Instagrams from the last few months...

We moved in to our new home here in Texas on Oct. 30 and are really liking it here so far! The transition has been a fairly smooth one for us... I really can't complain.

Here are a few pics from a pumpkin patch in Florida that we visited with our friend, Joey, right before we moved:

 

 

This is why Jackson loves going to Home Depot with Brian: 

 

Some pics of the kiddos with some of their best buddies in FL... We miss everyone!

 

  

After our movers came, we headed to Disney for a few days before starting our drive to Texas:

  

 

We aren't the greatest sleepers when we travel. We all usually end up in the same bed... This pic was taken at Grammie and Pappy's house on our way to Dallas:

 

Once we were able to all sleep in our own beds in our new house, everyone got some much needed zzzzzz's:

 

Posing outside:

New house with Christmas lights:

 

 Watching one of their favorite DVD's, The Letter Factory... Jackson loves to find the letters that they are singing about:

Getting a haircut is not one of Jackson's favorite activities, but he did OK with a lot of coaxing and bribing. All the lollipops, cars, trains, and DVD's in the world don't even do the trick for him. After leaving and coming back, he eventually sat on my lap and let the lady cut his hair without any tears. Sofie is just the opposite... She loves haircuts and all the primping and attention that comes with it!

Sofie and Jackson LOVE the mall by our house because it has a carousel.

Taking a break for ice cream:

 

Just being silly:

 

Decorating the tree:

 

 Christmas party for Brian's work at Dallas Cowboys Country Club:

 

Out with Renee, Katie, and Amber the weekend of the KSU vs. TCU game:

 

 Enjoying the festivities in Frisco Square:

 

2012 Beach Pics - Sneak Peak

Here are a few sneak peak pics that our photographer sent me... More to come!

 

I'm so glad we took one last opportunity to get some pictures of the kids at the beach. Our movers come this week to pack everything and load the truck. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, no doubt. We found renters for our home here in FL and put an offer on a house in Dallas. If all goes as planned, we should be moved in to our new home in a little over two weeks. Reality is starting to sink in. It's going to be so hard to leave our friends and our house that we brought our babies home to and absolutely love. We know that new adventures and opportunities await us in Texas, and we are excited for that!

Miss Meggie

This past week, we were able to meet up with our old sitter, Megan (aka "Miss Meggie"), and her husband for dinner. When I taught part time last school year, Megan came to our house and watched the kids for me on those 2 days. Sofie and Jackson love their Meggie and were so happy to see her again! We were so lucky to have found such a wonderful person to care for our two most prized possessions. Now Megan has her own classroom full of high school students, and we are so happy for her!

Sleeping Beauty

She has always been such an angelic sleeper!

Dairy!

I may have mentioned that Sofie and Jackson can tolerate dairy now... Ever since about their second birthday. This has made going out to dinner sooooo much easier. We can now order them things like grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and pizza. Jackson also LOVES ice cream. Here they are eating grilled cheeses and drinking milkshakes at a little burger joint in Atlantic Beach. Right before this, we had our pictures taken at the beach. I'll post those once I get my hands on them!

This is how we roll...

Moe's

I know my last blog post was about a random trip to the mall for our whole family... Something that has only happened two or three times EVER. This post is about something that we do every week and I just felt like I needed to add it to our family blog since we are moving soon.

Florida friends that know us well know that for the past year and a half, we have eaten at Moe's every single Tuesday, rain or shine. The only things that have gotten in the way are trips or sick kids. Sofie and Jackson love their quesadillas and enjoy seeing some of their other friends that are Tuesday night regulars there. Moe's... We are really going to miss you when we are in Texas!

The Mall

I really don't care much for shopping malls. On the rare occasion that I do visit a mall, I hardly ever bring the kids. Sofie and Jackson had not been there since they were one, so they don't remember "the mall." Brian hates shopping, and hates shopping malls even more... So I guess it's a big deal when all four of us go to the mall at the same time! Blog worthy? Probably not, but what else should I be doing 6 nights before our packers come to move us halfway across the country? Why, writing a blog post about a trip to the mall, of course! Talk about procrastination.

Anyways, the other day Brian needed a few things that required him to actually go shopping and try stuff on (he avoids this at all costs). He wanted my opinion, so we all headed to the dreaded mall after naps. My poor mall-deprived children thought that "the mall" was the most wonderful thing. They got to ride the train and play in the play area (gross), but other than that, they were in their stroller or in a chair at the restaurant where we ate. We didn't buy them anything. And they are still talking about it! I guess we need to get out more!

So... There's the background on our little outing to the mall, and below is Jackson at the play area... There were letters and numbers on the carpet and he spent just as much time down on the ground yelling out all the numbers and letters as he did playing on the structures. This little boy gets so excited about his abc's and 123's. It blows my mind. Oh, and his most recent accomplishment is that he can now count to 30!

Sesame Street Live

Last weekend we took the kids to Sesame Street Live with our friends, the Parsons. Jackson loved it! He had fun dancing in the aisle, and Zoe even stopped to give him a hug. Jackson and Joey were very excited about their spinning Elmo light-up toys... Sofie got a stuffed Zoe that she has carried with her all week.

Sofie wasn't as thrilled as Jackson was about everything. I had to carry her into the theater and she sat on my lap the whole time. She keeps telling me she wants to go back to "The Elmo Place," but she was a little unsure about it all.

After the show, the kids enjoyed watching boats and trains at the Jacksonville Landing. We attempted a family photo, but as usual, we couldn't quite get everyone to stay still at the same time!

Sofie stayed close to mommy.

Jackson dancing

Jackson and Joey... Prom pose?

Waiting for the show to start...

We tried!

Watching boats and trains