New Home

Last Saturday was are very last day in Oklahoma, we packed up and left Saturday morning for our journey to our new home in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina. Chris took a new job with a company called Guilford. The new town is small that we live in but we are only about 15 minutes away from a bigger town called Jacksonville which has about everything you need. Right now we are in the transition phase of the move. The girls and I are with staying at my Mom and Dad's while Chris is hoteling it in NC for a few weeks until we close on our house. The girls are loving the time with Nana and Papaw too!

Here is our new home!!! I absolutely love it and all the that the area has to offer. We are just a few blocks away from the water and only 5 minutes from a public beach. I already have so many plans in my head of days at the beach this summer and so many new things to do and discover with the girls.

Our prayer now is that our house in OK will sell quickly, but I cant' wait to move in and get settled into our new home.

Sweet Sister Moment!

Lately, it seems that these moments of them quietly playing together are rare. The love/hate relationship sisters have or at least that is what I am told has set in lately in our house. But this morning, Bree was not feeling well and I caught her and Katie playing so very nicely together sharing a bowl of honey nut cheerios. Ahhh! The bliss of two little girls getting along. :)

The Farewell's

I can say that the last week has been emotionally draining. Sunday was our last Sunday at our WONDERUL church. It was so much more emotional for me than I thought. Chris and I both felt so much love from everyone, so much support and encouragement as we get ready to leave. It is beyond peaceful to know that as we move forward that so many here will be praying for us. How awesome is that!!!!

Sunday evening I was able to get together with the 11th and 12th grade girls. We all met at Panera Bread to spend some time together just us and I was able to share with them how Chris and I came to the decision to leave. We had a fun night share stories and laughing at our inside jokes. I am so thankful for these girls and all that they have brought to my life.

Me and Stef....one of the few times are eyes have not been blood shot red from all the crying. I can honestly say that having Stefanie as a friend has forever changed me. She was an answered prayer for me when I moved here. I have awesome friends that live in different parts of the US but when I moved here I just wanted one friend who I could really connect with. She has been a huge part of why it was so easy to be in Oklahoma. Thanks for your friendship Stefanie!!!!

Last night we had are finally farewell with the all of the youth. Our youth pastor,Rich, asked Chris if he would like to speak one last time to the youth. Chris was all for that and had a great message about prayer. I thought was really appropriate since we have had so much prayer lately over this move. :) At the end Rich had us come up on stage and let the kids share their favorite story about us. Words really can't express what it meant to hear those stories, laugh at some of the jokes we have shared and re-live all the things we have had a chance to do. One thing we found out last night that I wasn't even aware was that on 3/9/08 Chris and I visited Arrow Heights for the very first time and on 3/9/11 that was our very last night at Arrow Heights. Exactly 3 years, when I heard this it gave me chill bumps. It is amazing to think that God has such specific time lines for our life. He knew that we would have exactly 3 years at Arrow Heights and then our time would be over and He would ask us to move on to our next place. Crazy!

Perfect Timing!

On Saturday, I was working A LOT around the house, touching up paint, cleaning, organizing, you know all the fun stuff you have to do to get ready to sell your house. The girls were doing really good but were starting to get a little bored by lunch time. Then our door bell rang and it was our mail lady. She handed Katie a package and she saw that it was for her and Bree. They were so excited to get mail. Aunt Joy and Chandler has sent them some birthday gifts.

Ripping into the gifts

They both got some fun stuff lip gloss and activity books. Katie also got a Hannah Montana Journal, which see tells us to not look in it because it has all of her secrets (even thought nothing is written in it). Ha! Bree got some Hello Kitty bracelets, which she LOVES.

Thanks Aunt Joy and Chandler for all the great stuff, it arrive at just the prefect time as they were entertained with their activity books for a little while longer while I was able to get some more stuff done around the house.

Birthday Video

For the grandparents and other family and friends that couldn't be here for the girls birthdays we video taped the girls blowing out their candles and opening gifts so you all could be apart of the day. First I will apologize for the signing you will have to endure during the "happy birthday" part. Chris and I were not gifted with beautiful voices. :) Second, the video is a little long but I really couldn't cut out much but I am sure the grandparents won't mind.

I hope you enjoy the video!

Turning 4!

Today was another special day in our house, four years ago today God gave us our second most precious gift. He gave us our sweet, funny, giggly little Breanna. Today I think was harder for me as it just seemed so unreal that our last baby girl was turning 4....seriously 4 years old!!!! I know longer have any babies in the house she is getting to the point that she has lost all of her baby features and is such a big girl now. I love our little girl and she was excited that today was her day to be the special girl!

Keeping with tradition we let her open one gift in the morning from us and Katie wanted her to open the gift she got her. Bree was excited to dig in to the gifts. Bree got a special Hello Kitty birthday outfit....she wanted all Hello Kitty for her party. Katie got her a Rapunzel dress up from Tangled, which she loved. Dress up is one of her favorite things.


Later that morning before we headed out to do Bree's special activity we let her open the rest of her presents. She loves the movie Ramona and Beezus so she was excited to get it for her birthday.

She LOVES Toy Story and has been asking for the Woody and Buzz doll. Of course she got them both for her birthday.

She also asked for this Weeble Wobble treehouse.

Our beautiful little birthday girl all decked out in her birthday outfit. Ready to go out her day.

She is so silly....This is one of the many reasons I love her. She can make you laugh even when you don't want to.

For her day she asked to go eat at Chickala (Chick-fil-a) and go to the aquarium. The day was cold and rainy so it was a good choice to get to be indoors. My beautiful girls checking out the sting rays.

Me and the birthday girl

Once we came back home we ate some dinner and then had birthday cake. She requested a Hello Kitty cake.

Blowing out the candles.

Happy Birthday Noodle!!!! Mommy and Daddy are so blessed to have you as our daughter. I love how happy you are and how you love to be silly and laugh all the time. You love to sing and make funny faces. You definitely keep us entertained.

6 Years Old!

Today was a special day in our household. Six years ago today God gave us one of the best gifts every. He put His precious Katie in the hands of Chris and I and allowed up to be her mommy and daddy. I can say for the past six years it has been a journey of love, thankfulness, joy, laughter, frustration and many other emotions but I know that it is a privilege to be her mommy and daddy. I wouldn't change a think about our sweet Katie and the wonderful personality she has. On her special day she was beyond thrilled that it was her birthday. It was a fun day to see how excited she was over every detail from the decorations to the presents.

This year we didn't do a big birthday party with friends. Katie said she just wanted it to be family, so we honored her request and planned a day of fun with just the family.

It has become a tradition that the girls get to open one gift on the morning of their birthday. I normally let it be an outfit so they have a special birthday outfit to wear for the day. Bree wanted Katie to open the gift she got her so Katie actually got to open two that morning. She got the Justin Bieber t-shirt(you'll understand why in a minute) from us and then Bree got her some littlest pet shop stuff.

Katie had school today so we had to wait until after school to start the actually party. When she came home I had the kitchen decorated and her cake out. She just kept saying "mommy it is so beautiful" she loved her balloons, she loved that the cake had her name on it. She was cracking me up. She just kept going on and on about how much she loved everything.

The cake she wanted was Justin Bieber, but no where around here could make it so the next best thing was this.

Time to sing Happy Birthday and cut the cake.

After cake it was time for the rest of the presents. Bree was willing to assist Katie in her present opening.

MONEY!!!!!!!

New game for the DS

After presents and cake it was time to head out for the activity Katie wanted to do for her birthday. She has been asking forever to see the Justin Bieber movie. We told her for her birthday we would go. She wanted to see it in 3D because she said she wanted to reach out and touch him. :) I'm telling ya, she is 6 years old going on 13. Does she look excited or what???

Chris and I were trying to decided or more like drawing straws on who would have to sit through the movie with Katie and the other would take Bree to a different movie. We really didn't think Bree would want to go. When we got there she said she wanted to go see the Justin Fever (Bieber) movie. :) We went in thinking one of us could take her out and sneak in another movie if she was bored. Surprising she sat through the entire movie with her 3D glasses on and watch every minute of it. I think she was just excited to be a part of Katie's big day and loves to be like her.

Happy Birthday Katie Bear!!!! We love you more than you can ever imagine and I am beyond thankful that you are our daughter. It is hard to believe you already 6 years old....sniff, sniff. I am so excited to see you grow and become such a beautiful girl!