Whoa. Almost a year since my last post. I had kinda suspected I wouldn't be a very good during-the-school-year blogger and I was right. But good news- I'm going to stay home next year, wooooohoooo!! and so my blog might see a little more action than it has lately.

Major change since last summer, the addition of one totally precious little lady, miss Mia, to our family. She is now 5 months old and while it was a bit rocky at first (including a hospital stay complete with spinal taps and catheters at the teeny age of 5 weeks!!) we are adjusting quite well and feeling pretty darn happy as a family of 4.

Actually, as I look at the last post about the coast, I remember I was pregnant and feeling it! My posting about chocolate, turkey and sweet tea should have had kettle chips, doritos, grapes, m&ms, doughnuts, breakfast tacos and french fries added to the list. That was during the day. Then it would wind down into the evening and nothing could make it to my stomach. David would get Grouper Pontchartrain (oh, we love you Beach and Station Street) and I would get noodles with butter sauce. Or chicken strip salad and just eat the lettuce. Poor Mia enjoyed deliciousness for the first 6 months and the last 3 were diabetic torture.Nothing yummy (tortillas, cereal, milk, bread, chocolate, candy, soda) was allowed. Blood checked 4 times a day and dr visits weekly. Bah. Went quickly. And you know- I felt better. But no wonder she was such a grouch for the first few months!

Anyway, going to try to get a bit better at updating my blog. I said TRY, dang it. Don't hold me to it. Two little chickies make it easier said than done.

sun, sand, and seaglass

a few from big shell.

when we go to the coast now, we head 25 miles down the beach to get to big shell beach. it's about an hour and a half drive, through soft sand and requires a skilled driver and four wheel drive. luckily, david doesn't mind. in return for your troubles, you get CLEAN beach (no seaweed, no trash!!) and solitude. only 4 cars went by us all day!
it was wonderful to sit and listen to the waves, feed the seagulls and watch Henley enjoy the coast for the first time. she dug in the sand, splashed in the waves and snoozed on the beach. we found lots of seaglass and cool seashells, ate chips and turkey and cheese and chocolate and drank plenty of sweet tea. it was perfect.

throwing a fit...

here's the latest temper tantrum from the little miss. she shrieks when i walk out of her sight. i plan to show these at her wedding someday. she'll really appreciate her 5 chins. ;)

summer so far....

Well, I knew I would be awful about updating this blog. At this rate, I'll have 12 posts a year, tops. Makes it easy on me, I guess. ;)
Just wanted to put a few pics of our summer so far on here. June 11th- last day of school- hurrah! The day was also 5 years with this sweet guy.... Then, June 15th, we left for our Seattle/San Fran trip with Mom and Molly. My cousin, Jessica, got married in Seattle so we spent about 4 days there, and then drove down the coast to San Francisco. Lots of firsts for Henny, including first plane ride, first time to the beach, first parade... We had such a great time seeing all the sights- we did all the touristy things (Space Needle, Golden Gate Bridge, harbor cruises, Redwood forest, Route 1, sightseeingbuses). We were just exhausted after 10 hour days pushing strollers and changing stinky blowouts and trying to stay WARM (seriously, we froze the whole trip!!). Here's a few randoms.... Enjoying the Chihuly blownglass installation in Tacoma. I love glassblowing and this was amazing! And yes, I did notice my MAJOR jawline. Mom and Aunt Sarah at Jessica's wedding.

Henley's first parade. Can you tell she didn't care too much about it one way or another???Henley and me in the redwoods. Try to ignore my outrageous bangs!??!


Henley and Molly on a huge fallen tree.



This girl was the BEST little vacationer! In her 7 months of life, been to Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Angelo, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, San Francisco- can you believe that?


After all that traveling, we had the Immel reunion and a fun couples baby shower in Bronte, but nothing too wild. Since we've been back, we're taking it easy- watching Elmo's World each morning at 9:40, playing in the kiddie pool, going to the library and Costco and strolling Target. Ahh, summer.

Hi Y'all!

Well, I LOVE to read other people's blogs and I just can't keep pictures of this lovey to myself so I am starting a blog today!

I might be awful about updating... we shall see.

Take care!