Thick as thieves

Our family has certainly been blessed over the past few years.  Andrew and I welcomed our sweet, first born boy Hudson into the world just over two years ago.  We had no idea the amount of love a heart could for such a little new person.  God definitely taught us a lesson about loving unconditionally by granting us the opportunity to be parents.

Our little peanut on his "due date" We had him a week early.

That same year, both Andrew and I had siblings that welcomed children into this world. My brother and SIL also welcomed a boy, sweet Graham David.

Hudson- 4 months Graham- 2 days

It has been the biggest blessing watching these cousins grow together, develop, learn and change.  It is so funny to me to see how different they are and how they interact.  I think God must have been pleased with His work because once again, Andrew and I, as well as our siblings all welcomed new babies into the world. 

Our sweet Beau 

Our second beautiful nephew, Emmett James

****Sidebar: Am I terrible aunt or what? I do not have any snapshots of my beautiful nieces as newborns...just their professional shots.  I must work on getting those on here (after the move perhaps!) 

So today my SIL, Rachel, and I braved the heat and took all four boys to the zoo.  It was the best time! They were so adorable running to the different animals, running between our strollers, running between the throng of people...basically running until we had to strap them back in their strollers.

Sweet Hudson and Graham (Note the fedora and Under Armour tee. Kid has swag!) 

Two peas in a pod 

After about an hour in the heat we decided that these boys (and their mamas!!) needed some sustenance and fast.  So we packed them all up and high-tailed it to McDonald's. I so wish you all could have seen us with our baby carries in one arms, diaper bags flung over the shoulders, with our two little monkeys in the middle holding hands, mamas just trying to keep up.

It's days like today that I am so grateful for the way God has blessed my boys.  Not only do they have cousins the same age, I know they will both have lifelong friends; aunts and uncles who pray for them daily and will aid Andrew and I in guiding them towards wise decisions.  As I think about who they will be years down the road as young adults, I am so grateful for days like today and the memories that were made.

I'd rather scrub toilets at Wrigley Field...

...than pack!!!

Ok- not really but you know what I mean! I dislike LOATHE packing! You would think I wouldn't mind too much since this will be our third (yes, THIRD!) move in our four short years of marriage but I do mind.  It's not that we have a ton of stuff (we have added two boys and their toys so we definitely have more than when we started) it is the organization of packing and moving that drives me crazy!!

For example, last week when I planned my dinner menu (why I am planning a dinner menu for me and my 2 year old is beyond me, but that's an entirely different issue) I did not take into account that Saturday morning I would pack up my 9x13, which I needed last night to make baked ravioli.  No worries- we made it work but see what I mean?! Every time I go to pack a few boxes I am constantly trying to decide if I will need said items before we move.  Then I go through all the ways I might, even slightly need them, and don't pack them.  IT'S MADNESS!!

On a happier note, I need to pack because WE GOT A HOUSE!!! Well, our offer was accepted contingent upon inspection coming back clean.  And inspect we will because this baby is about 100 years old! GASP! I know- completely different from our current home what we purchased barely a year ago! How can our style of home choice change so drastically in such a short time?! Four heinous, little  letters.

H-G-T-V

That stupid silly little channel has Andrew and I dreaming all kinds of big.  So when we see shows where old homes are restored beautifully (in half an hour, mind you) we are so sure that we could do the same.  *sigh*  Time will only tell.

Our inspection on our old Victorian beauty is next Friday so fingers crossed (read praying constantly) that it all comes up roses.  It was walking through this house that I finally got a twinge of excitement.  I could actually see it redone, raising our family there and hosting countless birthday parties, holidays, and backyard cookouts.  AND- we found it on our four year anniversary.

 See- everything does happen for a reason.

Everything happens for a reason...

I'm a big believer in the saying, "Everything happens for a reason." Mostly because of my faith and trust that the Lord has plans for us that are greater than our own and also- because I see evidence of it in my life often ALL the time...

Like- I don't know why in all my 22 years of wisdom, my out of college for maybe 6 months self decided to turn down a perfectly good teaching job in the hopes of getting another job I had applied for but I did.  And it worked out. And it was at this job that I met some of the most wonderful, caring, best people that I could have ever hoped to work with. It was there that I created life-long friendships that have gone through so many of life's ups and downs; having babies, losing babies, losing loved ones, moves, family drama.  Everything happens for a reason.

I mean- I don't know Andrew stumbled upon a job opening in a small town that would take us two hours from everything we know, but he did.  And he applied. And got an offer. An offer that was exactly what I told God I would need in order to feel peace about moving.  Everything happens for a reason.

So as our lives are about to change drastically, I'm not sure of the reason.  I don't know why we're leaving all our friends and family behind.  I'm not sure why we only had a year in our dream house and now we are moving again.  I can't comprehend the reasoning behind our going away from a place that we have established our lives as our own family unit.  I don't know what the future holds.  It hurts to leave behind the comfortable- our church family, our family, our closest friends. But I cling to the saying, "everything happens for a reason." Because when I look back, the reasons have always been better than I could have dreamed.