Time To Start Anew

It's been a while since I have posted and I don't feel up to delving into the details of the last year+. So, quick recap: Sutton was born 3 weeks early and immediately showed her attention-demanding nature.. we love her to pieces. She is now 10.5 months old and crazy as ever. Everett is 2! He has a billion words (English), he is learning to potty in the toilet (I will post on that as he progresses), and he is a pretty awesome boy (pure boy, no doubt). We have a dog, Cooper. He is a mix of who knows how many dogs, he's definitely not the Australian Cattle Dog we thought we were adopting! But we love him all the same. Chris and I drove out to Louisiana mid April for him to start working, and in early June the kids and I came back to AZ to visit with my little sisters new sweetest baby girl. We are hoping to be reunited SOON, the sooner the better for my sanity's sake! That's the gist of our lives the past year-ish.

Now, the past few weeks have been rough emotionally for me. I've made a lot of changes that have brought Chris and me to such an awesome point in our marriage. However, I've grown apart from a few friends I used to be very close with. I know that this happens as people "grow up", but I truly never would have expected it to happen with the friendships it did. I have felt a million sad and negative feelings, both in my own mind and projected towards me. I felt so betrayed, lonely, and heartbroken! I got to the point where I would check my Instagram religiously, just waiting to see if these "friends" posted pictures of how great their lives were with each other... without me.. (At that point I seriously don't know what I would have done without Chris, a million brownie points to him for listening to me cry and never making me feel silly.)

So, I've taken a little leave of absence from Instagram. But, I'm really wondering if it's normal to lose such good friends? Or did I happen to just befriend people that secretly hated me and were using me to meet one another and run off into the sunset without me??? That's probably it... sounds legit... Well. I will save my choice words and carry on. Instead of moping, because I'm DONE with that, I am going to cross off the million and one things I've been wanting to do. Crocheting, baking, freezer meals, and LOTS of Pinterest crafts. And to anyone reading this with crappy friend choice and nothing to do, join me!


Hannah





P.S. No one should have to choose between good friendships and a good marriage, but given the resulting situations.. I am extremely happy with my choices. My hubs is #1.

Time Spent In Columbus

We were in Ohio for about 3 weeks.. and were in 3 different hotels... before we moved down to Texas.  We spent a ton of time in the hotel rooms because the locations weren't super reassuring while taking walks.... haha. So, Everett developed some new ways to have fun. Climbing inside dresser drawers, draping dirty laundry around himself, climbing, taking his clothes off, and dancing! He loves to dance and we love to watch him. It is a hoot. There were times when Chris was home and we would go outside to play. We played in the rain, we saw geese, and Everett ate some dirt/wood chips. It rained way more often than I would have expected. I honestly didn't even know where geographically Ohio was! We even saw some snow flurries! Insane. It was really a fun time and I am so glad that Chris's job gives us the opportunity to see new beautiful places. Now, I have a ton of pictures to share that capture our time in Ohio.

Longest Road Trip of Our Lives

By the end of this summer I hope I never have to put Everett in a car seat, ever again. Mid April we left Arizona. We stayed the first night in San Angelo, Texas with my friend Destiny and her boyfriend Aaron. From home to San Angelo it was about 13 hours. It made the trip a little longer but I was excited to see them both and get to stay with them for the night. We had dinner and a quick breakfast the next morning before we headed out. We stayed in Little Rock, Arkansas the next night, about a 9 hour drive. It was a shorter day and we actually tried to time it so we didn't miss our favorite show (The Following) haha! We made it just in time, with some delich BBQ for dinner. The last day was closer to 14 hours and it landed us in Columbus, Ohio. We hit a ton of construction all three days, Chris was sick all three days, and Everett hated his life all three days. We did see a lot of pretty scenery on our many detours though. And Everett cracked me up plenty of times. We would look back and he would be awake, looking out the window, but with something in front of him so we couldn't see him (or he couldn't see us?). He seemed overly annoyed and would scream when we would make pit stops and he had to get back in his seat. It was nuts and I never want to do it again!

My Tiny Dirt Bike Rider

Before we left for the summer we REALLY wanted to get a camping trip in. Kevins birthday was pretty overshadowed by Everetts party so the following weekend we all went camping! The boys brought the dirt bike and Preston brought his power car. I'm not big on dirt bikes, which is silly since my husband is all about them.. and, as it turns out, my son is bananas for them as well! Chris took Ev on a ride and by looking at his face you would have thought he wasn't very interested. But once he had to get off the bike he was incredibly upset. He was screaming, crying, and yelling as he stood by the dirt bike. Juuuuust what I wanted! Haha, Chris is definitely happy. It gave him a fun little riding buddy for the time we spent out there. Ev also loved when Preston would take him on rides in the power car. They look so funny sitting in a car together like two tiny grown ups haha. I have no pictures of me, Heather, Kevin, or Wyatt.... but I am so glad we got to spend that time together.

My Baby is One?

I cannot even believe it. Everett is the smartest, sweetest, funniest little thing that has ever happened to me. He started walking a little before 11 months, he has 6.5 teeth, and weighs 20 pounds! He loves Yo Gabba Gabba. It is the only show that he actually watches and dances to. He has the most perfect giggle and I love to watch him do ANYTHING. He has grown so quickly that I am not even sure it's been a whole year....... I am the luckiest mom ever. I can't wait to see him be a big brother to this little girl coming along! AH! I decorated his high chair the morning of his birthday then we spent the day as a family at the Phoenix Children's Museum, which was amazing. The Saturday after his birthday we had a party. We did a Yo Gabba Gabba theme, of course. Thank you to all of those that helped and those who came to celebrate, it turned out so amazing and so so fun. He is definitely one lucky guy to have such amazing family and friends!

I had a ton of help with the foods from my siblings, but I was really proud of the things I did make for the party. Out of poster boards I made the pin the eye on Muno game, I painted Brobee for the bean bag toss, and I made all the cakes! Ev loved his smash cake until it ended up all over his face and head... eyes included. haha! The pictures of the present openings are hilarious. All the kids "helped" Everett open his gifts. They surrounded him and would tear the paper then throw the gifts at him. Awesome.

A special THANKS to my sister Halley and her sister-in-law Ella for letting Brobee come to the party! Everett was head over heels for it! Seriously, amazing.