Countdown begins...

The last time we moved I swore I wouldn't do it again for at least 5 years. It's been 2 1/2 years only, and we are driving away from not only our home, but our homeSTATE in 3 weeks!

My head is spinning as I try to wrap my mind around packing a house, while finishing annual goals for our region at work, while raising 3 toddlers, while remembering to shower and eat... I'm sure lots will be taken to consignment and/or tossed away (which I'm actually looking forward to); after all, isn't moving the perfect opportunity to get rid of stuff you haven't used in years? My rule: if I haven't opened the box since the last move, I'm throwing it away without looking at it's contents. :) We'll see.

Here's the rundown:
-The POD is coming on the 24th
-We are closing on the house on the 29th
-We are finishing loading the POD on the 1st so it can be taken away on the 2nd
-We're staying with my inlaws for a few days while we wrap up a few appts here
-We're driving away, with 2 cars, 3 kids, 1 dog, and about 6 suitcases on the 6th of December!

Wow. I think I just hyperventilated.

It's Been A Great Run...

But we are moving. Our house is being listed today, and we are officially beginning the process of putting all the details together for a cross-country move to Charlotte, NC. This comes with bittersweetness: Bitter because of the history we have in Dallas as we both grew up here, the countless friends we've grown so close to over the years, and all of Greg's sweet family nearby; but Sweet because of the new adventure that awaits, the ability to live closer to family members we've never had the opportunity to be near, and the excitement that comes with imagining the outdoor lifestyle we've wanted.

Greg will continue his spectrum of freelance design and advertising until he transitions to an agency out there, and my company is transferring me to a leadership position in Charlotte as we have just launched a huge growth strategy over the next 10 years and Charlotte is our newest metro. Our aim is to be there before the New Year!

God has been so faithful throughout this process, and we know he will continue to be! Say a prayer for a fast home sale, and for patience as we attempt to keep this place clean with 3 kids under the age of 5 running around...ugh.

Papa and Mimi

"Papa and Mimi" (dad and Carol) came to visit this weekend. Noah and Lauren were super enamored as they woke up each morning to a new hidden surprise they had to hunt for. The kids cuddled with Papa and Mimi each morning, and I got to sleep in a bit everyday. I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and clean diaper/undies (wel, at least not dirty ones). It was wonderful! They braved the Texas heat for an hour for Noah's soccer game (and watched him score 4 goals!), and read stories to the kiddos every night. Here are some other highlights:










Noah thinks Papa is the coolest.













He showed Papa lots of his favorite Firetruck videos on YouTube...










While Mimi took Lauren to get her very first haircut (complete with a little baggie of hair and a certificate!).













Of course Chase was spoiled, cuddled, and loved an extra amount all weekend.










We haven't seen them since Christmas, so we're quite excited that this time we only have to wait 6 weeks to see them again! Always too short, but a great visit and we will miss them!

And...action!

So I just finished a huge photo project (800 photos organized several albums and books and baby calendars) and I noticed a little something. My daughter is dramatic. No, she's theatrical. It's amazing I have any good pictures of her at all. Anytime I say, "Smile please!" she does something like, but not limited to, the following:













The irony: In the first photo, she's actually pretending to be blind (with a tutu and pajamas) and in the second, she grabbed my glasses.














And here: Smile with your beautiful new dress! Don't think so.














Another adorable new dress. Too bad you can't see it. At all. At least she keeps us smiling each time we ask her to!

Two peas in a pod

Photo Shoot

While this photo shoot was mainly for Chase on his 1st birthday, the other kids hopped in for a few shots...

Ramrons: 10th Annual College Girls' Weekend

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you'll recall that I go on a Girls' Weekend every year with a group of 7 college gals. While each year is special, this year was arguably the best yet for several reasons. First, it was our 10th annual retreat!! Second, Kelly, who is currently a missionary in Kiev with her husband and kiddos, was able to be here! She's had to miss a few of them when she wasn't able to make the trip. Third, we tried something new and got together at a sweet little lake house owned by Emily's in-laws. We indulged in lots of the same traditions: unlimited dessert and coffee, gifts all around, out to dinner Saturday night, late nights talking, fun girly beverages... But we added some new ones: boating, tubing with up to 5 of us at a time, swimming in the lake, getting crafty as Sara taught us how to make sweet hair bows for our baby girls, and having a special prayer time the last day. We also thought it was funny how 10 years after college our conversations have changed so drastically. We are now talking about child raising tips rather than just pregnancy and nursing stories; we are sharing our hearts on school options for our children and how to manage the peer pressure faced not only by them at their fragile little ages but also by us as we attempt to make the best choices for them with God leading us.

Here are some highlights of the group. They are a highlight of my year every year, and I can't wait to see what we are talking about at the 20th annual! These ladies are precious, and it's been so fun literally growing up with them over the last 10 years!













Sara, Emily, Christy, Jenny, me, Ruth Lee, Kelly





























The world's comfiest tube. Well, with 2 people on there. Once we got up to 5 passengers, I think we all got elbowed in places you're not supposed to get elbowed.

Can't wait to start planning next year's!

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

Lauren and I were going through photo albums recently and she thought every baby picture of Noah was actually Chase. I guess there are some similarities; aside from the fact that Noah had way more hair than Chase at every stage, and that now Chase is the one with the red hair and Noah's has gone blond.













Noah: 8 months Chase: 8 months













Noah: 9 months Chase: 9 months

Okay, I'm Back

Sweet Blog, I've missed you but needed the break. Life got the best of me, I bowed to the busy-ness, catered to the craziness, and something had to give. More about all of that later, here's a quick update:

October, 2009: My last blogpost. Lauren turned 2!

November, 2009: Noah turned 4!

December, 2009: We drove, yes, DROVE, 17 hours to Florida with two toddlers and a 6 month old to visit my whole family for Christmas. It was so worth it!


January, 2010: I got a promotion to Regional Director of Central Texas within my organization. It kind of cracks me up that I'm like in charge of a bunch of stuff.

February, March, April, May, 2010: Very stressed by the new position. Went on lots of dates with Greg, changed innumerable dirty diapers, became chair of the social committee in Sunday School, started potty training Lauren, changed innumerable dirty underwear, interviewed and hired a part-time nanny, signed Noah up for soccer, went to all games and practices, signed the kids up for swim lessons, became generally very tired.

June, 2010: Celebrated 10 years with the best husband imaginable, and went on a ginormous cruise to the Caribbean without the children. Also, battled the 'tweens and saw the midnight showing of Eclipse on June 30th. Of Course.

July, 2010: Went on my 10th annual College Girls' Retreat Weekend and had such a great time, then came home and celebrated Chase's 1st birthday...today!

(I don't have a picture of Chase's birthday quite yet, but we're having a party for him in a week and a half so I will do a special post for him then).

I just realized that in the time I've been gone from blogging, I could've had a baby. I'm glad I'm blogging now rather than nursing an infant and making ice packs for my lady business...