Flip Flops and Sandcastles Part I

We are getting back into a nice little routine with most of our days spent outside.  When we left for our vacation it was cold and in the 50's.  When we returned it has been in the 70's and 80's, whoop whoop. So that means little house work is being done and lots of playing and getting dirty is happening.  And the trees were full of leaves with the beautiful lime green color of fresh life and spring in it's glory. We had amazing weather in Florida, I think it was overcast one day.  So we spent lots of time roaming the beach, eating amazing seafood (which just happens to be one of my favorite foods to eat), family time, watching Jonah run around, and getting some sun.  It was good to get away and just relax and not think about anything.  Tim was able to sleep in a few mornings and we were able to go out on a date because Mimi and Papa offered to watch Jonah for us.  We had oysters, clams, and mussels and ate all we could stuff into our faces.  It was amazing.  Now I am having withdrawals. Here are some pictures to recap our starting fresh and feeling anew again.

 Some pictures of where we stayed.  The condo was on the first floor and right outside our back door was the pool.  And we were really close to the beach so it was a quick and easy walk.

 Jonah eating his favorite summer fruit, watermelon.  He was a mess but we didn't care.  He was enjoying it and having fun all at the same time.

 Jonah and his Mimi.

 He loved the aquarium.  We took him there one morning and he saw lots of fish, sharks, jellyfish and we got to see a sea lion show!

 And mommy always has to get some sort of photo shoot in.  Mimi and I took him to the beach one morning and I was just snapping away.  I loved this little outfit he was in and got some good beach pictures.

 Airplane!!!

Springtime In North Carolina

Easter was 2 weeks ago and I am just getting my blog updated with our pictures.  We took a little family trip to Duke Gardens and tried to get some pictures of Jonah.  He is a very busy 20 month old who is always on the move.  So getting any pictures when him still is near impossible, but I captured a few.  We just returned from a wonderful week of vacation with Tim's parents and grandparents in Florida.  It was just what we needed.  Family time, a date night, and lots of relaxing.  More about that trip to come.  Here are some pictures of springtime in North Carolina.

 We had some friends over for an Easter brunch.  Wyatt is on the left, Lillia in the middle and then Jonah.  We had a wonderful time eating, watching the kids, and doing our own little Easter Egg hunt!

Here are the sweet little couple Lillia and Jonah!  Mark and Julie are such great friends and we have already decided Jonah and Lillia make a great couple and bonus we will have wonderful in-laws that can get together for holidays and go on vacations together!!

 So happy looking at the fish with Dad.

 I love flowers.  And Duke Gardens is the place to go if you have a love for flowers or anything that grows.  They do such an amazing job.

Easter Egg Hunt

Easter was 2 weeks ago and I am just getting the pictures from all the Easter festivities up.  We were invited to an Easter Egg hunt at one of Laura's friends home.  It was the first nice day all winter and was perfect weather for hunting eggs.  We had a great lunch in the yard and soaked up the sun.  Here are some pictures of Jonah, Hannah, and Amelia taking it all in!

 I think Jonah would like one of these!!  He rode it around all morning and was totally entertained with it.

 Smelling the flowers.  His new favorite thing to do!

 Sweet sisters Hannah and Amelia.

Getting Back Into It

Well it's been seven weeks since we had our sweet Ellie Catherine and said goodbye to her all in the same week.  I decided I wanted to get back into blogging because I still want to see the good side of life, I still want to smile and acknowledge all that I am thankful for, and I still want to keep moving forward.  As you have noticed before my blog is pretty much about my most favorite little boy on this planet, Jonah.  I have never been one that likes to journal or really go too deep.  I am just not really a dramatic person or full of great emotion but these past weeks and made me go deep and express myself more that I have ever wanted to.  Everyday is a new challenge as I continue to face fears of seeing moms' with their little girls, pregnant women, families with lots of healthy children running around.  Though I may look like I have it together, there is still a sting deep down and a fresh scab that is still there but getting better everyday.  I have to keep looking at the things that God has blessed me with and know though we have gone through a hardship we have many many things to be thankful for.  And everyday throughout the day I remind myself more than once that though I want my little girl here with me, she is in heaven so beautiful and perfect and that can always make me smile.

We were able to make it to one of the Easter services.  It felt good to worship and most importantly remember why Tim and I have made it this far.  Because our Heavenly Father gave his son to die for our sins because he loves us that much, and his Son rose again so that we may have eternal life.  He is sad when we are sad and carries our brudens with him and we can cry and say all we want to him and he listens and loves us.  One of the songs we sang in church has such amazing lyrics, I bawled through the whole song because I can't get out of my mind how heaven is so much more real to me and because of my precious Ellie I have such a deep deep longing for it now.  It's called Cornerstone, by Hillsong.  Please please click on the link and just listen to the words.  Happy Easter everyone and here are some pictures of a very very special little girl named Ellie Catherine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrk-erhDdk