Halfway Home

We are officially moved out of our house and everything is in storage until Thursday when we get to do it all over again. Margaret and Brett along with my parents helped us get everything into storage. Needless to say we owe them big time. It was a very long day and we couldn't have done it without them...

At about 11:30 last night we left our first home for the last time and checked into our hotel home for the week. We are staying at the Omni Fort Worth so we really can't complain about our temporary digs. It's been a very relaxing day after a grueling and miserably hot day of moving.... First we refueled with a yummy breakfast and then headed to the pool for the day.

Christmas in June

For a while there I was very bad at blogging and that means that I have still not blogged about Christmas. I am feeling a little festive and figured a jolly little post wouldn't hurt.  I have pictures I want to share from my favorite time of the year, with my favorite people. and dogs.

Fa La La La La.

What's Up Doc?

This phrase now has a whole new meaning in our family! Recently my brother in law graduated from med school, summa cum laude I might add. He is going to be an amazing doctor and it was so fun to share in the joy of his graduation. I use the word joy genuinely. It was written all over his face. Complete joy that he had made it through what I can only imagine were four very difficult years of med school. He was selected by his med school class to deliver the class speech during graduation and he rocked it, of course. Me and my pregnant hormones cried and REALLY had to try not to completely lose it. We are all so proud of you, Brett! His family had us over after for a crawfish boil which was amazing. I love crawfish and I have to say that Coach Barker boils a mean batch of crawfish.

The night before graduation we went to the AOA dinner because Brett was not only selected as a junior member, but was also President. I love to brag on Brett because he certainly wont tell you how brilliant he is... He is very humble for someone who is so outrageously smart and talented. It just adds to the reasons why he will be a wonderful doctor. 

Here are a few pics we took before we met up with him at the dinner. I love this family shot! I feel a little fluffy, but I guess I should since there are 6 of us in this photo :)

A picture that is truly worth a thousand words...

We are having a baby!!!

Baby H is due Jan 8th and we couldn't be more excited. Without giving you too many details, this is something we have been working on for months and months, so it had become quite regular practice to take a test and get a negative. I was so used to it in fact that the first time I got a faint line one evening I brushed it off and thought it was a fluke. Two days later I took another test during my lunch break just to be sure and got another faint second line. I immediately drove straight to CVS and bought several different types of tests, including the one that says YES or NO, just to remove any doubt. They were all positive, all 7 of them. By the time Michael got home from work the counter was covered in pregnancy tests. At this point I was still in disbelief, although it was clearly confirmed - 7 seven times - that I was indeed pregnant. Even at the first ultrasound I was apprehensive that the Doc would tell me I wasn't pregnant, but there on the screen was the heartbeat. It was official. There is a baby growing inside me! Whoa. It's amazing and exciting and scary and every emotion all rolled into one.

Gobble, Gobble...

Michael and I headed to Texarkana for a relaxing Thanksgiving in a place I still like to call "home" even though I am a big girl now with a home of my own. There is still no place like home with my whole family. Margaret and Brett were even in town :) We had lots of good food prepared by Mama Buchanan and watched lots and LOTS of football.  And of course we gobbled down our share of yummies. I hope you enjoyed your time with your family as much as we did.

crowd pleaser

They could smell the food and were big fans of the ham :)

Now it is time to gear up for Christmas. My absolute favorite time of the year. I already have my tree up and the Christmas lights purchased :) FA LA LA LA LA, LA LA LA LA.

Farm. Family. Fun.

I have been dying to take the pups to the farm since we got them, however I was not dying to sit in my own sweat in 100+ degree heat. So we waited. And finally, like all wonderful things that come with fall, the farm weekend was upon us. We threw on our "farm clothes", packed up the "farm gear" and headed to "the farm". Now mind you that we don't actually farm. I think by true definition it is a ranch since we do run cattle on it, however once upon a time it was a farm so that is what we call it. My grandmother was raised there. The front half was actually a general store many years ago. I love that this piece of land, that we all enjoy so much, has meaning and memories that come along with it.

I will warn you now that I took way too many pictures with my new camera. Also, I am learning and know very little so don't judge my photos or editing skills just yet. I am loving everything about the process.  Good thing, because I have a very long way to go.

Our family loves to fish! I can remember having a mickey mouse fishing pole when I was little...

Grandmama loves the dogs, even when they jump and climb all over her.

I am ready to go back already. There is something to be said for a day in the great outdoors without tv's, phones, computers or the hustle and bustle of everyday life here at Home 101.