Monday, November 19, 2012

Thanksgiving is upon us....

With Thanksgiving coming up this week I thought I'd share a few things I'm thankful for ......














Never forget HE is always on our side. Always listening. Always loving!!



A little look at Thanksgiving past.....He has grown so much!


Hello Monday!!!!

This weekend was a blast (and I am exhausted)! We had so much fun this past week with Andy home on a two week vacay from work but this weekend ROCKED!!!

I am joining in with fellow blogger Shannon with her "Hello Monday" segment.

On Friday we went to dinner and bowling with Hensley's uncle Brandon and our neighbors the Coltrane's. We had Ham's for dinner and drinks :) Hensley had never been bowling before so I wasn't sure how much he would like it or not. Well.....HE LOVED IT!!! He and Nathan played game after game! It was a lot of fun to relax with our new friends! Hensley smiled the whole night :)























Saturday we took a little road trip!! We headed out Saturday morning for Mooresville Nc, just about an hour and a half from our home. We were headed to Lazy 5 Ranch! We had been wanting to go for some time now and it was a perfect day! It was a sunny 70 degree November day with a light breeze! PERFECTION!

we have arrived!! waiting in line :) 




It was so fun to ride up and see llamas and alpacas just laying out in the grass no confinement no cages. You could either drive through the ranch in your car or take the open wagon ride. We chose the wagon. The first wagon ride was at 2 and we were there at 12 so we took full advantage of the petting zoo and playground :) There were so many animals!! Camels, sheep, peacocks, goats, llamas, etc. The list goes on and on. It was great feeding them all and getting up close and personal :)

Camels!!!

He was so excited to carry this bucket of feed
Daddy and H


We ate lunch there and Hensley got some energy out on the playground. It was an amazing little place with the nicest people.



Finally it was our time to ride through the ranch and see the more "wild" animals.



The Giraffes ...the best part :) 












This little guy tried to take a bite out of Hensly's hand   :x

This cow was REALLY friendly



We had a great weekend! Lots of memories made. Now this week we will spend making crafts and getting ready for Thanksgiving! 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

And she loved a little boy.....



Tonight I went into Hensley's room and just laid beside him. He was sound asleep with his long beautiful eyelashes and adorable freckles. His sweet smelling dirty blonde hair and smooth baby skin. I watched his chest rise and fall and rise again. Wondered what he was dreaming of. Thinking of how he had fulfilled every dream I ever had of my future. He mended my heart at a time where I thought nothing could. He brought my life to life! 





I wondered how I ever lived life with out this little soul. Wondered how it was possible to love this much. How he got so big? How the past three and half years had went by in a flash and how hard it was to remember my life before he was here. 

It's amazing how transforming into a mother can change every single aspect of your life. You are never alone in your thoughts. You always think twice, once for yourself and once for your child. 

Your heart is no longer in your body, but out walking around and growing, growing bigger everyday. I locked eyes with this boy and it was over. Life was different. BETTER. More full of love, joy, and laughter. Those eyes. They are magnificent. They are bluer then any clear blue Carolina day. They are full of more life then I have ever seen in anyone's eyes. 

I catch him at times curled up to me, or holding my hand, or giving me a kiss for no reason at all, and I smile. 

He is everything I could have imagined and so much more. I never knew such an amazing little person could exist. I never knew someone could love so purely. I never knew someone's laugh could be so infectious. I never knew a touch could be so gentle. I never knew a 35 pound freckle face blue eyed boy could fill my heart so much that it feels like it will burst open! 

Hensley made me who I was meant to be......his momma. Nothing else I will ever be in my life will ever matter as much as that. 





How did I ever get so blessed to call this "mine"??


Saturday, November 10, 2012

High Five for Friday!!!



Happy Friday!!
It's been a great week here because after almost 2 months of Andy working out of town 6 days a week he had a week out!! WOOOHOOOO!


1. Being home with these two everyday this week has been amazing!






2. The election is over and as much as I enjoyed watching it I am glad it's all behind us. Seemed to bring the bad out in people especially on social media. 




3. Since the hubby's been home this week we did a few small home projects we had been putting off. One being a new dining room light! :) I love it





4. Hensley went roller skating for the first time ever on Sunday. It was Brooke's birthday party and I was unsure if he would try it or not. He did and he loved it :)




5. I ordered this new scarf on etsy.com a few weeks ago and finally got to wear it :) Love love love.






Looking forward to the weekend :) 

Friday, November 9, 2012

These moments only happen ONCE

The busiest time of the year is upon us. After Halloween it just seems to fly by in the blink of an eye every year. Last year at the end of Christmas Day I actually sat down and thought..."what just happened today?" I had only the memories my camera reminded me of. It was all about getting to this family members house by this time and remembering to bring these presents and this dish. Take this picture don't forget who gave Hensley that gift. The whole day was about documenting the memories but not living them!

I vowed that the holidays would never be that way again! I want Christmas to be about coziness, our home, the smiles, the real reason for the season! In the past few weeks I have done two things I have never done in the past: I have got a ton of Christmas shopping done, AND I have ordered it ALL online. It feels amazing to know my list is getting checked off pretty quickly and I have not had to leave my beautiful boy to drive all over town, wait in lines, and deal with a cranky boy who's favorite activity is NOT shopping!

This year I want to bake. Make Christmas crafts and listen to Christmas music while we do it. I want to snuggle on my couch with my boys and watch classic Christmas movies. I want to teach Hensley why we really celebrate Christmas.

I plan to do Christmas and Thanksgiving at our house this year. After you get married and your family grows there are so many people to see and visit with on holidays. As much as I love visiting family (and I'm sure we will visit some) I also want to enjoy our little family and make our own traditions. Last year on Christmas morning we were so rushed to open gifts, eat breakfast  get dressed, and get on the road that by the time we got home that night we were exhausted and Christmas was over. :(

So much time is dedicated to buying this or ordering that. Wrapping gifts just perfect. Making lists of endless amounts of people that must have just the right presents. Having the perfect holiday card. Spotless house with elegant Christmas decorations.

This year the goal is simple. Don't be rushed, enjoy the small things, and be present. A different kind of present is going to be at the top of our priority list this holiday season. And even though there will be a ton of gifts wrapped under our tree like every year it's not priority one. Being present for the memories. Being present for our son. And being present in the celebration of our Savior this holiday season is number 1!






Wednesday, November 7, 2012

BOO....Halloween 2012






Halloween 2012 was amazing! This was the first year that Hensley really "got it". He knew what it was all about and he was EXCITED!  It took three trips to Party City for Hensley to decide that he wanted to be a NINJA! The mommy in me wanted him to pick out something a little more cuddly and sweet since it felt like this was his last year as my little baby but, as most three years old's, he had a mind of his own. In the end I was glad he picked it out himself because he was insanely proud to wear it and show it off to everyone :)

We did a little pre-Halloween partying on Monday with our friends from down the street Nathan and Sherrie. Nathan had a big Halloween bash at his preschool with lots of games, a bonfire, snowcones, bouncy houses, candy, and live music! It was THE BEST trunk or treat I have ever been too! It was so fun!!!



trying to ring that bell!
caught this out of the corner of my eye.... nate and Hensely holding hands waiting for a game :)  




He got to wear it to school for the annual Fall Festival event they hold each year. It is filled with games, candy, friends, and fun. He was much more comfortable this year then in years past. He zipped around to every game playing with his friends and racking up on candy. It's so great to look back from our first year there at the Fall Festival when we didn't know any one and both of us were a little unsure. We have made so many connections and friends at Wee Shine. It just feels like home when we are there. It's great to have that time where the whole school comes together to celebrate and we get to see and visit with parents and kids that are in other classes. Our friends Danielle and Rylie as well as Ella and her parents ate lunch with us. It was great to catch up with them and chat :)






Halloween day was just Hensley and I (Andy's been working out of town for several weeks now). We went shopping at TJ MAXX and had lunch at Stamey's. I love days where it's just us two and nothing to do but exactly what we want to do. Those laid back days where we are in no hurry with no where to be. After a quick nap we were off to visit my dad and show off the ninja costume and then to meet up with our friends Jenn, Jason, Sakia, and baby Jemma to trick or treat.

PawPaw Floyd and Hensley 



A few pre Trick or Treating photos:



Just being a Ninja :) 

This year Hensley was so excited. He understood the reason for the celebration. He was on a mission to get CANDY! And he was with his friends. I was left in the dust! It was bittersweet to see him so grown this year and so independent from years past. I was happy to see him flourishing and advancing but at the same time I missed carrying him around walking to the door with him and having him stay so close like the last three Halloweens.

We ended the night with more candy then we could carry, a glow stick and some McDonalds. At home we snuggled in bed. Ate too much candy. And slept as close as we could get :)













Halloween 2012 ROCKED!!