New Beginnings...

It's official.  In just 5 short weeks...we are moving... to Maryland!  We are very excited.  It has been a long time coming!  We need a change in scenery...we are stuck in rut.  When Jaxson was about 2 months old Corey came to me and wanted to move....at the time it was Oregon.  I was quick to say no!  I was floored he would even ask -but if you know Corey at all you know he is very adventurous and very driven ...and at the time he needed a change.  It was just really bad timing..we were trying to figure out the whole parenting thing and I could not think beyond that.  Now 4 and a half years later and I get it...I totally get it.  We need a change...and after ALOT of thought and prayer we are leaving Texas.  Of course -we will be back to visit often..and the Cowboys, Rangers, and Mavs will always be our teams...and anyone who wants to visit is seriously welcome! 

Why Maryland you ask?  Well..I will give you the top 5 reasons...
1.  It's gorgeous there!  Trees..BIG HUGE trees and NO billboards on the road (pet peeve of ours-ugh..so ugly).
2.  Casey and Michael and family are there...built in friends!
3.  They have 4 whole seasons!  Yes, it's cold in winter but the beautiful Fall and spring make up for that.
4.  There are beaches and mountains very close. 
5.  There is more to do there than in DFW...which is a whole stinkin' lot!  Living here all our lives and never have run out of anything to do- so finding a place measuring up to a family on the go ALL the time is a great match for us!

We have some really FUN stuff going on ...more on that coming very soon! 

Mom and me.

This past week my mom and I set out on a trek.  We had a whirlwind of a weekend.  We started Thursday in New Jersey for business (sounds very official...more on this coming soon).  We flew into Newark ...HOLY MAC AND CHEESE!  That place is a movin'!  Everything you heard about New York and New Jersey is very true...every one moves very fast and then the rest are foriegners. 

We got to take a quick visit to the Jersey Shore.  We had a very nice dinner overlooking the ocean.  It was 40 degrees out...but I could not go to the ocean and not at least put my feet in.  So I dragged mom down to the ocean after dinner...we tossed off our shoes and went for it...with feet barely touching the water I instisted me move in a bit deeper to we could capture this moment on camera ...when low and behold a huge wave came washing over us!  OMG!  Burrrrr!  Not sure my mom will EVER forgive me for this incident...It took 2 days for us to de-frost.  So here Mom- here is my public apology!  I don't think we have ever laughed so hard and I am sure us Texan were a sight to see for anyone eating dinner ocean side that night.

Friday we headed down from New Jersey to Maryland to visit the boys..and the babies and the wives. 

 Charming Charlee

 Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Our attempt to set the camera timer to get everyone in the picture.

Won'tcha take me to...Funkytown!

Corey and I had a hot date on Saturday night.  My parents volunteered to take the kids to see Hop...which might I add Jaxson said it was the "best movie he's seen"...I'll let you be the judge.  I am no sure what I think about ol' EB poopin' jelly beans ...but I will say how cute it is now that Annabelle's refers to all bunnies as "EB" (stands for Easter Bunny...if your a few sandwiches short of a picnic).  Annabelle's first movie theater adventure and she did great...

Anyways...we started off our date at Fireside Pies on 7th.  I have been to Fireside Pies on Greenville which was awesome...the atmosphere just makes it.  We wanted to sit on the patio because it was a beautiful day but their patio is for cocktails only- very disappointing.  The food was great, the service was great- we shared pizza and salad.  It was a little over priced and nothing compared to the one on Greenville.

We then went to the Love Shack on 7th to meet some friends for some drinks.  We have been here several times- great patio, good food, kid friendly, but rude bartenders.  This is where I should tell you ...our night goes on and on from here... Corey and I headed to 7th Haven- we always wanted to go there.  They have a cleaver billboard they change out weekly and a patio on the roof.  When we walked into this place everyone yelled "yay" (employees and patrons) made us feel great...Their roof patio was grand ...great view of good ol' Funkytown.  After this we met back up with friends and were talked into going to Capital Bar- we have been there several times as well...this place it great for this time of year-very nice, music playing and patio!  Finally I will tell you about TACO HEADS- their tacos are almost as good as my mom's which is a huge deal.  Taco Heads is a trailer- reminds me alot of what you see in Austin...the lightly fried, perfectly tender with slaw and avocado = Love...true love.    

And that's all folks...how's that for a hot date?  So go..try out some fabulous places. 

Nature Hunt.

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  We set out on a nature hunt.  We grabbed an egg carton, painted each slot a different color and went on our way to find something out in nature to put in each slot.  Even though it turned out that we did a little trash pickin' at River Legacy it was good ol' forced family fun.  The kids felt very accomplished when we finally found each color.  Fun stuff!

Pure Bliss

OMG!  I have found pure bliss...Ironically, I found it on a "Fit Foodie" blog.  This recipe is FAR from "fit" but oh so fabulous! 

You smack chocolate cookie dough on the top and bottom of a Thin Mint girl scout cookie and cook for 10-12 minutes.  So easy.  So great! 

and in other good news...I lost 4 pounds...yay! and as you can see I am working hard to put it right back on.

Michael and Jaxson, Jaxson and Michael

My mom has always had a tendency to call me "Maribeth"- her sisters name.  I never really understood it until this past weekend when my little brother was in town.  I kept calling Michael, Jaxson and Jaxson, Michael...must be those annoying little brother qualities they both have. 

Michael was a great sport- Jaxson DID NOT leave he sight the whole time he was here.  Jaxson even insisted on rooming in with him.  Then Michael taught his a few naughty things but the problem here is - what goes around comes around...sorry KeeKee.

Caught Ya!

Jaxson is a really good boy in general...but he's 4 and occasionally he falls off track.  I have tried a couple of systems like a "chore chart" and they haven't really worked past a couple days.  We started to introduce him to the money thing and him understanding the concept of money but right now it really doesn't work.  So I decided to do a Caught ya chart- he knows what is expected of him and when we catching him doing something without being told he gets a caught ya- which is a sticker for his chart, once he gets 5 stickers he gets to pick a treasure (mostly dollar store buys, occasionally a happy meal or ice cream) it has worked great!  He seems to be all about it when it's on HIS time...but if it gets done what do I care. 

He's cleaned his room without being told, he's sat with us at dinner every night at tried my food a couple times, he always asks to be excused when he is done and he helps his sister all the time. 

Mission accomplished...for now...

Funny Side Note:  Yesterday I was getting ready and I heard Jaxson talking in the next room, I just assumed it was to Annabelle.  But in he walks into where I was and says "I just got off the phone with Audrey.  We are going on a date- to No Frill's.  We are going to eat nachos with cheese AND beans and then we are going to race cars in the arcade.  She told me to tell you hi."  It was hysterical...This must make Corey and Poppy so proud!...nothing like a hot date at No Frills Grill!