Boo at the Zoo

Our first Friday in Crossville, we wasted no time having fun with some friends! We headed a little further east to Kingston to meet up with the Siscos before going to the Knoxville zoo for Boo at the Zoo. It was the first time James and Mattie Rose were able to wear their Halloween costumes!

{cutest little tiger i've ever seen}

{and cutest little giraffe too}

{kyle said they looked miserable, like ralphy in the bunny suit on a christmas story. i thought they looked precious.}

{family photo op on the siscos front porch}

{blondies}

{just can't get enough of her}

{hey mom}

{pretty girl}

{family photo op at boo at the zoo}

{clark kent and his mommy and daddy}

{i'm still trying to figure out what animals these masks are}

{manly men}

{asher couldn't keep his hands off her... daddy better look out!}

{my favorite little guy}

The next day Kyle and I were in search of a pumpkin patch to take some pictures of the babies in their festive gear, but guess what? THERE ARE NO PUMPKIN PATCHES IN CROSSVILLE!!!!! I was heart broken. No cute set-ups for cute pictures. No mums. No hay bales. No scarecrows. That definitely did not help the adjustment to a new town! :) So we opted for the in-laws house and a little set-up at the local bank. 

{loves her mama}

{james' outfit is huge but i love this picture}

{he hated the hay}

{melt my heart}

{this was the best we could get. sweet man was sooo sleepy}

These next two pictures crack me up!!! Apparently my children have Elvis lips and they are totally apparent in these pictures...

I really hope those two made someone laugh because I was rolling on the floor when I went back through my camera.

Still trying to catch up on posts...More to come!

Four Months and Fabulous

Seeing as how James and Mattie Rose will be five months old next week, it's about time we did our four month post.

The week prior to moving we somehow managed a little play date with our sweet friend Adalyn and mama Olivia. Here lately, as the babies have become more and more visual, they are taking an interest in any and everyone! They are so curious right now and it's quite funny to watch.

Poor James was a little left out of the play date. He only wanted his mommy that day. Which is totally fine by me :) 

{adalyn on the left and mattie rose on the right}

{sweet, happy friends so pretty in pink}

{this cracks me up for some reason}

We also somehow managed to take their four months pictures on their four month birthday. Thanks to my sweet friend Brooke they turned out pretty cute! She was such a huge help to me while trying to get our house all packed up! James loves looking at pretty girls and Mattie Rose eats up any bit of attention given to her. So this is why they are looking away from the camera, they were staring at Brooke :)

{this picture makes me want to laugh, cry, smile... i love it. i love them.}

{sweet sister and brother}

{ahhh that smile}

{silly girl}

{that tongue is always sticking out these days}

{so happy}

{her curious face}

{my mellow man}

{how many more of these do we have to take mom?}

{he does this thing with his eyebrows and it cracks me up. it's gets pretty intense when he tries to have a conversation with you...}

James and Mattie Rose, here's just a few things going on with you right now:

*you both learned how to roll from your belly to back about a month ago

*james, you can go to sleep the minute you get your wub (paci) and mattie rose, you fight it all the time

*you drink a 5-6 oz bottle every 3 1/2-4 hours

*you have started oatmeal cereal and love it! although we are still working on the whole not sticking the tongue out thing ha!

*you love to snuggle in the mornings after breakfast while mommy drinks coffee and you watch mickey mouse clubhouse

*you are happiest immediately after waking up and during bath time

*something about mommy singing the ABCs makes everything right in the world

*you both love to fly like an airplane

*the jumperoo is the best money i've spent on you in a while, you love it and can play in it for hours if I'd let you! It's incredible to watch you figure out how things work!

*you don't love to be held chest-to-chest anymore which makes me sad; you have to be facing outward so you can see everything in your environment

*we have the best silly conversations with lots of laughter

*you still aren't making it all the way through the night yet; mommy has to get up several times from 4:00 on to put a paci back or pat back to sleep. I am determined to not let you think 5:00 is wake up time

*mattie rose you are still wearing 0-3 month size clothing, and james you are in 3-6 month

*you love your lovies beside your face when it's time to sleep

*swaddling still does the trick though I think those days are coming to a close end

*now that you have both figured out who your jake-dog is, you crack up when you see him and love it when he sniffs you and gives you a quick kiss (though mommy cringes)

*you are now sitting in a high-chair and this totally wigs your mommy out (you CAN'T be old enough for that already, can you?)

Though I miss working, and I am way exhausted at the end of the day, there is no place else I would rather spend my days than with these sweet gifts from the Lord. Feeding them, playing with them, reading to them, and praying over them. There is no job more important than this one!

We see Dr. Hanson tomorrow for a check-up and shots :( I haven't found a pediatrician in our new town yet, and since we are back in Memphis for the week, it worked out well! 

Will post tomorrow with their updated stats!

Phi Mu's 50th Anniversary

This is the first of many catch-up posts. Since our move, we have been without internet for three weeks. I am back in Memphis this week staying at my mom's so now it's time to get back to blogging which has completely taken a backseat. To everything!

The weekend before we moved, my friend Lauren Springer and I headed down to Starkville to celebrate Phi Mu's 50th Anniversary since colonizing on Mississippi State's campus! I had not been to Starkville in almost three years, and it was wonderful to enjoy some favorite spots while down there. Dinner on Bin612's patio, lunch at Mugshots, breakfast at City Bagel, and a stop at the Lodge for all things Mississippi State. 

My four years at State would have been radically different had Phi Mu not been an integral part of them. This is where I met my best friends, learned what commitment to service really looked like, and where the Lord got ahold of me tight during my senior year and really began some redemptive work...

This was my home. Literally. For four years. I lived in this house, nowhere else. 

I could go on and on about it all, but you would be bored to death and pictures are way more fun to look at than text. 

{the phi mu house. though the smallest house on the row probably, that's what i loved about it. it felt like a home.}

{bree, springer, and me at brunch at the house}

{big news was revealed at the brunch. the girls are getting a new house! while it makes me so sad to know that i won't be able to walk through the doors of the house i lived in, i am so excited for the current members to have a home that fits their needs and growing number!}

{so we went on a little house tour and got a little creepy taking pictures of the rooms. but these girls are adorable and their rooms are just as cute}

{i thought this was neat. our mascot is a lion, "sir fidel." here he is painted on top of our creed.}

{another cute room}

{my favorite! i would seriously pay these two to come decorate my house. this was absolutely precious!}

{this is totally pinterest-worthy. this is one of the girls' bucket lists. how creative!}

Now time to embarrass some of my friends! And myself...with old composite pictures!

{one of my bff's alicia. she and i were each other's maids of honor and i am the proud godmama to her sweet little man declan!}

{springer and i didn't realize we were right next to her in our freshman composite picture! coincidence? i think not...}

{hey suzie q! loving that halter top girl! :) }

{my sophomore composite picture}

{my little sis meg. love her. and her pearls and curls.}

{junior composite picture}

{senior composite picture}

{old zap photos from the 80s. zap is the company responsible for capturing the good, bad, and ugly at all greek social functions. the photographers don't have names, everyone just yells "hey zap!" at them to get their picture taken.}

{the living room of the phi mu house. it has been redecorated since we've left, and i love it! so calm and relaxing. much needed in a house full of women :) }

{another shot of the living room}

{dan mullen loves phi mu. and who can blame him. they love him too.}

{hey members of "not afraid to be awesome'! remember this? we may not have been the most athletic but we always made sure we looked the best! ha!}

{just a little sign i thought was cute}

{"to keep forever sacred the memory of those we have loved and lost..." memorial room for phi mu sisters who have passed away}

{ginny, bree, springer, me, and anna}

{me and mom pat. there are not enough words to explain how much this woman means to me. she truly was a mother-away-from-home and definitely kept us in check. love her dearly and i am pretty sure she feels the same seeing as how i was the only one she would pull out of bed at 7:30 in the morning to help her move tables :) mom pat, you are and always will be the bomb.com!}

{oh the banners...i cannot tell you how many of these full-sized bed sheets i helped prime for painting over the years. many hours spent up in the attic.}

{me and martha ruth. sweet lady. she was one of the founding chapter members and was extremely involved during my time in phi mu. her daughter has twins so it was neat to get to share all the excitement with her.}

{brick walkway. anyone see themselves?}

{saturday night there was a nice banquet to celebrate 50 years!}

{phi mu cowbells. doesn't get much better than that.}

{carnations. duh.}

{quatrefoils}

{more cowbell}

{and no southern event is complete without petit-fours}

{a special treat at the banquet was a visit and speech from national phi mu president, kris bridges}

{kris honoring three of the founding members. it must be a neat feeling to have watched your efforts come to fruition 50 years later.}

Wonderful weekend. With a wonderful friend. Reminiscing over wonderful memories. 

We're Alive

We are settled in our new home but are without Internet and will be until Tuesday :( many posts to come then...


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