good friends & Wednesday....

Yesterday was a really fun day, except from about 11-1215! We started off the day by walking the bridge with my friend Carissa and her two children! We had such a good time catching up....the kiddos enjoyed it for the most part...and we got in some good exercise:) We did get yelled at by an older woman on a bike who told us how dangerous it was! We still don’t know what she was talking about, but we didn’t let that ruin our time together!

After walking the bridge, I had an eye appointment...This was the only down side to my day. I’ve known for awhile some things were going on with my eyes and unfortunately my doctor told me that I HAD to start wearing glasses AND NOT CONTACTS for 4-5 hours a day! That made me burst down in tears when I told Kaz. I don’t mind glasses if I can wear them at home but I just can’t see as good, and I hate the way they look on me. BUT I don’t really have much of an option so I guess I will have to suck it up!

After the eye appointment, we met Liz and Charlie at Chick-fila for lunch! They came down to spend the day/night with us! The kiddos didn’t exactly get along all the time, and we had a stern talk with them that there was no way they could last a marriage if they couldn’t last 5 minutes together in a stroller:) HaHa! It was some much needed time with Liz and it made me very sad to see them leave this morning. 

growing up...

One night last week, Kaz and I were sitting in the living room watching TV after putting Annie Rice down for the night. Kaz briefly showed me his phone and said I’m sending you this email...you will cry. I had no idea what the email was about but I can honestly say that it wasn’t what I expected! It not only brought me  to tears but then I proceeded to have a mini meltdown and told him that I didn’t want Annie Rice to grow up...I went in her room, woke her up, and cuddled with her for a little longer before putting her back to bed. It was a very sweet moment and one that I have thought about everyday sense...

You’re probably wondering what the email said....Well, it was a link to a blog From Dates to Diapers. The title of the post was 50 rules for dads of daughters...I read through every rule carefully. Kaz asked me if I was crying because of Annie or my dad. I said both. Kaz is already such an amazing dad to Annie Rice, and I have never expected anything less than greatness and gentleness from him...but as I read each post I thought about my dad and growing up. 

I’m an only child and have always been really close to my parents. Growing up, I didn’t do a lot of things that most kids do to get in trouble because I never wanted to hear them say they were disappointed in me. That scared me more than anything because I never wanted to see them hurt. I remember a month before our wedding how much I struggled with “leaving thy mother and father” because the concept sounds easy and I wanted nothing other than to marry Kaz, but it hurt me so much to know that even though our wedding day would be a happy day and a proud day for them, I also knew it would be bittersweet because I was no longer there little girl and that really hurt me because it hurt them. I don’t know if that makes any sense whatsoever, but it was a hard time for me. 

As I read through this list it made me think of so many memories growing up....So many things I am thankful for, and how proud I am of my parents and thankful for the way they raised me....Like my dad having the hard talk with me about saving money and encouraging me to open a savings account. It wasn’t an easy or fun lesson but I’m so thankful. Or that one time I really wanted this purple 2 piece bathing suit and my mom said you will have to show your dad...Of course he said no. Now I understand why. Or the time I called hysterically crying from Florida because I hit a concrete curb in a parking lot and my car was stuck...My dad couldn’t do one thing all the way in SC but somehow just calling made it better. Or the time I called from college after breaking up with my boyfriend and I couldn’t drive home because I was crying so hard...My parents jumped in the car to come get me without thinking. Or the time that I wet my pants from laughing so hard because my dad chased me around the pool with a dead frog...Did I mention I was 18? I thought about how him and my mom always tried to hold my hand growing up and then when I got too old how I would pull away in public. And the time they turned around from there anniversary trip to the beach just to come back and get me because I so badly wanted to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe that just opened up...Instead of it being a weekend of just them, they came back to get me so I could spend the weekend with them too. I’m so thankful for my parents and all the wonderful memories that I have...I’m thankful now for Annie Rice and want to remember everyday to not take her for granted...because unfortunately #49 and #50 will happen one day and my heart needs a lot of preparing for the day she goes to college and is no longer a little girl. I love her with all my heart, and feel so blessed to be her mom. For now, I will cherish every minute, hug, giggle, snort, poopy diaper, bath time splash....because as Darius Rucker puts it, “it won’t be like this for long...” and I’m just not ready for that. 

the big court date...

Friday was Annie Rice’s big court date! Kaz woke up at 3am and said he was so excited, it felt like Christmas. So sweet! The day was absolutely perfect! It was a special time with Annie and then we were able to celebrate with our parents that night for dinner! Friday was the first day Annie Rice has worn shoes since we’ve had her:) She thought it was so funny when we would put them on her feet and then after we took them off she just played and played with them! It was a one time deal, those shoes anyway! I got them for $3 at Target just for that dress. I have to say I was very nervous about answering questions on the stand! I was so scared I was going to answer incorrectly! I made Kaz go first and I told him after that I’m so glad he did because our lawyer asked the date we got married...I KNOW the date BUT often forget the year! I was thankful Kaz answered first:) 

After court, we relaxed at home for a little while before our parents arrived. We put Annie Rice down for a nap and Kaz and I watched tv in bed with it raining outside on a Friday afternoon! That NEVER happens and I ENJOYED every minute of it! 

We had dinner at California Dreaming and it was oh so yummy!

It was a special day and we are so thankful everything went smoothly and very fast!

before court...

leaving the court house! 

at dinner!

showing off her bloomers!

this and that...

-FIRST, let me start by talking about yesterday’s post....I SHOULD have said this yesterday and after seeing all the comments and emails I’ve received, I figured I needed to put this out there. Although Kaz would sign the documents today if I let him, we are NOT adopting again right now nor am I pregnant! The news is really big and EXCITING and I promise I will share as soon as I CAN!

-Tomorrow is Annie Rice’s court date! We are so excited and have a really big celebration planned with both of our parents tomorrow night! It’s a big day and I even talked Kaz into getting her a new VeggieTales movie as a gift:) 

-We are in the process of putting our house on the market! It has been a great house but we are definitely out growing it! I really love our house. It makes me very sad because I feel like we have done so much work to it and it’s almost exactly how we wanted it, and now we are moving forward with selling it:( I have been working all day cleaning out and organizing! I have cleaned every closet and am exhausted....While going through each room, I also began putting up some of Annie Rice’s clothes. I have to say that I was very sad because I knew she would never wear them again. I even had a little mini meltdown tonight in front of Kaz and told him I just don’t want her to grow up! I’ve got a LONG WAY to go! BUT I will enjoy every minute I can with her! She’s my little heart!

some BIG things...

Remember awhile back I wrote a post about dreaming, and I included this little blurb....

I’ve been dreaming lately of something really BIG! Something so BIG only a few people know. Something the Lord has laid on my heart....so personal that it will probably takes months before I share....

Well, I still can’t tell you whats going on, but I will say that the Lord is doing some pretty amazing things. I have been asking Him for some pretty big request, and He is daily showing me that He has such bigger plans for our lives than I would have ever dreamed. So, I’m continuing to ask for some really big things...Why not right? It is His world after all. He calls the shots, but I’ll never know unless I ask! That’s what Kaz told me last night! 

Until I can share more, I’ll at least share a few pictures:) AND yes, they are over exposed for a reason:)
Also-my family is sworn to secrecy, including mom!

Matthew 21:22

²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

OCTOBER 1st....

I'm counting down the days until October 1st...There's nothing special about that day other than it marks FALL, the beginning of the holidays, and my FAVORITE time of year! I think I have told Kaz everyday that I couldn't wait until October 1st. He asked me why last night and I told him I was going to dress Annie Rice in something orange everyday:) I'M SO READY for FALL! I have been thinking about putting out my fall candles everyday but keep holding off for a few more days....

My sweet cousin Brandy is making Annie Rice this adorable "candy corn" dress! I can't wait for her to wear it!

In October, Kaz and I will be married 5 years and are also going to New York!!!! I can't wait:) 

I'm ready to wear long sleeves, scarfs, sweatshirts, and my new jacket[that Kaz doesn't know about yet BUT will after he reads my post:)] HaHa! 

photo credit

I'm excited for pumpkin patches, county fairs, and to dress my little Annie Rice up in her halloween costume! She's adorable!

ONLY a FEW more days to fall!!!!!

because....

because I never want to forget any of these moments....

 her first cold...

 she found a string on her sock...