Packing Up and Moving Out

(This blog was written a week ago...but I decided not to post, because I didn't want to jinx anything...typical me...but now that we have CLOSED, I am ready to click that 'publish' button!) :)

I'm excited to announce that we are FINALLY moving! This has been such a long time coming. We were on the market all of last summer…and then took it off before Henley was born in October, and kept it off through the winter, as we adjusted to life with the 2 girls. We anxiously got it right back on the market in March, and I am happy to say that we are under contract, and moving in 1 week! Yes, we were on the market for what seemed like forever….actual cumulative time, about 9 months, which isn’t bad, however, if you throw in the amount of time I have spent thinking and planning t his move, we are probably going on about 3 years! I have stressed myself out throughout the whole process…excessively cleaning, tidying up, decluttering, fluffing anything that could be fluffed….and it has been more than exhausting mentally. As a realtor myself, you would think I would have wrapped my head around this whole process working with so many wonderful clients over the past 6 almost 7 years….but no – I really hadn’t. We purchased our home, our first home, about 1 month before Justin and I got married. Having never lived together the whole process was so exciting! And as a realtor, it was one of my first transactions which made it even more FUN!
But as the amount of girls in the house tripled over the last 3 years…we are busting at the seems and screaming for more space...indoor and out. I have spent a lot of time, that I now regret, complaining about the downfalls of our little home here on Sandalwood Creek, and now find myself incredibly sad about leaving. So typical me. I couldn’t help but cry last night while in bed as Justin casually mentioned how he feels about leaving this home that we brought our two little angels home to. Its amazing to me that I can be so excited to move on, yet, so sad to leave. So to keep all of my memories in check, as I constantly fear I wont remember feelings, I had to get everything I am feeling and thinking about on paper.
So as we start our week long of counting down to the last day on Sandalwood Creek…I should clearly be packing…but no…Instead I am finding myself flipping through old photos remembering the 6 years we spent here. It's been amazing, every minute of life in our little home.
Here are a few moments in the little house thatI will cherish forever!

First months of marriage were spent fixing up our house

Our 1st year anniversary quickly approached!

After being married for a little over 2 years, we found out we were expecting just before hosting our 2nd ugly sweater party.












Baby bump picture taken in our upstairs landing
(I was 28yrs old here...but for some reason I feel like I look like a cast member on 16 and pregnant) :)

Final BUMP picture before heading to hosiptal. We didn't know what we were having, but I did know that I had gained 60lbs! Ha!

Hudsen is born, and we are excited to finally be home with her!

Hudsen nestled in nicely to her new home.....

Our first Family Christmas Card

Hudsen growing up too fast!

And taking her first steps at 10 months...

Celebrating her 1st birthday with our families

Driveway fun...
























Couch fun...

Halloween 2009....

Another Christmas Card picture...

Story time with daddy

Happy Easter 2010

Clearly her favorite holiday...

Hppy Fathers Day 2010

4th of July fun in the driveway



Sprinkler!

Baby Bump #2 on our 5th Wedding Anniversary

Golf Lessons in the driveway

And suddenly Hudsen turns TWO!

Heading out the door to a Halloween Party

Heading to hospital to have a baby but wanted to grab one more picture before Hudsen becomes a Big Sister!

Home from the hospital with Henley, and Hudsen starts helping out instantly :)

Matching! :)

Henley relaxing with Daddy

And yes, ANOTHER Christmas Card picture! Okay, you know its time to move when your family no longer fits in front of the only size tree that fits in your family room :)

Happy Valentines Day!

Growing so fast!

Happy Easter!

Relaxing on Mommy's Yoga mat watching one of their 'shows'

The picture that earned Justin and Henley a spot in Ladue News's Daddy Look Alike Contest

Two sisters just relaxing

Saturday morning fun in the 'Big' Bed

Happiest Baby in the World. Hoping our next home makes her smile just as BIG!

We came into this home as newlyweds....and almost 6 years later are leaving as a happy family of four! Amazing! :)

Our last dinner consisted of the three P's.....Pizza, Paper Plates, and Packing Tape :)

Wow....what a great time we have had here....but today we say GoodBye.... thank you for all the wonderful memories you have given us! :)

Little Mermaid

At the end of April Hudsen started taking swim lessons for the first time. She had been talking about swimming all winter, but I wanted to wait until Justin had some time away from work on the weekend so he could be the one taking the dip into the pool in the Parent/Child class. I myself was not feeling too anxious about throwing on an old bikini, with my 'mom' stomach and general paleness….so I was happy to learn there was an opening at a time that worked for the whole family.....so for 4 Saturdays....at 8:20a, Justin and Hudsen hit pool!

Enjoying her yogurt before her first lesson

SOOOOOOO ready to go!

Learning to jump in off the side

Swimming to the toy

Modeling her tutu swimsuit prior to the 3rd lesson

No wonder Hudsen loved swim lessons so much...she has the funnest Dad!

Don't get me wrong....it wasn't all fun and games, as seen here....Justin shows he is serious about learning to swim, as Hudsen eyes the competition :)

Last lesson....someone got a little c0cky and decide to wear her first 2piece swimsuit :)

All and all, we loved Rockwoods swim program and will definitely be continuing lessons!

Olympics 2012!

31!

My Birthday-Week!
Oh how I LOVE to celebrate my birthday! Most of my family kinda thought that would die down after turning the Big 3-0 last year….but NOPE! I hit it hard again this year with a week full of festivities!

Wednesday: May 18
First celebration! Lis planned a great happy hour at Tuckers and I had so much fun with the girls! Thank you Ashley, Lisa, Kim, Kelly, and Jackie for coming!

Thursday: May 19 (actual bday)
Started the morning off with breakfast at home with Justin and girls, and then Justin went off to work (how DARE he work today, right?!) Hudsen, Henley and I then hit up the gym for an hour….and then afterwards went and picked up Carmie for some serious shopping time! Like many people, I am obsessed with Lululemon and jumped at the opportunity when my mom offered to let me pick out something for my birthday. We were there for over an hour trying on everything… I LOVE my new pants and jacket! Thanks Mom!

Later that night Justin came home from work and he had in hand beautiful HOT PINK roses for me! Loved them! And then went out for a nice little dinner together with the girls :)

Friday: May 20
Oh yes…this celebration continues post-birthday!
Amazing dinner at Annie Guns with my family! Thank you to my Mom and Dad for the special night. And thank you to Blake, Susan, and Connie for joining us with my parents! Everything was delicious, there were a lot of laughs, and I think everyone had a great time.

Saturday: May 20
Knowing that the birthday week was coming to a close, I wanted to go out with a bang! Nothing like 8th row center at a Tim McGraw concert with great friends! Best Tim McGraw concert I have ever been too….(granted, I was pregnant the last 2 concerts of his we went to and had a great time…but this time was AMAZING!)

Justin found this picture of the STL concert on Tim McGraw's facebook page....and yes Justin was also able to pinpoint our exact location...I, however, am too blind to really make it out, but agree you can see us. Arrow is pointing to Justin (in a black shirt)...then Kim and I are a blur, and then Mat in a blue shirt.

Thank you Tim for celebrating my 31st with me! Next time don't bring all your friends though! :) haha! And thank you to all my other non-celebrity friends who celebrated with me this week! :)

Well, another great year is in the books and I plan to thoroughly enjoy being 31 and am ready to kick off a fun summer with Justin and girls!

A Wonderful Mothers Day with my American Idol(s)

What an amazing Mothers Day!
Just got home from a beautiful lunch with my family and I'm realizing yet again how truly lucky I am. Had such a great morning spent with Justin and girls and some delicious Starbucks and great gifts.Loving my new Nike clothes and cute cards, especially the one from Hudsen and Henley :) - so sweet!

Then we had a delicious lunch with my parents, Blake and Susan, Connie, and my Grandparents. Feeling really thankful that we got to see Nana. She is 91 years old and although she LOVES my girls to death...and my girls LOVE her....sometimes Hudsen can be a little shy, especially when we visit her at the assisted living 'resort' :) she is currently living in. Our visits are typically short since Nana needs her rest, and the kids need naps, etc....and often times, Hudsen doesn't have enough time to get comfortable enough to really come out of her shell. Well, today, she had a 2 hour visit - and she really put on a show for everyone. I am just so thankful that my grandmother got to finally witness, first hand, how much Hudsen loves to sing. Nana played the piano professionally for a long time, so music is something they definitely have in common :)
Justin and I always joke about American Idol, and wonder if it will still be around when Hudsen and Henley get older - we have our fingers crossed, as the AI stage might be just where Hudsen belongs.

I was able to catch a bit of her performance today...its a fairly long, melody of songs....but Justin and I will save this forever. I know my 90+ year old grandparents will never forgot today, and neither will I.









And lets not forget about this other little showstopper! :) She is a perfect angel and brings so much joy to us! At 6 months it's hard to say what Henley's special talent will be, but looking forward to watching her discover it!





Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, my Mother In-Law, My Aunt, and my 91 year old Grandmother! Love you all!

Thank you Justin for such a wonderful day and for the 2 best little girls in the world! I absolutely LOVE being their Mommy!