Lucky #13

Terry and I celebrated 13 years of marriage this year. We decided in January that we would go away just the two of us this summer so we planned it around our anniversary. After a hard couple of years, we knew we needed it. 

We chose Sandals because we've stayed there before and loved it. You don't have to do anything - just get on the plane and they take care of everything else. Here we are on the plane to the Nassau. We chose the Bahamas because we've never been there and it was the most cost effective. 

I may or may not have had a large margarita before boarding the plane...just keeping it real. I still hate flying. 

 Terry upgraded our room a couple of months before we left and with the upgrade they gave us a private transfer from the airport. They picked us up in a Rolls Royce and I was so pumped! haha I was taking pictures and Terry was basically dying from embarrassment. Pretty sure that was the first and last time I'll be in one so I had to document the occasion! 

The resort was beautiful...

Our room was okay... I thought for the money it left a little to be desired but we still had a good time. 

This pool was right outside our room - it's a swim up room, but that pink building you can see is another hotel and it was so loud. I'll just say it didn't quite live up to the pictures. We did make the most of it though. 

The pool really is pretty but you share it with everyone on that side of the hotel on the first floor so it's not really very private at all. It was still nice to have though. 

We ate dinner out every night and we loved this one steakhouse on the water - like it was literally on a deck over the water. It was so pretty and they had lights at the bottom of the water so you could see all the fish. It was our favorite restaurant on the resort and we ate there twice. 

We snorkeled twice...we used the go pro to get most of the pictures we took during the day so we didn't take the chance of messing up our phones or having to keep track of them. I think that's the least attractive picture we took...hahaha

 The snorkeling was AMAZING...I have never seen anything like it. I've snorkeled several times but the Bahamas is by far the prettiest I've ever seen. Tons of beautiful fish, coral, sting rays, and even a shark. It was the best! Terry got some good pictures with the Go Pro.

You can see the shark in this one if you look close...he was little but he was still a shark. Terry was fascinated and followed him until he could no longer see him. #daredevil 

One day we went to the private island that Sandals owns. It was pretty and we had a good time while we were there. 

The island has a pool and a restaurant...

The other side of the island felt a little survivor-ish to me. haha

The water is crystal clear there...you can see to the bottom just about everywhere there. 

On Saturday while we were there, they celebrated our anniversary. They made our room pretty and sent caviar and a cake. I tried the caviar...I wasn't grossed out but i wasn't impressed either. They really did cater to us. 

One day while we were there we went into town. People had told me that the Bahamas has nice jewelry for good prices and I wanted to look so we rode the bus into town. It was a fun experience. The people are super pushy and in the straw market they are obnoxious - I had to tell them not to touch me. But we went into about 10 jewelry stores and found this one who does custom work. The owner is from New York and makes his own jewelry and sells it in 5 islands in the Caribbean. Terry told me to pick out a new wedding ring...I think my mouth dropped open because I just never thought we'd replace my old one that was stolen two years ago. Well, he did and he even proposed. It was the sweetest, best day ever. The owner even gave us a ride back to the resort. 

The last day we just relaxed...we were kinda ready to go home. We missed Madeline and Ethan! 

We ate dinner at our favorite restaurant one last time and called it an early night. 

We had so much fun and are so thankful we were able to get away. It was nice to reconnect and just focus on each other. We were glad to come home though!! 

Kindergarten

Today was the first day of school. Madeline had a great day. She could not wait for school to start...she has been waiting and waiting to go to kindergarten. We struggled with putting her in public school, but several things lined up and we felt that for now, this is where God wants her. Our school system is pretty conservative and when I walked her in this morning, they were playing Klove and I felt like God just reassured me that He has got this. 

Anyway, we were up extra early. Madeline wanted cinnamon rolls so I made them homemade. I also told her she could have whatever she wanted for dinner and I would cook it. She picked "a hot dog pool party". So I obliged...happily! 

When did she get so big?!

I walked her in and said a quick good-bye. I made it all the way to my driveway before the tears rolled in. I just don't want to not be there when someone is mean to her, when she feels unsure of herself, when she gets hurt or just needs a hug. Sunday at church they brought all the kids up front and we prayed over them, their teachers and administrators, and the school year ahead. The preacher prayed specifically, "Lord let them be who You would have them to be, not what others want them to be." That is all I could ever hope for her...not that she's the smartest, the funniest, the prettiest, but that she shines the light of Jesus. 

Finally just for fun here's a little Kindergarten questionnaire we did today. 

1. What's your favorite color?  Pink
2. What's your favorite food? Potato skins
3. What's your favorite animal? A horse or a cat 
4. Whats your favorite song? Wrecking Ball - thank Terry for that one 
5. What's your favorite movie? Frozen 
6. What do you want to be when you grow up? A zookeeper, in the Air Force and a nurse 
7. What's your favorite thing about Ethan? his laugh 
8. What's your favorite thing about Mommy? when you swim with me in the pool
9. What's your favorite thing about Daddy? When he plays with me 
10. What's your favorite store? the library 

Thank you, Lord for her sweet little life and the goodness of motherhood. 

July

It's been a weird summer. I didn't mean to stop blogging but I just kinda did. Terry has been TDY for 5 weeks so most of the summer, I've been by myself so I haven't had a lot of extra time. 

Once a week or so I have been trying to do something special with just Madeline. She has taken the separation from Terry so hard. We started a count down and she tells me every morning how much time we have left! She is a Daddy's girl for sure. 

We spent the 4th on the water and it was SO pretty. We are so thankful for this country and our freedom. 

My babies and me on the boat. 

Boat days are hard when you're 5. Sometimes you gotta nap it out. 

This sweet guy looks SO miserable in a life jacket but it doesn't seem to bother him. He loves the water and also sticking his tongue out! 

The new puppy likes the boat too. Madeline named her Peggy and everybody who meets her laughs hysterically when we tell them her name. 

Sweet babies! 

Madeline wanted a picture of herself in my sunglasses...she is all legs. 

She also had a first one day a couple of weekends ago. We swam early in the day, then we worked in the yard and when we came in she asked to take a nap and put herself to bed. I am still recovering from the shock. 

She's also been trying to teach Ethan to play games. He does his best. :) 

Evie and Madeline are so close - they act like sisters. They fight, they play, they switch clothes. They are a mess and are always together. 

I have been trying to make a habit of snapping pictures before church on Sunday mornings. Some weeks its the only time the kids aren't in play clothes or bathing suits. I am obsessed with Kelly's Kids...I love a coordinating outfit. 

And more of sweet Peggy. She has that flower in her mouth. I think I forgot how much work a puppy is but I also forgot how stinking cute and funny they are. She is so sweet and SO smart. 

That just about sums up this month so far...we are soaking up summer and trying to beat the heat! 

Mother's Day Weekend

Thursday before Mother's Day we loaded up and headed to my parent's house for the weekend. Our friends came too so they could be there for Ethan's dedication. 

Friday we spent the day at Legoland...it was seriously the best day ever. We had so much fun! My sister and her kids came too so we had quite a crew. It was perfect weather and it wasn't very crowded which made for such a fun day! 

Ethan looks like he's had a little too much of something...haha 

My favorites...so sweet! 

Madeline thought this guy was hilarious...he snores when you get near him. 

We rode all the roller coasters and Madeline was tall enough for all but one this year. She rode every single one, raised her hands, and laughed the whole time. My crazy girl! 

Saturday we celebrated my mom's birthday...we surprised her with a party. There was lots of food, lots of music, and lots of dancing! 

Ethan got lots of loving...

Sunday we dedicated Ethan to the Lord. We know God gave us Ethan and his life is in God's hands. We committed to raising him to love the Lord, and it was the sweetest day. I can't count how many times I got choked up during the service. I am overwhelmed by God's goodness manifested to us through Ethan. What a blessing he has been to our family! 

Sunday morning we also prayed for sweet Hadlee...Ethan's buddy, born just a week before he was. Shyanne has been such a dear friend to me. I can recount a particularly low point in my life, right after I miscarried in 2012. The first Sunday I went back to church Shyanne greeted me, tears in her eyes and just hugged me. She didn't say a word and didn't have to. I wish with all my heart I was in Texas and could be there for her now. We will not stop praying for a miracle for Hadlee.