, sit down and smile for me!" This was her pose...

These three were inseparable...Ivy Jane, Georgia Claire and cousin Caroline...3, 4, and 6 years old! Best buddies!

While staying at Mimi and Granby's house during the holidays, Georgia Claire didn't want to nap so she stayed on the couch a while. She wasn't tired at all...

 Helping Granby with his books marking off inventory he's sold at the antique mall...

Paw Paw teaches them how to sell Christmas trees and use a chainsaw, Granby teaches them how to manage inventory and sell antiques...these girls are going to be WELL ROUNDED, people!

This was the best pic with Santa Claus I could get. Ivy Jane wanted Georgia as her "buffer" between the two of them. She's blurry because she was scooting away from him!

 Sweet girls going to church at Mimi and Granby's house...

Our HILARIOUS brother-in-law Julian, Granby, and Shelby...feeling VERY manly! I LOVE THIS PICTURE FOR SO MANY REASONS! Their faces are PRICELESS!

Sweet Stacy (Georgia's biological grandmother) sent them owl hats that she MADE HERSELF, stuffed animals and new pj's. She's always so thoughtful to send things...we love you, Stacy!

What every girl needs on a cold winter's night...a warm fire, cuddles from her daddy, and a crunchy carrot! :)

 Sweet girls...

December was a great month...crazy busy but VERY enjoyable! I LOVE MY FAMILY. I'm SO NOT good at getting traditional family pictures, so these snapshots will have to do for now. Maybe one day...