OH....Did I not mention we moved?

I guess this post is a little over due. I'm sure the huge majority of my 7 readers know the details of our move, but I guess I should explain our move.

For the last 2 1/2 years Brent has been an Associate Administrator at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville as part of HCA's CEO Development Program. We knew that after 2-3 years in this position we would most likely have to move when Brent became eligible for a promotion to a COO. From the beginning of 2011 we knew it would probably be sooner rather than later. We knew we would be moving, but didn't know when or where. This would depend on when COO jobs opened up within the company. We prayed- a lot- that God would work everything out in His perfect timing and that we would end up exactly where He wanted us to be- wherever that may be. Brent interviewed for and got offered a job in Florida in the Spring and after much prayer and contemplation we turned it down. This made us a little nervous because we knew the next job that came open and he was offered he would probably have to take it- and there are worse places to live than in Florida, 30 minutes from the beach- Right? However, we felt like this was not God's plan for us at that time. Most of the summer passed and I started to realize we were probably not going to be moved anywhere by the time school started like I was hoping. (Just b/c this would be easier than moving in the middle of the year.)

On our way home from Oklahoma after our vacation, Brent got a call for a second interview in McKinney, TX. We flew over that weekend and Monday he was officially offered the job. This was a HUGE blessing. Of all the HCA hospitals the he could possibly land a job at, this is probably the best for us. It is in a really nice town- and only 5 hours away from family, instead of 13!! We planned the official move for the second week of August, not even 4 weeks after he got the job. It was a crazy few weeks, but we were able to find a house and get here in time for the kids to start the school year. We really feel like this is a blessing and feel like this is just where we are suppose to be right now. Hendersonville/Nashville was a great place to live and we really enjoyed it, but are looking forward to this next chapter of our lives.

(I should add that I am very proud of Brent. He works very hard and is good at his job.)

So LOOOONG story short, Brent is the COO at Medical Center of McKinney and we are now Texans!

2nd Grade and New Beginnings

Well, it's been 2 weeks since we moved our family to McKinney, TX. We are still trying to get settled and into a routine. We only have 2 boxes left to unpack. I think that's pretty good for two weeks. It was a little easier this time. Last time we moved to another state I was 8 months pregnant. I was ON A MISSION to get everything done because I knew it would be so hard to accomplish anything once Thad arrived. (....How right I was!!). Anyway, we are really liking it here and jumping right into things. The timing of it all was really a blessing. We moved just before school started here, so Hollace got to start 2nd grade here.

Here is my big 2nd grader last Monday, the first day of school. She is going to Wolford Elementary, home of the Wolverines!

She has always loved school and while she was sad about leaving her friends and teachers she had loved at her old school in Hendersonville, she was excited to start the year here.

Her school is literally just behind our house and across the street. The boys and I have been walking down to the cul de sac at the end of our street and watching her cross the street and go the rest of the way to school. It is SOOO nice to be that close. After school we meet her at the corner and are home less than 5 minutes after school gets out!

Here she is posing with the back pack Nana monogrammed for her. She chose to wear this dress for the first day of school, because it is her new school colors. Blue and Gold.

We got to walk her all the way to her class room the first day. She was just a little shy at first, but didn't take long for her to be ready for me to leave!

After school, I got a great report. She said her new school and teacher were "perfect!". She was very excited to learn that they could wear flip flops to school on non-PE days! She was also so pleased to find out that the school lunches here are only $2.10! They were $2.60 at her old school, but I'm not sure why she cares. I really don't make her pay for her school lunches or anything.

After school, she was climbing on the stairwell, and told me it would be a "good after school picture". So I took one.

* It just occurred to me that I haven't really explained much about our move to Texas. I will do that after I unpack those last two boxes :)

10 Years!!

Happy Anniversary and Birthday to my best friend, my "main squeeze", my biggest fan, my amazing and handsome partner with whom I am lucky enough to go through this life! I thank God for these last 10 wonderful years and look forward to many more years together!!

I had planned on doing some big post highlighting the big events and special things that have occurred over the last 1o years. However it has been a little crazy around here (see previous 2 posts), so this picture will have to do. I do plan to do the big 10 year post at some point.

My FANTASTIC FIVE year old!!

Today this awesome little guy turns FIVE! He is so smart and growing up so much and we just love him to pieces.

There are so many things I could say about him and I need to get on here and document some things before I forget them, but I will just do this one for now. Just the other day Rhett told me out of the blue that he wished I wasn't a grown up. I asked him why and he said so I could be a little kid the same time he was, so he could marry me and live with me forever. Aahhh!! He melted my heart!! I hope he always loves his Mommy that much!

**a little side note: I did not forget about the birthday tree (luckily Rhett did because he hasn't asked about it), but I didn't think a strangely decorated Christmas tree in the middle of July in an already crowded house would be a great help when showing our house to sell.

48 HOURS

We have just a few things going on over the 48 hours starting tomorrow morning.

1. Rhett's Birthday!! (Number 5!)

2. Official Closing on our new house in Texas. (Number 4 for us)

3. My Dad's Birthday!! (Number......gothcha' Papa!)

4. My sweet niece Margot's Birthday (Number 2)

5. Brent's and My anniversary!! (Number 10!!!!)

6. Brent's Birthday (Number 33)

7. Movers arrive to pack up our stuff (so we can move 677 miles away!)

Whew!!! Yes, it's going to be an eventful 48 hours!

Rhett's 5th Birthday Party

So quite a while back I started asking Rhett what he wanted to do for his 5th birthday. He immediately told me he wanted to go to Chuck-E-Cheese. I reminded him that we did that for his 4th birthday and maybe we should do something different, but he insisted. I told him if we went to CC, he would only be able to bring 2 or 3 friends. (I have no desire to try to keep up with 10 or 12 5 year olds and that high maintenance 2 year old we have at CC). I gave him the option of having a big party here at the house or at the pool or something. He chose the small intimate party at CC instead. I was feeling sort of bad about him having the exact same party as last year, UNTIL I found out we were moving 600+ miles 3 days after his birthday, then I decided it was a FABULOUS idea.... and he thought so too-so everyone wins! We had his party yesterday evening and it was a hit.

The boys

One of the little boys he invited couldn't come so it ended up being the same three as last year! . Click here for a picture of the trio a year ago!

I know it's Rhett's birthday party, but had to include a couple of pics of this cute little guy cruising with a mouse (?)

Hollace and one of her BFFs Tiffany who got to come with here brother to the party.

Rhett LOOOOVES to play video games!

Look at the boys watching so seriously.

and not so seriously.

Silly boys!! They were laughing hysterically at jokes that made NO sense, about what else, but bodily functions!

Rhett wanted an Incredible Hulk cake. I thought it turned out pretty cute!

Yummy cake....

He was so excited to open his presents and LOVED them all!

The whole gang, partied out!

With the Lewis kids, who were our wonderful neighbors until a few months ago when they moved to Murfreesboro. Hollace was so excited that Tiffany came with John David to the party.

These pics look so similar to last years party, it's funny. What can I say the boy knows what he likes. I was just thinking that he has had a Cars/race car birthday twice and a Chuck-E-Cheese birthday twice. The only time he had something different was his first birthday when he didn't have a choice! Ha-wonder what next year will be.

JAMAICA!! Part 5

Friday at the Private Island

The resort we stayed at had it's own little private island which you could ride a little boat over to visit. We went over on Wednesday night to the Royal Thai restaurant, but it was dark so we decided to go back the next day when we could see everything better. Isn't this beautiful?

One interesting thing about the private island is that on the backside there is a "clothing optional" beach. This little sign with it's fine print is the only warning you get before venturing over to this section on the beach. Luckily we had heard about it and steered clear of this area. Sorry , but NOT the kind of beautiful ocean views I was wanting.

.......apparently this older couple wasn't lucky enough to have heard or see the sign. This was SOOOO funny! We had seen them earlier just wandering innocently around the island with their snorkeling gear. As we were leaving on the boat we saw them walk down onto the nude beach area. They were fully clothed and ready for some snorkeling! I don't think they had any idea where they were or that the group of people out further in the water were nude. I guess they probably found out soon enough. I'm sure that's not the underwater treasures they were hoping to find on their little snorkeling adventure! Ha-Ha!

The view of our resort from the island

another beautiful ocean view

Relaxing on the private beach!

Brent playing on some silly three wheeler thing that we found over on the private island

I'm almost there.....one post to go.

JAMAICA!!: Part 4

Thursday/Thursday Night

The beautiful Jamaican sky. It rained several afternoons that we were there, but it usually didn't last long and didn't really keep us from doing all we wanted to do.

One day they had some "Beach Games" which involved 3 teams competing in several different competitions, such as hula-hooping, a swimming race in the ocean, relays holding an egg on a spoon, etc. One competition was a dance/cheer contest where we had about 2 minutes to come up with a routine. Our team leader/resort staff member pretty much told us what to do and we tried to out do the competition with this pyramid at the end. I somehow ended up in the front doing a little tumbling pass. Ha!- If that 's what you want to call it. It was pretty funny and I was a little embarrassed, but hey- this is vacation.....in Jamaica.....and I don't know any of these people!

Just about every morning Brent played beach volleyball with a group of guys and I laid on the beach and watched and read.

Aaahhh.......Cheesy I know, but we had to do it.

A picture after a round of tennis

At the entrance of the resort. Pictures really don't do it justice. It was beautiful.

Brent enjoyed a little Chef's sampler dessert. We ate TOO many desserts during the week.

That evening they had a little awards ceremony for some games they had during that day. We won these little leather "sandals" necklaces for the beach games and for the beach volleyball tournament Brent played in.

JAMAICA: Part 3

Tuesday Night and Wednesday/Wednesday Night

One night we took the shuttle over to another Sandals resort to check it out. We ate at Tokyo Joe's. This was the Chef that prepared our dinner.

The resort has this little private island that you can ride over to on a boat. That is the private island behind us in this picture.

This was the view from our little porch. There was rarely anyone in this little pool and hot tub-it was almost like our little private pool.

I really this picture of us. They had these guys walking around taking your picture, then you could go view them later and buy them- you know like Party Pix in high school and college. We only bought this one.

My handsome husband looks even better than he did 10 years ago!

We ate dinner at the Royal Thai restaurant on the private island. This and all the others of the two of us were taken by other guests at the resort. No one seemed to mind because they were probably asking people to take pics too.

This is the boat we took to and from the island.

I'm pretty lucky to have this guy!!

Not sure what this little carriage was for right by our room, but we decided to stop and take a picture with it......because that's what you do on vacation.

Stay tuned.............