Last Week's LONG Road Trip.... Shamrock and Abilene in 48 Hours!

I have been wanting to see my family so badly, and especially my grandparents, so we decided to quit putting it off, and took off Friday for Shamrock, located up in the panhandle near Amarillo (about 8 or 9 hours from here).  I am SO PROUD of how well the kids did... I think we stopped once to eat, and once to get gas and use the potty.  Channing NEVER slept!  Anyway, the long drive was worth it because we got to see my grandparents, Dad and Deb, Kristin and Sean, and Chloe and Caden.  Molly was with her mom. The kids had a BLAST playing in the yard, and Chloe and Channing did cart wheels galore!  Caden is such a sweet boy, and loved seeing Channing and Jaxson as well.  They still think of Jaxson as the baby and love to hold him and love on him.  And Jax acts kind of like... "Don't hold me.  I'm a Big Boy!".  The next day (yes.... after driving for 9 hours we left the next day!), we headed to Abilene to see my Nana, Pappy, Aunt Jan, Uncle Gary, and Megan and Gracie.  I was shocked at how much Megan and Gracie have changed since we saw them at Christmas... both just so tall and BEAUTIFUL, and Channing thinks they are the coolest girls EVER.   Jaxson cried for Gracie for at least 30 minutes before bed.  We were excited to get to see Gracie play baseball.... she is awesome and on such a great team.  By the time I got my camera out Sunday morning, Megan was with friends and I didn't want to embarrass her by making her pose for the camera, but I got a couple of Gracie in action!  Also, Jaxson was smitten with Nana.... sharing her snow cones and making her mud pies, and he gave Pappy a big kiss first thing.  The next day (Sunday) we met Mack and Mary Ann for lunch and they picked up the kids for the week.  Thank you M&M.... you are wonderful grandparents and lifesavers!

chann, chloe, and sadie

sadie chasing jax

chloe, jax, caden, chann

kristin and caden

time for gymnastics!

nanny deb with grandkids

my beautiful grandmother

my favorite guys!  

chann watching the game

jax in his shades

my sweet Nana with kids

Aunt Jan with Channing

Gracie getting ready to slam it!  

Dear Channing, Jaxson, and Baby Hurst.....

It's only been 2 days and already I am counting the minutes until you get home from Mimi and Papaw's, and I am also counting the minutes until our new little Baby Hurst is born!  I needed the break.... I have been feeling so sick and so tired, and wanted you to have the chance to get away so you could have fun,  swim, and do some new things before the end of summer.  I know you have a blast  there, and it is a blessing for us all, because it just makes me realize how precious my time with you really is, and how fast all of this is actually going by.  Lately I cry when I hear songs about babies getting older, and leaving home, going to college, getting married, etc......  and although all of those times will be happy and wonderful, they will be hard too, because I just want to keep you with me, even thought that is selfish and I never would.  I pray that you will always know that Daddy and I are here to guide, comfort, support, and protect you, even when we also have to discipline you and let you learn lessons on your own.  I pray that I will be the kind of parent that will not always be giving advice and judging your decisions, but a parent that you will want to seek guidance and advice from when you need it.  I pray, Channing, that you will see me as your friend, even though there will be times when I know you will see me as the enemy.  Just know that I will always be looking out for what is best.  Jaxson, I pray that someday you can be the kind of father and husband that your Dad is to you, and you all will find the happiness in your own families that we have found together.  Baby Hurst, I heard your sweet heartbeat today, and I just pray that you will get here safely and in perfect health, and know that we are all here to love and welcome you with open arms and hearts.  Thank you all for the happiness you give me everyday, and Lord, please help me to realize these things on the days when it is not so easy to do!
Love,
Mommy

Channing is turning 5!!!!

I cannot believe I was looking down at her, crying my eyes out because she was so perfect, and just almost looking forward to her cries at night so I could see her again.....  all that almost 5 years ago!  So much has happened in such a short amount of time, and now she's such an awesome big sister, such a funny daughter and friend, and just an amazing little person overall.  She told me the other day... "Mom, sometimes Jaxson gets confused and thinks I'm his mom".   I think she may be right.  They are both gone all week, and as much I need to rest and catch up around the house, I miss them and can't wait to hear their little voices in the morning again!   We took these pics last week so I could work on them this week....  and I am happy with how well they cooperated!  That doesn't always happen!

Chann at VBS/ Fun with Paint

I just realized that I hadn't posted any pictures from Channing's time at the Cowboy Fellowship VBS a couple of weeks ago, and also I had some AWESOME pics of the "kids" (paxton included) painting themselves on the back porch.  Yes.... there is a reason why dads are more fun!!!  Channing had a GREAT time at VBS... I was so thankful that Abby took her and picked her up each day... especially since it was later in the evening.  She really got into it at the presentation, singing all the songs and doing all the moves. As we speak she is listening to the CD from that week and dancing around the living room!

The Things that are Saving my Life Right Now!

Well, I have blogged and complained and whined my way through this first trimester... and thankfully I believe it is coming to an end!  My bad days seem to be outnumbered by my good days, and that is a good thing!  Having company and staying busy seems to help, although it catches up with me and yesterday I was pretty exhausted and not feeling too hot.  But, I knew Chann and I needed some time alone, and we both seriously needed some clothes, so we went on a girl's day shopping in SA.  And there is NOTHING like a girl's day with my Ultimate Girl, Channing Grace!  I set no time limit for us, didn't rush her while she tried on outfit after outfit that "bothered" her because, well, "Can't you see MOM, there are buttons on the pockets!" or "No way... can't do this, look when I sit down.... these pants are a little tight around my knees!", or "NO- whoever said Gap panties are comfortable were LYING!".  She is a persnickety little thing.... but still so much fun when we get off on our own.  But my point to the "life saving" I mention in the title of this post.....  GAP is really WAY too expensive according to my budget, BUT, they have the most awesome non-maternity clothing for those of us not quite fitting into our normal wardrobe but also not ready for the ole maternity transition.  Their oversized t-shirts feel like HEAVEN, they have cute denim leggins, their lounge wear is just so soft and fits so good.... I was happy to spend the little extra $$ and it really cheered me up!  My 2nd splurge yesterday was on the Gabrielle Reese maternity workout video and a new exercise ball.  Only 15 minutes and is structured around how far you are along.  It was challenging enough to make me feel like I was getting something out of it, but not brutal.  And she is not a perky, cheesy aerobics instructor, which I really love.  So, between Gap and Gabrielle, I just might survive the next couple of weeks!

Schlitterbahn

Right now, I am just sitting her munching on some key lime pie (I just love to eat these days!), both kids asleep, thinking about what I need to catch up on.  This trip is one of them.  Although we didn't take a full blown family vacation this year, living where we do, it is easy to do a lot of fun things without a lot of traveling.  One of the best things we did for Chann and Jax was meeting Jeff, Ali, Heath, and Laurie (and Sadie, Tripp, and Kendall) at Shlitterbahn in July.  It was the weekend after we got back from Austria and I was worried about squeezing it all in, but it turned out to be so much fun.  The kiddie parks there were just perfect for the ages of our children, and watching them explore was fun.  Channing and Jaxson were so much braver than they have been in the past, and Paxton and I just had to monitor, versus walk them through everything.  They loved the lazy river and Jaxson didn't even want us to hold onto him.  He just floated along with those floaties in hog heaven.  I didn't take my camera to the park, but we got some fun snapshots of the kids playing in the condo.  Thanks for setting it all up Allyson!  And as I always say after spending time with them, we always have fun with the Whitt's and Gregory's.  We are going to make it a yearly thing.

chann entertaining the group

everyone except Tripp

Jaxson is always the lover boy on these gatherings!  

here we go again

and again!  she is pretty cute!  

pretty miss Kendall

my pretty girl!  

there's lover boy... scoping out his next victim!  

poor Tripp... left out of all the pics!  

August Visit From the Owens!

Although I have been feeling pretty icky still, having our sweet family in for a visit was an awesome distraction!  We made it into a little mini-vacation.... packing in A LOT of fun in just a few days.  Barrett, Paige, Jade, Cooper, and Macy arrived on Thursday at lunch and stayed through Sunday.   We went to the Magik Theatre to see Snow White and the 7 Amigos, to the Rain Forest cafe on the Riverwalk, to the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp (thank you to Stacie for the VIP sideline passes!), to sea world.... kind of... it was a MAD house and after driving all the way there and paying $15.00 for parking, we turned around and took the kids to Chuck E Cheese.  They really didn't care.... as long as it was fun.  We also bribed them to not becoming hysterical when we didn't go to Sea World by offering to turn our backyard into an amusement park.... we filled up the kiddie pools and put up the bounce house... they used up a lot of energy, and when bedtime rolled around, they were all ready!  Jaxson spent most of the time together loving on Macy, he called her "Pretty Girl" and held her and kissed her.  Channing and Jax are going to be great big sister and brother to our new baby!  

Jaxson LOVES his cousin Macy!  

Made due with fun in the yard.... sea world was TOOOO crowded!  

Best Buds and Cousins!  

Going in for the big kiss!  

He was so happy to be next to this sweet girl!  

Going into the training camp!  Thanks Stac! 

Channing was totally attached to Stacie! 

Sorry Jade!  Not really used to this lens :(