Simple

It's the simple things I am going to miss.

(must keep strong...must keep strong...)

Future Surfer Chick?

Anything is possible...

I love the sunshine state

I can't say that enough. I love Florida. I love the sunshine. I love the thunderstorms. I love how close we are to our families and friends. Our days are filled with birthday parties, playdates, beach trips, pool time, walks to the park, weddings, dinner dates...I definitely made the absolute BEST decision for me and the girls to move back here. I never realized just how lonely I was in Oklahoma until I moved back and now am constantly surrounded by loved ones.

An update on the girls:

Ella is all signed up for pre-school. She is going to go three days a week and she seems pretty excited about it. I am debating on signing her up for dance or gymnastics. I would like gymnastics, but what if she loves it and wants to do that forever and ends up with one of those weird gymnast bodies? I feel like dance would make her a little more graceful (she definitely takes after me in the klutz department). My beautiful cousin Sammie dances and she is AMAZING at it. I secretly want Ella to be JUST like her. She has made lots of new girlfriends...and quite a few cute little boyfriends as well;)

Madeline is 11.5 months old! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? I am in denial. There is no way that she is going to celebrate her 1st birthday in a few short weeks. I want my itty bitty newborn back. She's been walking since 9.5 months and now of course she walks EVERYWHERE. And if you tell her "I'm going to get you Madeline" she will turn and try to run from you. She is my happy dollface and I can't kiss her cheeks enough. She's working on her language skills. Slowly, but surely. She says "uh oh" in context and she definitely says Ella, mama, and dada. I want to bottle up both girls and keep them these ages forever. Minus the hissy fits from Ella and the "I will eat anything you put in front of me" stage from Madeline...including bugs, dirt, small toys, rocks, ect.

I am only ok with time flying by if it makes the next year go by SUPER fast so we can have Tom back safe and sound in our arms.

Playdate with my awesome ADPI sis Nicolette, her firefighter hubby Steve, and her sweet girls Emerson and Annsley. Tom thinks she's the coolest because the playdate included beer, Crown Royal and the pool. Needless to say, the hubbies got along just fine;)

Madeline eating animal crackers (surprise surprise)

Beautiful Annsley! Look at that stinkin' cute 'kini!

Steve and Madeline having a very in depth conversation

Emerson...she's Ella's age and can swim across the pool. It was AMAZING to see! (apparently her dolly needs swim lessons though...)

Daddy and his babes

These were taken at Miss Lily's birthday party by my dad:) Mama and her girls having fun in the pool!

My gorgeous diamond sister (she was my little sis in ADPi) Courtney got married this month in Winter Haven. I loved being with my sorority sisters again.

A trip to Charleston for one of Tom's best friends who was married at the Citadel. It was a nice blast from the past to see the guys and to catch up!

Of course a photo by the F.

I love F-Troop!

Florida

Tom took 30 days of leave before he heads out so he can relax with us and enjoy some quality family time. The girls can't get enough of having their daddy home during the day and I am just soaking up every second we have as a family. Time is definitely moving too quickly and with only 20 days left before we say goodbye I find my anxiety creeping up on me...oh to not have a care in the world like my sweet girls...

Other than Tom's hair...how cute are these two??

Ella is our little fishy!

She's growing up too fast:(

This kid is my little sunshine.

Her smile makes me melt!

Goodbye Oklahoma...

Our last (and only) family photo in front of our first home. Taken five minutes before we left by the realtor.

and Hello Florida! We are finally settled into the house in FL. We moved home to be closer to family and friends while Tom spends some time (a year) playing in the desert. Considering he just returned from a year in South Korea, I wasn't thrilled with having to be alone again so soon. Besides, it's been almost seven years since I have been anywhere near my family. Now that I have children it's even more important to be around them so everyone can watch them grow (in person, not just on the computer...imagine that!)...and babysit them. (hehe)

Leaving our home of almost five years was very bittersweet. I definitely shed more than my share of normal tears as we packed up our very first home. Many precious memories came to mind as I looked around at the packed boxes and thought about the day we found that house. It wasn't completely built yet, but we saw it and knew it was meant to be our first home. It was a big house for the two of us and...10 months later little Ella was born;) We brought both of our baby girls home from the hospital to that house. We lost our sweet Riley in that house...my saddest memory.

There were endless summer days of sidewalk chalking the driveway, riding bikes, running through the sprinklers, planting the gardens. There were cold winter days playing in the snow or slipping along on the ice in the brutal ice storms. No matter how good or bad there are so many memories I will treasure forever. When Tom moved me to Oklahoma from Germany, I cried upon our arrival to Lawton. I couldn't believe I went from this amazing European country to a city that didn't even have a Target to shop at. But in five years I learned a lot about myself in that little city. We made a beautiful family there, grew stronger as a couple, and realized no matter where the Army sends us, we will always make it our home.