On the road again...

Okay, so I have put on a little over 2000 miles in the last 8 days...and I am tired of driving!! Here's how it all played out: 1/18 Anniston to Birmingham--124 miles round trip, 1/20-21 Anniston to Jacksonville, FL--840 miles round trip, 1/23,25 Anniston to Tuscaloosa--240 miles round trip, 1/24 Tuscaloosa to Choudrant, LA--650 miles round trip, and 1/26 Anniston to Alpharetta, GA--228 miles round trip.... Ready to relax and just enjoy time with my family and friends for the rest of my visit South!!!

More time with the family...

Bella girl was playing in Izzie's kennel. Izzie is Grandma Joy's little shih tzu...

Madison sassed up and ready to spend the night with Grandpa Baron and Jordan...

Family...

Man, I wish maw maw and paw paw visits were the norm....like afternoons, evenings, etc just because...

Aunt Nancy, Paw Paw's sister is a hoot with the girls, too :)

Back in our routine...

Luckily, Madison and I made it home :) Everything was right on time! This morning, I loved my time I get with Bella every morning--the time between her waking up and Steph, our nanny, getting here. She is into everything and plays so hard! I love watching her play, like this...

See that pink area in the upper right corner???

So, that is what we are going to be trying to fly into tomorrow morning....oh, praying for a non-eventful day of flying with a 4 yr old!

Okay, so not off to the start I was hoping for...

So, as I started the new year, I knew I wanted to take better care of myself, be a nicer mom, etc...I feel like I have not done such a great job so far. Time for a restart... I can do this... I want to be my best me...

War Eagle...

What a game...you can't tell me Cam Newton isn't worth paying for!! :)

This wasn't against Oregon, but look at that...seriously!?!?!

This was an unbelievable play...tackled, but not down...wow!!!

My new purse...

I just have to share--love this new purse--and is even cuter in person. It's a Fossil "Key-Per" in the "Shopper" design. It's big and holds a ton and is so stinkin cute!

Cousins...

This weekend, Madison and I stayed with Claire and Lora (Madison's cousin and Pat's sister)...they just love spending time together, and we had a great time. Went to watch Claire play bball, then went to the children's museum, then had pizza and sleepover, and finally Claire and I went to get our nails done together :) So sweet--the girls really do love being with each other!

This girl loves some pasta...

Got this picture from Patrick, while Madison and I were in the Midwest for work/visiting Claire. Love it! She does this every time we give her any kind of pasta!

Loving this family tradition...

Over Christmas holidays, Patrick's mom taught me how to make homemade pasta--noodles from scratch!  I have a pasta board and pasta machine, that I got as a wedding present, so I finally know how to use them.  It's really easy and cheap to make the pasta and you can freeze it.  One batch will make several meals, and it's so tasty--much more "fresh" than the boxed pasta at the store.  It's a tradition in Patrick's family to make their own pasta, so now that I have learned, I can pass this down to my girls someday.

New Year...improved me?

Okay, so I have not been entirely pleased with myself, my priorities, and the way I have spent my time in the past few years....so this year, I am making a concerted effort to be a better mom and wife, and spend more time being a better me.  I put so much effort into being the best I can for work--and for that acknowledgement, but what does that acknowledgement mean compared to those I love....nothing. 

This year, I will take better care of me and do things I enjoy--and in turn, will be a happier, more patient mom and wife.  Putting this out here, publicly, so you all know what I am trying to do.  Give me a push, please, if you see me not doing this...

Texting while driving--please think twice...

The Last Text... (video by AT&T)

Couldn't look anymore alike...

I love watching my little boogies snuggle tight, play together, and just interact with one another...often, they will snuggle up on the couch downstairs and watch cartoons...

To Blog or Not to Blog...

Just taking this for a test drive...not sure if I want to go this route or just commit to updating our family website more often....we'll see...