Bastrop or Bust!

We spent some wonderful time with Pop, NaNa, Aunt Krissy, Uncle John, and Gail at Hyatt Lost Pines recently. Of course you know Pop captured some amazing moments. Things to note:
-Jack is fearless
-They have an awesome splash pad
-We all constantly watched him (spoiled first child)
-We are super excited about baby Olivia
-He smiles BIG

Young at Heart

This morning I am lucky enough to hang out with both my kiddos. As I was walking Jack and Cooper around the neighborhood my phone was playing old George Strait songs. I like to try and keep them as country at heart as possible. Thinking about simplifying life got me thinking about the titles we give ourselves.

Wife, mom, christian, sister, daughter, friend, employee, dog owner, home owner, car owner, runner...you get the picture. With all of those titles you have major responsibilities. Each of them require time and dedication. I always feel like the second I have a moment to breath, all of a sudden another beach ball hits me in the head. My oil needs changed. Michael needs a dentist appointment. My client can only talk on her lunch break. Cooper doesn't have enough time to poop in the morning. I have not gotten to call that friend in a while. I always fear falling short of not only other's expectations but my own.

Then I look down at a dog smiling and a kid's toes wiggling and realize that they do not have a care in the world. Okay they do care about eating, sleeping and having fun, but really have no responsibilities at all. I wish I could be everything to everyone at once, but I can't. So I will have to be the best I can and love every second I get when I get that precious time to spend with each of you.

Give me a high five! Five Years!

I have never thought about it until now, but our wedding anniversary actually falls around the same time of year when we first met. It was the end of summer, Krissy and Amanda had been hanging out a bunch during summer school, and they were in the middle of work week for rush. Both of their younger siblings were headed to A&M and they couldn't wait to show us the ropes. Amanda and Michael came over with Sonic drinks so he and I could be introduced before they dropped us off at Fish Camp the next day. He was tall, thin, and shy. I was certain I would do the networking for the both of us at Fish Camp. A miracle put us in the same color group at camp, so we continued to have a safety net and fellow friend during that overwhelming experience. He came out of his shell more and more as the week went on. He introduced me to a girl named Mandy from his hometown who would be going through rush too. She had a sister that was an older Zeta too. Little did I know I was about to spend the rest of my life with these two people...from East Bernard, Texas.

I can still remember eating lunch with him in the MSC like it was yesterday. We would eat "dirty Chinese" and have the best conversations. Although I thought he may like me more than just a friend, he never sugar coated anything and was brutally honest with me. To this day it is my favorite thing about Michael Preisler. I found myself waiting to eat lunch with him excited to get his opinion on things. He noticed I would always keep my fortunes from my fortune cookie, so after a while it became second nature that after he read his he would hand it over to me to keep.

I looked at the frame again today and these are some of the fortunes:
The future holds great things for you.
Simplicity in your lifestyle will ensure you a happy life.
Your cheerfulness will win success.
Don't put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today.
Hard work is always appreciated.
A sincere apology goes a long way.
The best mirror is often a good friend.
The most important things in life aren't things.

Looking at these photos you realize how much you have grown up. We thought we were adults when we graduated high school...

Shorty got LOWE

Your first thought...boys and their tools. We both decided to work from home last Friday and part of that entailed shopping at Lowe's. We braved it and decided to take the little man with us. He loves riding in grocery store carts. He dangles those little feet and just takes it all in. We had decided long before we even had kids that our children would know how to use tools. It may not mean driving a tractor down a major interstate at the age of 10 (cough couch Michael), but it will mean using a hammer and nails at a young age. Since Jack's favorite toy has become a baby hammer (literally we did not force this on him), we knew he may enjoy this. Let's just say that the ceiling section of fans may have blown his little mind into another universe. 

Enjoy appreciating Lowe's through a child's eyes. 

Those that know Michael and James Preisler well, know that pictures of Jack next to pipe looking all excited is pretty comical. I am pretty sure he may have a little Preisler coming out in these photos. 

Phase 2 of this post will include his "at home" implementation of using tools. 

New life!

Who knew that grabbing food with your finger tips was such a big deal?!?

We all find ourselves in odd places, you just have to find your way back out!

"When fear knocks let faith answer."- Robin Roberts

I realize as I watch Jack advancing around the house that babies really do have to be brave. They are constantly facing something new every single day and pushing their little bodies to learn. I appreciate the miracle of life and how amazing God's design for each person is. The time and energy that has gone into every person is really overwhelming when you think about it. Sort of makes you realize that you should never treat another person poorly. I think a lot of people think parenting starts once life is brought into this world, but really it starts far before that. It is putting the faith in God that you hope to become pregnant, praying to him every night that you receive that blessing, and then hoping you can do everything in your power to show it true love. Your faith in him and inability to control any of it, reminds you that "we are human." Thank you for being Jack's village. As Dot says, "you can never have too many people love your child." That is right. How sad I would be if he only experienced my love.

Here are photos of our celebration for Krissy's journey with baby Olivia. A baby shower full of friendship and blessings.

Standing on the Threshold

Yesterday we handed over our keys to the Heights house. It was the first closing I went to that felt like it didn't take long enough. When the title company said we were finished signing papers, I found myself continuing to talk to the young couple across from me basically because leaving that room meant it was finally over. Even though we no longer lived there, it still was ours and gave us our "Heights street cred." There is something so unique and magical about that area of Houston that just makes you feel like you are warping back in time and yet being the most progressive at the same time. The newly engaged couple sitting across from us had everything we just closed a chapter to waiting ahead of them. Their wedding, registering, buying a dog, backyard bbq's with friends, walks around the neighborhood, snow cone runs, and lazy Sunday's on the couch watching football or golf. To be young and newly married!

I have several friends facing transitions right now. New life, new love, new places, and new journeys! I think of each of them, just like me, anxious at the beginning of this new journey you are about to face. That door that slams shut behind you sometimes leaves you shaking in your boots. A familiar Garth Brooks song comes on and all you want is a pint of beer and a class to skip, but those days are long gone. Sure you still have friends in low places, but they all have work the next day (and potentially a baby to wake them up at 3:00 a.m.) Thank God for these new adventures, new responsibilities, smiling babies, careers, love and homes to keep us so busy. This is what we all have been working for our whole youth and it is finally here. The fruits of both our parents and our labor coming full circle.

I often think of what I would want to tell my 21 year old self if I were able to go back in time. The good sign is, I find myself not wanting to spill the beans at how amazing it all will be.

'Merica is Beautiful

These photos make me want to say "God Bless America"! A little something for you to enjoy and get you ready for the 4th! Jeeps, the "river", cows, tractors, road trips, and Great Grandma's on a front porch. Alleluia!

(plus I have to put stuff Michael loves on this blog too. He loves his Jeep Scrambler and cows in E.B.)

You ask me what I like about Texas

I tell you it's the wide open spaces

It's everything between the Sabine and the Rio Grande.

...It's the spirit of the people down here who share this land.

It's another burrito. It's a cold Lone Star in my hand.

It's a quarter for the jukebox boys!

-Gary P. Nunn