Weekend Update...

Picture overload...

We had a really fun weekend...Madeline and I got to spend some quality time together! 

Friday night Terry suggested that I take her to see Disney Live in Pensacola. It was something about fairy tales and it featured Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle. It was really good! 

We are the WORST selfie takers ever! #somebodysendmeaselfiestick

I told Madeline she could have ONE toy within a reasonable price range - well, nothing was really reasonable but we settled on this Belle doll. It was a good lesson for her - she wanted everything that came by - popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones - you name it, they had it trying to sell it during the show. I tried to teach her a lesson about gratitude and contentment - not sure how much sunk in. 

My pictures are pretty terrible because it was dark and I took them with my phone. 

Snow White was first...

 Then Cinderella... 

The best for last...Belle! 

Then Mickey and Minnie and everybody at the end...it really was SO good! 

Saturday we cleaned house, did some yard work and pool work. Our pool was a hot mess because it has been storming almost every single day! Stormy weather makes for a messy pool. We rescued about 1.6 million tadpoles from our pool...we let them go in the little pond at the end of our street. We had 3 cups full of the tiny guys...

Then, Terry found this guy while he was mowing. AHHHH SO CUTE! He was tiny! 

Madeline fell in love - she wanted to keep him but I am not up for all that. Plus I know he'll get a lot bigger and probably would die in captivity. 

Gizmo didn't love the turtle! 

Saturday night we went to dinner with some friends...Terry got the rib dinner for two for HIMSELF! 

Sunday Madeline and I headed to a birthday party for my friend's son Jace. He turned 5 and had the cutest party - it was so fun! 

Fudpuckers is a local place here that has an arcade, alligators, and just a fun place to be! The food is pretty good too! 

It was a minion party! 

Checking out the gators - Madeline got to pet one, but they don't let you take pictures. I could have gotten one for the bargain price of $21.99 but I passed. :) 

She got 20 tokens to play with in the arcade and she it the jackpot on this game. She was so pumped! She got enough tickets to get some pom poms! 

After the party we hit up Target and the grocery store - then we came home and food prepped for the week and got ready for Gizmo's party! 

I got my smoothie stuff ready to go and in the freezer and my lunches made for the week as well as her sandwiches. I am working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays right now and three 12 hour shifts in a row with a long commute is rough. It's much easier when I am prepared...and I am trying to eat better, hence the not so appetizing lunch! haha

Then it was party time!!! 

Where are the plus size pirate patches? #mybighead And why does Madeline look 18 in this picture? 

Madeline made the cupcakes...I thought she did a pretty good job! 

My favorite people...and animal. 

I mean what is not to love about a pirate pup? 

 It was a good weekend...SO fun! We love a party! 

#12

Gizmo turned 12 on August 1st! 

I will never forget the day Terry gave him to me - I was 19, newly married, and over 1,000 miles from home. I was ecstatic to get a puppy - I took him everywhere in my purse. He was so cute that people would forget I wasn't supposed to have a dog in public places! haha 

He was bad though...somehow we've made it 12 years later. Now he's almost blind, a little hard of hearing, and spends his days sleeping and running into things. haha My poor guy! He's still spunky though and loves to be loved on. He also still LOVES milkbones - I have never seen a dog more loyal to milkbones. If I forget to give him one, he'll lay in the pantry until I remember.

My favorite pictures of Gizzy over the last year...

Right after his birthday bath...he's also missing a front tooth now on the bottom. 

My sweet pup spends a lot of time playing dress up! He also looks totally different with a haircut! He may not be the best dog but he's given us SO many  laughs and so much love! 

Happy Birthday to my favorite boy! 

Baby Talk Update

Well, this is how it went...

We should know sometime next month if we're approved. Our social worker didn't see any reason we wouldn't be. So now we wait...

We very happily, excitedly, impatiently wait!!! 

Happy Friday! 

Big Brother

My brother rarely calls me, but when he does he makes up for lost time! He called me recently and we started reminiscing about old times. We lived pretty close when we were stationed in Maryland, and I take credit for hooking him up with the love of his life, Cara! She's one of the best people I've ever known, and he is SO lucky to have her. 

She and I go wayyyyy back...

Party stores, the gym, Arbor Mist, and Chevy's Mexican food helped build our friendship! :) 

Now we're mommas and get to talk usually with one or more children demanding something from us...but aren't they cute? 

Still pretty cute...

Anyway, I guess talking to my brother stirred up all this love I have for his family! :) 

My nephews used to spend the night with us a lot on the weekends and we would take them to do all kinds of things. They used to think we were cool! :) 

How cute are they? 

And with Cara...

I found this and HAD to post it...baby Brady with my brother...gahhh!!! He was the cutest baby! 

Here's Josh holding him now... haha 

I'm so proud of my brother and the life he's made for his family. He's worked so hard! 

My oldest nephews are so grown up now and they look like young men!

Luke and Addy are pretty adorable too! 

I love this picture because I feel like it represents true family life...crazy! :) 

Okay - I'm done being sentimental now. I am sure every sister thinks the world of her brother. I just happen to think God gave me the best! :) 

Baby Talk

I reeealllly struggled about whether to write this post. But I think a year from now or 10 years from now, I'll be glad I did. 

Deep breath...

We've been talking about adoption for a few years off and on. Well, a couple of months ago, we got more serious. Then after a lot of research we picked an agency. Tonight we have our first official meeting toward adoption. 

I have no idea how any of this will work out. There are SO many factors that I never even considered until we got halfway serious. Would we adopt a race other than our own? Do we have a gender preference? How in the world will we raise the money? If you weren't aware, adoption is expensive. Open or closed adoption? How will the dynamics in our home change? How will it affect Madeline? How will it affect our marriage? 

I'm exhausted thinking about all we need to prepare for a home study. 

But y'all my heart is 100% on board. I've been in tears off and on today thinking about us actually having another baby. I am pretty terrified but over the moon excited. 

Would you pray that if this is God's will for our family that it will be crystal clear after tonight? 

My hope is that this is the first of many posts for baby #2. 

4th of July

I'm going to attempt to catch up on blogging this week. Good thing I waited until Thursday to start! :) 

We had Terry's family over on the 4th of July. His aunts offered to make all the food - they smoked meat and made all the sides...oh man, was it delicious! So I just had to get a few paper products and a couple of desserts. I made a dirt cake which may just be my new go to dessert - easy and everybody likes it. 

Anyway, we ate and swam and then headed out to watch fireworks that were less than stellar. Madeline enjoyed them, which is really all that counts anyway. 

I'm increasingly thankful that more stores are starting to carry cheap party stuff that is cute! #targetyouhadmeatthedollarsection

*disclaimer - I may have recycled some of the party stuff for Terry's party too*

Three of my favorite people in the pool :) 

I love Independence Day!