Easter 2013

Jesus is Risen, He is risen indeed!

Though we love celebrating the REAL reason for the holiday, we also love celebrating all of the fun things that come along with it.  Dyeing eggs, egg hunts, silly stickers and decorations...and of course CANDY.

While in Houston (the weekend before Easter), we took full advantage of the festivities with Mimi, Papa and Aunt Kelly.  Knox loved dyeing eggs, and really liked hunting them afterwards and finding goodies inside.  Mimi bought him a little kit that not only dyed the eggs, but also allowed him to decorate them like little chicks.  He loved it.

Aren't those just the cutest?

After his nap, he woke up to find that Kelly and I had hidden eggs for him in the backyard.  Some had candy, but most had tiny cars in them...that used to be Stephen's!  Knox loves playing with daddy's old toys, and he was so excited to see they could fit in eggs.

We spent the rest of the weekend relaxing by the pool, going to see King George at the Rodeo and enjoying time with the family.

Post-Rodeo Blues...

I can't emphasize enough how out of sorts we are...being homeless and all.  It seems daunting to even locate a pair of shoes, much less updating the blog.  We're on the homestretch, closing tomorrow morning and heading to Austin.  It's a bit surreal, but we're excited to complete the sale of our home and move forward.

A few weeks ago I blogged about the Rodeo in Houston, but never blogged of the actual event.

We had SO MUCH FUN.  Knox talked about it for days afterward, and I think had a case of the "post-rodeo blues."  He got to see animals, pet cows, see kids ride sheep, ride rides, eat junk food and have all of the attention on him.  I think I'd have the blues, too!

Gigi got Knox this cute pearl-snap shirt to go with his boots...it was perfect!

But really, it was IMPECCABLE once we added the hat.  Seriously, little boys in cowboy hats might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.  Good thing, because he wears it daily. 

He milked a cow...

 

Then got to meet Bessie up close and personal.

He had happy hour with the swine...

And donned chaps while riding a pony.

He "drove" fifty tractors...

And became a rodeo clown.

But the best part???

All of the rides.  Mimi, Kelly and Daddy took one for the team and rode the rides with him...mommy just played the water squirt race.  He had so much fun, and "won" all of the rides.  He seriously could have stayed there all day.

We left right at naptime, and he had a good hard sleep on the way home that continued once we got to the house.  He was pooped, but loved every minute of it.

Our friends (the Ingrams) heard about his love for the rodeo and all things cowboy and gifted him this adorable little set as a going away present.  He hasn't taken them off.  He even dressed like a cowboy to get donuts this morning.  Obsessed.

I'm so in love with this little cowboy, and I'm a-okay if he keeps it up.  Too cute!

Easter update coming up next...just hope it's before May :)

"I wanna go to the rodeo!"

The boots haven't come off since we got them in the mail.

We finally got rid of the cars shirt...

He's really excited about the rodeo, y'all!  My mom got him a pearl-snap shirt, and we're heading out there tomorrow.

Papa took him to the park, and he's gearing up for the weekend ahead!

Happy Rodeo weekend...and Giddy Up!

New start...and new illnesses.

OH dear.  Keeping up is going to be harder than I thought.  Staying out of the house for showings, finalizing the house here, our house going into the option period, inspections, repairs...it's just a lot.  Then add strep, colds, and two stomach bugs...It's been a crazy few weeks!

But so fun (minus the stomach bugs).

So, to catch you up to speed (again):

The last week of February we decided to welcome March with a little craftiness.  Love his hand prints and watercolor skills!

Knox's preschool put on a little open house for Dad's only.  This year the theme was "Outer Space" and they were given maps and items to check off of their list.  Knox loved the spaceship...

His favorite ride...

And bossing people around.  He's a stickler for the rules!

Aren't they the cutest??

The first Saturday of March we met our friends the Wrights up at Home Depot to make some race cars.

The kids had a blast, but then when it was over Stephen and I stocked up on random things to complete our post-inspection repair list.  It was a full weekend, and a bit of a stressful week, but we are out of the option period and moving towards the closing date (Apr. 3).

Once back in Austin, we've overcome the stomach bug (both Knox and I had it) and are trying to enjoy the weather.  Lots of sidewalk chalk, playing in the fountains and egg organizing:

We met with our builder yesterday for the house here in Austin, and were pleasantly surprised to hear it will be completed much sooner than we expected.  Makes me happy, happy, happy!

We drove by to see the lot, and found it to be cleared and ready to go!  Love our view, but will love it even more once the house is in place!  It will be set up (see the house in the corner below?  You can see the "floor" level) so the view is even better.  We're so excited to get in it!

Overall, things are going great.  We have some fun things planned in the next few weeks with friends and family, and before we can blink we'll be packing our house.  So bittersweet, but also so exciting.

Playing catch up...

Seriously...not sure I have ever gone this long from posting.  It's been crazy around here, to say the least.  Back and forth from Austin to Dallas, then back again.  We have a lot going on, and thankfully Knox has seemed to take it all in stride.  

The house is on the market, and we've had a lot of activity.  Hopefully we'll have some good news on that front soon.  We've started the process of building our house in Austin.  We're so excited about it, and can't wait for you all to come visit--after September.

Otherwise, we're just doing what we can to adapt to the craziness.  But what's new?

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks...I haven't edited any, and some are from instragram so they are blurry...but it keeps you updated.

1) We try and go to the Home Depot kids event the first Saturday of the month.  Knox got a little apron and gets to add a pin after every craft.  This one was a valentine's holder.  Once finished, it was supposed to have a heart on the front.  He didn't want the heart and asked that I paint a car on the front.  My car is pretty sad...but I only had rectangle sponge brush so don't judge.

Later that afternoon we had a birthday party to attend for our friend Alex.  Knox (and Daddy) had a great time flying down the slides at the bounce house.  The kids all had a great time...and it wore them out!

The next day was Super Bowl Sunday.  We had our lifegroup over from church, and Stephen and I decided to tackle (like that?) a fun stadium-sized appetizer platter.  So yummy!

We then headed to Austin...where Mom got strep throat and Knox got inked.

We did make it out to the park near our new house.  Knox had a blast, which made me feel even better about the location of the new digs.

Later that week we met some new friends at a park in Lakeway.  Knox had fun playing before we headed back to the big-D.

Once home, we took advantage of the great weather...this included walks and hat-stealing!

Valentine's day was perfect, and my heart is so full with my two boys!

And then just like that we were back on the road.  We were able to meet Aunt Kelly in Waco this time, and we had to stop and make sure the bears were still kicking.  

And that brings us to this week.  Knox is sick with a cold, mommy and daddy are trying to steer clear of another illness and we are plugging away.  Feel caught up?  I'll try and not go so long in-between from now on.  We're going well, just trying to stay afloat!

Southbound 35

It's true...we're headed to Austin.  Stephen has accepted a job to work for KGI Wireless, and we'll be relocating there this summer (assuming our house sells--it went on the market today).

It's been a whirlwind of a decision, but we're excited for the new start in such an amazing city.  We know you'll come visit, and we'll have room when you do!

It's bittersweet, as we're leaving friends and family here in Dallas.  However, we know that we'll be up to visit pretty frequently, so it's not a forever goodbye.  There are a lot of things we'll miss about ole D-town, and others I'm happy to party with.  Either way, change is scary and exciting all at the same time.  

We're ready for the adventure, and I'll do my best to post frequently in the interim.  But as you can see, it's been busy and I haven't kept up too well...promise I'll make it a priority.  

Please stay in touch, Dallas peeps.  We'll miss all of you!

**And if you know anyone who needs a home in North Dallas, send them my way!