Getting Settled

Everyone keeps asking if we're getting settled in. While there are so many UNsettling things in our lives right now (which home will eventually be ours? when will our house sell in KC? will we rent?) we actually ARE getting settled in quite nicely at Granny and Grandad's. I am so grateful that leaving our home in Kansas City meant moving into a well-known and well-loved home for our kids and for us at my parents. So far, we haven't had too many big issues. Here's what we've been up to.

Natalie's new bed at the foot of Granny and Grandad's bed. "Now I can just climb right up into your bed in the morning, Granny." Granny is happy to have Nattie by her side. Natalie is happy to be in a cozy new bed that's just her size. And Mommy and Daddy are happy to get to sleep in at the other end of the house for a few weeks!

Playing at the beach. It's still a little chilly to actually go all out at the beach, but it's still fun just to be out in the sunshine! That's our kite behind Nat.

Exploring with Grandad in the backyard.

Helping to clean is always fun for toddlers.

Natalie enjoys Granny's homemade strawberry jam. Mommy enjoys that Granny makes breakfast!

I just thought Sutton's shoes looked extra southern. Gotta love seeing those little legs in shorts for the first time in a while. Last time he wore shorts he wasn't even walking yet!

Walking the Loop at the beach.

Love that dirty face. It's proof of a day spent almost completely outdoors.

Even warm enough to eat outside on the screened in porch! Love it.

I certainly can't say we're completely settled, but we're enjoying this time nonetheless.

Going Away

Our sweet friends from our church in KC arranged a going away party for us. It was wonderful to be able to chat with everyone without having the normal Sunday stuff going on.

My friend, Kassa was in charge. She had everyone bring a KC favorite of mine. Pizza Shoppe salad with pink stuff...

Leo's pizza, Stone Canyon Pizza...yep, I need to find a good pizza joint in Wilmington cuz I am truly an addict. I even got Lemon Cake from Cascone's! She truly thought of everything.

It was such a thoughtful party. They even gave us a scrapbook full of pages from many of the families in our church, so we won't forget the... as if we could!

The Last Supper

Okay, so calling it the Last Supper is probably a little dramatic. But, we were still enjoying time with our friends, eating and trying not to think about the time we would be apart until we could be together again. See, there were a FEW similarities.

You never know who is gonna appear from the hallway dressed in who knows what?! Literally a new outfit every few minutes sometimes.

Celebrating Izzy's birthday a little early so Natalie could celebrate with her.

Mr. Joe even relit the candles so everyone could have a turn at blowing them out.

Watching a late night movie.

Second attempt at sleeping over. Lasted till ten this time. Maybe when they're 4?

We miss this family desperately since our big move. Gonna try really hard to let the BFFs continue to be BFFs long distance. I think it will work...Natalie has drawn a picture for Isabel or pretend played with her or at the very least mentioned her, every day since we left.

First & Last Zoo Trip

The weather was finally warm enough to go to the Zoo while we were in KC last month.

Granny was a pretty funny site trying to feed the sheep.

It was so fun we ran a little into nap time. Sutton took a much needed rest. He sure loves to rock.

One of the things we'll miss so much about the KC Zoo is the many playdates we have had there. I can't hardly remember a time we went without at least one other Mommy/Friend combo. This little doll is "baby" Addy. Not so much of a baby anymore, but still a smart little sweetheart. While we will miss seeing Nikita the Polar Bear on a regular basis, we will most certainly miss this little girl quite a bit more.

Dedicated

Parent-Child Dedication Day is a special day for us Baptists. It's a day when we go before the church and promise to raise our child according to God's Word. It's usually done on Mother's Day at our church, but we'll be back in NC by then, so our pastor agreed to let us do it early. There's really no other place we'd rather dedicate our son and ourselves than at NBC, so we were happy he did this for us.

One cute thing to report: Sutton pulled the mic to his mouth and said "Dad" really loud into it when we were supposed to be doing our responsive reading. Anytime kids are at the front of the church, there's a pretty good chance the congregation will get a chance to laugh. Thanks for not disappointing everyone, Sutton.

Sutton got a little blue Bible with his name on it. Natalie has a pink one she truly cherishes from her own Dedication day, so he immediately recognized this as something to be proud of.

NOT 4 SALE

We had our Moving Sale last weekend. In the midst of some remaining winter weather, somehow we got away with a couple of perfect days to sell stuff.

The sun was out, so out came the kiddos to help mommy. Got rid of some stuff, made some cash and got to play outside. A pretty good way to spend a couple days.

Chicken in the Morning

Any excuse to go to Chick-Fil-A works for us. So when we heard about the new Toddler Time at our CFA, we marked it on our CFA Cow-lendar, tore out our monthly coupon and headed out for breakfast with the bovine. Just one more reason to love Chick-Fil-A.

Natalie has finally warmed to the Cow. Well, at least she likes the "little girl cow."

They have crafts for all ages.

Visits with the cow.

Story time with the kind Owner/Operator.

Balloons.

And of course, the chicken. If you haven't yet, you gotta try a chicken breakfast burrito. Delicious. They'll try to convince you it's their "pleasure." But I assure you, the pleasure will be all yours. :)

Picasso

Not too much to this video. Just a little painting, which is a daily activity in this house. But the cuteness in that little face is completely blogworthy.

This is the picture that followed the photo request in the video.

"In My Fodder's House"

I love how my 3 year-old still says fodder, mudder, brudder, etc.

Sutton Loves Cars

He can find a wheel anywhere we go.

Buds

They're supposed to be the babies.

The above photo reminded me of the one below taken of the girls a couple years ago. How time flies.

Little Stinker

Daddy says, "Shooeee, you stink, Bub." Sutton holds his nose. That's one smart little boy.

Bitty's Baby Book

Natalie wanted me to take some photos of her and Bitty together for Bitty's baby book,

so I did.

A Little Dress Up

Never mind that these are infant sized scrubs. I personally think they look better now than they did back when.

More Than A Dozen

Over the past 8 1/2 years we have been blessed with so many wonderful friends here in Kansas City. Below is a photo of a group of ladies from our church enjoying some time together at the Melting Pot. I love them all, and they tolerate me! :)

This is Renee and I, one of my BFFs.

I knew I was gonna post these pics, but until IT hit last night during church, I had no idea just how LONG this post would be, so bear with me. There are WAY more than a dozen reasons I will be sad to leave Kansas City in just 2 short weeks now. I know that it is nothing short of miraculous that my hubby got the perfect job for him in Wilmington. I know that we will LOVE being so close to our family and childhood friends. I KNOW we will LOVE the beach! But somehow, it doesn't lessen the sting of leaving everything and everyone behind in Kansas City.

As I stood singing in the worship service last night at church, the lump began to form in my throat and the more I thought about how much I will miss this body of Believers, the more tears came. I stood behind a dear friend of mine, praying for her and her family. I prayed for the guy at the altar, because I know them both so well. I know nearly everyone here. I know their children, where they live. Then my thoughts went back to that altar. That's the very place I came broken, first begging God to give us a child, then begging him to make me content if it should never happen. It's where Nate and I stood with Natalie in a long white gown, dedicating her and ourselves to raise our family in the church and for the Lord. My eyes shifted to the second row, where our pastor's wife stood singing. I remembered so clearly sitting with her in the parking lot, years ago now, trying to understand prayer. Her wisdom and the way she prayed with me that evening still replay in my heart to this day. I picked up Natalie from the preschool room. There she was with many of the same 13 kiddos that were all born in 2007 in our church. Back upstairs we all stood around, chatting and chasing kids. Then dinner at our house with some of our very best friends. The laughing, the joking until late in the evening. And that was just one evening from 6:00 on. I know I am moving closer to family, but this family we've grown in Kansas City will be missed desperately.

As I discussed these thoughts with Nate late last night he shared his wisdom and encouragement, as always. He reminded me that over 8 years ago, we knew no one. We made amazing work and med school friends. Then 4 years ago, most of our dearest friends from med school all moved away. God provided new friends. I absolutely love being reminded of God's faithfulness in my past. Sure makes heading into the future a lot easier. As we leave behind some of the dearest friend it feels we've ever had, all I can think of is a quote I found once that read, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Somehow I think the next few weeks will be a mixture of smiles and tears, maybe a little heavy on the latter.

Thank you Lord for the amazing friends you've given us here in Kansas City. For a church that has helped our marriage and our family become what it is today. For the hope we have amongst a new body of Believers when we move to NC. I know it seems silly, but thank you Lord for so many reasons to cry.

Wanna Wrestle?

Wrestling with a big sister is quite different than the wrestling Mommy remembers doing with her big brothers. It's the constant concern about his well-being that makes this wrestling not quite as rough. See for yourself below: