Out of the Fast Lane

So it's been awhile, AGAIN, since I have posted anything and a lot has changed. We live in VA now and hopefully won't be moving for a long time. But with the Navy, nothing is predictable and so I will stay flexible and also not worry about it and just enjoy and live in the moment.

Mykayla started college today. My how the time has flown by. Too bad I don't have a picture of her standing there with a little backpack and a big smile. I'm sure she is going to do great. It has been a bumpy start to this journey but hey she's 18 and we all learn by making mistakes.

Marcus is in full swing with football and is enjoying it very much. There have been two scrimmages so far and he has done very well. He is #16.

Mackenzie has met a friend and is excited to go back to school. We are working on her times tables and hopefully she will have them down within the next two weeks.

And as for Madi, well she loves the new house. The rooms are set up in a way that all her toys can be inside the house instead of some in the garage like the last 2 houses. She is constantly playing and rediscovering what she has. As well, she loves to play outside and go to the park. The weather is much better here for these activities than in TX.

As for Michael and me. He is busy with work and I have been busy with the house. Finally after 2 months, I am done. All is put away and has a home. Now the work of painting and fixing up will begin. Well not right away but a little at a time. We have lots of ideas and plans, but it will take awhile to finish. Good thing we are not in a hurry. We have already done alot to the yard. Michael spent a couple of days just digging out stumps from bushes that had not been kept up by the previous tentants. My vision is to create a beautiful perinnal garden in this spot. As well, he spent an afternoon cutting down overgrown trees and we now have a view of the lake from all the windows on the back of the house. :)

As I sit here with the windows open and the breeze blowing on me, I am just so thankful for the simplicity of my life now. The last 10 years have been a lot to deal with and although I wouldn't change it, I am ready for the relaxation. As my husband says, it's time for us to step out of the fast lane, move to the side and enjoy the ride from here on out. I'm with him on this one for sure.

Evolution of the Puffball

For those of you who know Madi, you know she always has her hair up in a single ponytail. Over time, it has become known as " The Puffball", her signature style. In fact once about a year ago, I gave her a different hairstyle for the day and Madi's good friend Chloe, who saw Madi everyday, walked right past her at the park while asking the question, "Where is Madi?" I am sad to report that "The Puffball" has grown so much it is no longer puffy but droopy, so we had to change her style. So enjoy the pics from through the years and her new style will be revealed at the bottom of the post......

And the new style is.........

TWO BRAIDS!!

Michael Staying Busy

Michael is such a hard worker and always has been. Lately he has been even busier with studying for his upcoming boards. Madi took the time to snuggle with Daddy while he studied.

Madi at the "Pumpkin Patch"

Well Fall has finally arrived here in South Texas, well somewhat. We are down from the 100's and 90's and into the low 80's and occasionally the 70's. This is my favorite time of the year and despite what the temps say outside, come Sept. 21st, my decorations are up. I do miss a good pumpkin patch. You know the ones where you take a hayride out to the patch to pick your pumpkin. Then ride back and partake of the apples, cider and all the wonderful and unique looking gords to pick through. Well that doesn't happen here. CC's version of a PP is pumpkins trucked and you pick one. Madi had one of these at her Parent's Day Out. She was just so proud of her little pumpkin.

In the Patch!

Next to Mrs. Scarecrow

The pumpkin and her goodie bag

Madi in front of her cubbie with pumpkin.

Well one day we can hope to return changing leaves and coolness in the air, but for now we will just enjoy Corpus' version.

Madi trying on Costumes

While at Doris' house the other day, Madi proceeded to try on several costumes that Doris had made for her children throughout the year. Madi loved every minute.

Trying this Again

Gosh, I have really been terrible at this. But, once again I have been inspired by my friend Cyndy. I look at her blog about twice a week and she is really capturing what is happening in her family and I want to have that same account of our family life. So I am going to try once more at this blog thing.

Lately we have been so consumed with football season and we love it. Marcus plays on Thursdays and Mykayla cheers on Fridays. This past week varsity beat Calallen which was huge. It was white out night so we all had on our white shirts and waved our white towels. It was a great game from kick-off until the last second. Marcus' team lost but he still played a great game

Michael and I were able to purchase a new camera, so we hope to be documenting quite a bit. That's it for now. Hopefully it will get better from here.

Still Moving

This has been a very long week. I have been moving for a week now. I thought it would be a great idea to move "a little at a time" but man is it a drawn out process. I am finally down to the last 2 rooms. Not much left to do, but I am so ready to be done.

The new house is great. Felt like home from day one. There are items everywhere, but I know it will get put away and things hung up eventually. I have connected more items this week than I ever have before. Washer, Dryer, Fridge water line, computer.....Michael always takes care of these things. I will post pictures when it is coming together.

Marcus has opening day for baseball today. There is a carnival, lunch and then a game. There has actually already been one game and the team looks great. As soon as Michael is back, he will take over the head coaching position.

Speaking of Michael, he is due into Corpus this coming Tuesday the 31st at 1:00. I have been so busy that I haven't had time to really let it sink in that is finally coming home after 8 months. Madilyn tells me everyday how excited she is for her Daddy to come home. I am curious to see how she is going to act with him once he does get here. The others are excited as well, just a little more low key about their emotions.

Well the cup of coffee is gone, so that is my sign that I am to log off and keep on unpacking. Until next time.....