Zoo and covered bridge

In between trainings, Josh got one Saturday free. We decided to head up to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro for the day. It is only a 50 minute drive from us. The kids were so excited. As we were getting off the exit for the zoo we saw a sign with arrows leading us to the Pisgah covered bridge and decided to take a little detour. At first we didn't know how long of a detour we were actually on as we drove through windy roads in the back woods of NC. About 10 minutes later we arrived at the bridge. The kids loved it. We decided it was worth the detour.

Standing in front of the bridge.
Trying to get a family shot with the bridge in it. I told the kid this was the bridge that Ichabod Crane had to get to when the Headless Horseman was chasing him. They all got a little bit creeped out/intrigued. They loved exploring around the little stream and the bridge.
Now at the zoo. It was a perfect NC January day. The temp was about 59 degrees. Most people were in their parkas and we pretty much had the zoo to ourselves. We of course thought it was summer weather. Standing in front of the buffalo.
Teag wanted to ride it of course.
Then they all wanted to ride it.
Teag told Josh to put me up there. Ha ha. I told him Daddy was strong, but not strong enough to lift a 300 lb pregnant woman up there!

We spent 4.5 hours walking around the 5 miles of paved trails. It was a great day. The kid were exhausted and so was the 300lb pregnant woman.

The next week the kids played outside everyday after school doing chalk and anything else they could think of. They went to the land of Terebithia (thanks to Kenady having to read that book at school,) blew bubbles, rode bikes and have loved this great weather in January.
Kenady doing her homework outside since it was so nice!

So far, besides Josh being gone for 4 of the first 6 weeks we have been here, we have been enjoying it here. After he finishes this current training he will be home for 6 months and I can't wait.

We love the weather, the ward, the schools are growing on us, and the close proximity to tons of cool things to do and see.

We don't love the early school times, the pine sap on my car, black interior of our car (we live in the "Sandhills" and it is called that for good reason).

We still miss our friends and family and I can't believe how much I miss my house. I honestly didn't think I would have those feelings about a house but nonetheless. We have some fun things planned that our family will get to do while we are here and we are going to soak in every bit of this eastern/southern living!

Christmas on the move

This year Christmas was a bit different than it normally is. Included in all the busy-ness that normally accompanies Christmas, we got to move across the country to North Carolina the day after Christmas. In my mind I planned on being very organized and mentally prepared for how this would play out. I feel like it went fairly smoothly considering the circumstances.

Christmas eve we were fortunate enough to have my Mom and Dad over to celebrate with us. I loved that they were there! That is something that I wouldn't mind doing every year, but realize that I might have to share them with my siblings. It was nice to be able to share it with them since we haven't gone to either of our parents house for Christmas eve and day since we were first married.

Christmas eve was very nice and low key. We had delicious dinner and read from Luke 2. We also read the last of our 24 Christmas books that have been wrapped under our tree all month. My kids really love that tradition. The kids also opened a present which was of course pajamas. And they were also lucky enough to get another present from Grandma and Grandpa Mackey. It was a very nice. Then we made cookies for Santa and got the milk out. Jenna also came later from her in-laws and got to spend the rest of the night with us.

Teag in his new pajamas
Kenady doing a cool trick
Presley getting ready to make christmas cookies for Santa.
Grandpa reading from the bible.
Our only family picture. Josh pulled a similar face last year. It serves him right that I post these for everyone to see.
Super excited about Christmas!

Reading "The Soldier's night before Christmas." Quite appropriate, right?
Dog pile!
Super Dog Pile!
Christmas morning among chaos

Teag opening the only thing that he really cared about. The Cars 2 spy jet. Once he opened this we practically had to beg him to open his other presents.
And alas, this is the only picture I've taken so far in North Carolina. I am down below in the living room and the kids were all watching a show from up above. I thought it was kinda funny.

So the move went surprisingly well for having to drive the largest Penske truck, our black truck( driven by uncle Kurt) and the suburban, each packed to the gills across the country. I am feeling a little settled now and am eager to start enjoying what this area has to offer. If only we didn't have the darn school to interfere with our exploring.

The kids are doing good and getting adjusted. It is taking a little longer for Kenady to adjust than Presley but that is consistent with their personalities.

The ward here has been fabulous. I have already met tons a new friends. And one of them is a zumba instructor, so I feel right at home! Pretty much everyone else's husbands are also in the Army so it seems to work out nicely. The area we live in is supposedly a Special Forces area and from what I've noticed, that is true. Half the people I have talked to have husbands that have done the program or are in the program right now. That is nice because they know exactly what I'm going through as well. So, so far so good.

We miss our friends and family back west but are ready to party it up while we are out here. Or at least as much as we can with baby number 4 coming in May and a husband who can't take any vacation time. We will definitely figure it out though. He gets all the holidays off so we will be on the road for all of those for sure!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

We have a three year old!

I'm not sure how this happened, but nonetheless it has. My baby boy is now three. Very tragic. Not only is he three but he is a giant 3 year old. I just bought him brand new 4T pants and they are already starting to look short on him. What 3 year old wears 5T?

This is Teag's birthday cake. He said he wanted a tractor cake and this is what I came up with. Nothing fancy, especially since those tractors came from his toy box. He was happy with it though.

Holding up his 3 year old fingers.
We had our friends over to celebrate his birthday. Weston is his favorite friend and it was great that they could come over to have cake and ice cream. Teag is such a good boy. It is just me and him all day long at home now and I love it. We get ample time to play soccer, catch, tractors, and read about 20 books a day. He is all boy, but also a little sweetheart. So glad that he's in our family.
A couple days after the birthday is Halloween. These are our kids getting ready for candy mania! Two witches and a dinosaur walk into a bar.......
One handsome little dinosaur!
One beautiful witch, who generously applied her own makeup.
This little witch's face explains it all. We love Halloween!

Halloween parade

This is the costume parade at the big birthday party. So cute!

Birthday month

October is a birthday month at our house. Presley and Teag both have birthdays this month. Throw that in with the bazillion other things that are going on in our lives right now, and that leaves me no time or desire to blog about it, or anything for that matter. So here is our sweet Presley getting her one of her birthday presents.

Ariel's bathtub fountain boat. Sweetness!

Then that night we had a cake and ice cream party to celebrate this sweet girl turning six. Things about Presley: she just started kindergarten and is doing awesome. She flipped a switch in her brain as soon as school started and can now read. She is sweet, shy, happy, loves to dance, loves to play school (with many papers, markers, scissors and books all over her bed), loves to play with her siblings and friends. We love having her in our family.
Hello Kitty cake was the request for this year. I have to say that I just got in from a trip the day that I had to make the cake or I would have put a lot more effort into it but she loved it so no worries I guess.

We decided to do a combined birthday/halloween party for Teag and Presley this year in between both of their birthdays. So that is just what we did. And let me tell you, we did not disappoint. There were about 30 kids there and it was a riot. It actually went pretty well considering the amount of kids we shuffled around.
This is the birthday girl and birthday boy getting ready to get sung to and blow out candles. Very exciting I guess!
Opening presents. This was actually the craziest part of the night. Both kids are ripping them open so fast and every kid is huddling around them. I couldn't even tell what was going on.
Everyone wants to see the goods.
It was such a fun party. My kids loved it and it was fun having everyone dress up. We even did a costume parade where the kids were supposed to dance. It was comical to see the 3-9 year old kids trying to walk down the stairs and dance. I will have to post that video. So today is actually Teag's real birthday. So we will have a cake and ice cream party tonight for him. So I guess I will post about that by December. But don't get your hopes up!

Caught

Presley was caught rockin' out. It was sure fun filming while it lasted.