Sunday, May 24, 2015

The Great Xenos Move: Part One

Phew.

That's the only word I can think of to describe the past 72 hours.  


As predicted, Friday morning was pure chaos.  Movers arrived around 8:30, saw all our crap, and became very concerned.  7 hours and a last minute U-Haul rental later, we were out.  


But let's back up to Thursday.  Thursday was Lara's last day with Miss Amanda...

To say it was a tough day would be a total understatement.  
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I pulled into the parking lot.  

We have grown so attached to not only our daycare, but especially Amanda.  The hardest part of this move has been leaving behind a place that is SO near and dear to our hearts.  

I remember being around 15 weeks pregnant the day we toured BUGS for the first time.  From the moment we walked in the door, we knew it was right.  
100%, no doubt in our mind
This is where we would bring our tiny little baby.  
These are the people we would trust day in, day out.
Lizzi (below on the left) was there that very first day and was there on our last.  
She is also so special to us! 

Man....Thursday and Friday were hard days.  
They were days filled with goodbyes. 
Lara's last day was actually Friday and when I picked her up, she had learned to wave goodbye to all the teachers and all her little friends.  What a day to pick to learn this adorable new skill...
I was a mess.

Friday morning began as every morning does.  Coffee & toys.

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At 11:00 am, we officially purchased our new home.

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We did one final clean sweep.  And when I say "we," I mean my amazing mother.

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To see the nursery emptied was surreal.  And also very, very sad.

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Around 2:00 pm, we were totally out!  One last picture and we hit the road.




Have I mentioned the home we purchased is a total fixer upper?
Oh, no...I left that out?
I think I left it out in my mind to psychologically prepare for what we were walking into. 
Can we all say a big, what. the. hell.

Needless to say, our lives are still in boxes.  
Literally.

:)

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After digging thru boxes Friday evening we were able to put our lives somewhat back together, and finish out the day with a nice, cold beer.

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We are staying in my parents basement for the next few weeks while contractors remodel our home.  Needless to say, Lara is feeling the change the most.  She was up all night Saturday night so Sunday morning was spent like this...

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Below is where Lara spent her day, in between crying fits because we are in the midst of full blown teething over here.  Perfect timing, right? 

She's lucky she's so damn cute.





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While there's still A LOT of work to be done, we're making progress.
Thanks to an amazing, very hard working husband.
And some pretty damn awesome parents.

If you're having a great memorial day weekend full of rest & relaxation....screw you.

;)



Thursday, May 21, 2015

Moving Day.

Well, that sure snuck up on us.

Tomorrow, we'll load up and drive away from our very first home.  Our home sweet lake home.  I'm not sure what I'm sad about most.  Selling the house or the pontoon?  

I almost didn't sit down and write this post because it's been a pretty emotional few weeks leading up to tomorrow.  Sometimes, when you're feeling blue, it's easier just to not talk about it.  So that's what I've done.  Radio silence on the 'ol blog.

But I got to thinking, this house is just to damn important to me to not throw it a little tribute. 


We bought this house three short years ago, not knowing how much our lives would change when we decided to make ourselves a little human.  As wonderful as these past three years have been in this home, we know it's a smart move for our growing family.  Living directly on the water isn't very conducive to tiny toddlers running around unattended in the backyard if you catch my drift.


We enjoyed many a night out on the patio listening to the water...



We spent many weekends docked up with our neighbors, cold beer in hand.


I purchased more swimsuits than one should ever own.

No, but seriously.


Now it's time to jump into a new adventure.

Acreage.


This home needs love on every popcorn ceiling, every single wall and every nook and cranny the eye can see.

Thankfully, we're ready to love on it for many years to come!!!

Stay tuned.....

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Mother's Day: First Edition

What an awesome day it was.  I tell you what, there's nothing cooler than showing your kid off.  I'm just so dang proud of her.

I fully realize others may not think she's as cool as I do, but what I find most fun in this world these days, is toting her around and watching her bring a smile to everyone she meets.

That....that's the best mother's day present of all.

Her.


We started the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and a few little gifts.  My favorite gift of all, the card.  As you all know, I love me a good card and Jon knocked it out of the park this year.



A mommy mermaid & baby mermaid.

Lara was clearly enamored with it as well!


The note inside, sweetest ever.  Tears were shed.



Then we opened a couple gifts.  A digital frame which I've SO been wanting and Miss. Lara picked out a beautiful bangle for mommy.  Photos to come of the bangle. It's adorable.  
Girl's got good taste.
She get it from her mama.



A few hours later, we loaded up and headed into the office.  As some of you know, I work for a senior living company.  I'm the Director of Sales & Marketing.  

In case you were wondering, senior citizens LOVE babies. 


 Like, really love.

It was so neat getting to see these mothers have so much joy in remembering their first mother's day, many, many years ago.  When they see Lara, it must remind them of the days when their now grown children, were little babes like her.  The smiles they share are ones I'll always remember.  

These moments, they remind you to cherish every single second because in the blink of an eye, she'll be grown, taking care of me.


We had quite the day delivering cupcakes, flowers & of course, the Sunday paper.

This sweet girl was the cutest "paper girl" I've ever seen.



Around lunch time, we began making our rounds with the flowers.
100 of them to be exact.



We delivered flowers to every lady we saw!







Then she started eating the flowers.  And the leaves off the stem.  
And I was sweating like a beast trekking around with 10 flower bouquets, a baby in a stroller and a massive camera around my neck all while trying to keep her from eating the petals and prying them out of her hand to give to the residents.  
Sounded great in theory, not so easy to execute.
It got a little crazy toward the end, but memories I'll never forget.


A mother's day for the books!

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Dear Mom.

Today, you turn 58. 

 I can think of no better way to say happy birthday than to tell you that everyday, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world because I get to call you mom.  


You are the most selfless person I have ever known. 

I remember growing up, I could sense how scared you were. 
You had no idea how the hell you were going to raise us kids all alone, on your modest income.  

What you don't know is that a box of .99 cent macaroni and cheese is still one of my favorite meals. 

 I still remember the excitement I felt when you'd take me shopping as a little girl.  Even though we were so poor, you never looked at price tags.  You'd fill up our cart with piles & piles of clothes.  You'd smile at every outfit I put on and always tell me I was the most beautiful little girl you'd ever seen, all while silently worrying about how you were going to pay for everything.  

What you didn't know is that I noticed the worn out clothes you'd wear, season after season so we could have a closet full of new.

I never felt like I went without, Mom.
You know why?  
Because you always showed us so much love.

I don't think I ever said thank you for sitting thru a million innings of softball in the scorching heat of July.  Don't think I didn't know you took a few naps under your sunglasses.
But napping and all, you've always been my biggest fan.
In softball and in life.

Matt, Ben and I.....well, we were rebels.  I don't know how every hair on your head didn't turn grey before you hit 40.  You held it together, strong and steadfast, while you watched each of us fall apart in different ways dealing with the loss of Dad.  
You have always been our rock.  
You showed all of us what unconditional love looks like.  
Our husbands, wives and children all have you to thank for that.

 When I became pregnant, I secretly hoped for a little girl.
You are my best friend, Mom.  
I hope someday, Lara will say the same about me.

I have watched you for 58 years, learning what it meant to be a mom.  
If I end up being half the mother you are, my daughter got pretty damn lucky.

Happy Birthday to the greatest woman I have ever known.


I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living, my mother you'll be.

Love,
Annie