Fun Family Dinner

This evening, it was just too perfect to not eat dinner on the back deck. If you look closely, you'll see that we were joined by a couple of race cars and a helicopter. I love spending relaxing, fun time with my guys. And how perfect was the weather today?! :)

The Dragon and The Camel

Today, my friend Christi and I loaded up the kiddos and headed out to Wye Mountain to see the daffodils. We packed a picnic lunch, and with the temperature in the mid fifties and the sun darting in and out of the clouds, it was the perfect day for picnicking and daffodiling with friends (I can make up verbs if I darn well please).

I went with every intention of getting two very important pictures: (1) a picture for the baby's dedication on May 12th, and (2) a picture of the boys for Baylor magazine's "Baylor Bear Cub Corner."

Was I successful?

No. A fail. And a fail.

But a beautiful day, two beautiful boys of mine, and a wonderful memory, so really, who cares if I got those two pictures? Not I.

The toddler wasn't much for cooperating. Shocking, I know. For the life of me, I could not get him to smile. I even bribed him with a movie when we got home. Nope. Nothing worked. :)

(In case you're thinking, "Um, what are you talking about!? These are precious!" please be advised that I took 241 pictures today.)

The toddler and sweet B have practically grown up together. They've seen each other just about every day of their precious lives. What can I say? They're like siblings.

The toddler decided he was going to be a blue dragon. B's momma asked her, "What animal do you want to be?"

No hesitation. "A camel."

We stifled our laughter just long enough to watch our kiddos--the dragon and the camel--run off, squealing (B) and growling (toddler/ferocious dragon).

And I cried, as I have done every day since finding out we're leaving. It's not that I don't know we'll make wonderful friends and a wonderful life in Virginia. It's just that knowing that fact doesn't make leaving any easier. It doesn't make leaving our precious friends one bit easier.

And I held my babies--my precious, sweet, healthy, wonderful, kissable babies. Because, thank you dear God, they make my heart beat. They make every day magical and worth living well. They make my breath catch in my chest--you know that feeling?--where you know with everything in you that if you expel, you'll let out a sob? That's what my babies do to me.

And just because I'm feeling sentimental, here's a look back at past Wye Mountain excursions:

2011. . .

2012. . .

2013. . .

Meet Virginia

How ironic that my previous blog post was about our love of the outdoors, because yesterday we found out that we're moving to . . .

Virginia!

Roanoke, Virginia to be exact.

Roanoke was my husband's first interview. He came back gushing about how absolutely gorgeous it was and how impressed he was with the surgery program. I've had the pleasure of driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I can remember its breathtaking beauty. Well, it just so happens that Roanoke is nestled in a valley. . . in the Blue Ridge Mountains! Pinch me! And being only 3 1/2 hours away from Washington, D.C. means crazy awesome public schools. Woo hoo! And guess what? They don't have miserable summers! Thank God! The average snowfall for the winter is 16.6"! Oh my heavens! What's a Cajun girl to do with that much snow? Play in it, I guess! :)

Want to see some pictures of where we'll be living for the next five years? Oh, of course you do. . .

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My husband is doing a general surgery residency at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Here's where he'll be. . .

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We're taking the boys and heading up there in a couple weeks to look around and hopefully find a place to rent. Of course it's daunting to move away from deep, deep roots, but I was very clear with God about all this. "Put me where YOU want us to be," was always my prayer. I am excited to start our new life here! What an adventure!!

Baby's First Hike

This afternoon, we took the boys on a hike. It was a lot of fun! :) We started off the hike with me carrying the baby and the hubbs carrying the toddler, then the hubbs took the baby and the toddler walked, then I took the toddler, and finally (when my back muscles couldn't handle it any longer), the hubbs took both boys! It was an adventure! We are passionate about the outdoors, and it is so much fun to get to share that with our children.