Fall feels good!

We have all settled into a nice routine for fall.  

The weather here in October has been amazing!

On Mondays we load up in the evenings and do baseball.  

Layla is loving the top off the Jeep just as much as the rest of us!

We're loving watching this guy hit the ball!

On Tuesdays we taco or tostada!   You know, Taco Tuesday is the best!

Wednesdays are for ring pops watching HC play more ball!

Thursdays are low key.  

We try to cook something fun and watch Grey's and football.  

I like to throw in a load or two of laundry to keep up with it all.

Lily and dad are having a serious conversation and of course 

Daisy is very jealous. 

Goodness these dogs are sweeties!

Aaaand we burn the fall candles and diffuse ALL the fall oils.

On Fridays we football!

On Saturdays we eat a fun breakfast and we dream of where our future house will be.  We can't wait to buy a home, but we are using this time to explore and plan for all the things we want.  It's fun!  We all load up with the Jeep top off and we explore our area.  Sometimes we want to buy a lot and build a house and other times we want to buy a house already built.  I'm not loving our rental house right now, but I am enjoying every moment.  I'm helping the kids to make memories that will last a lifetime.  Someday we will drive past our current home and remember all the fun things we did here!

After we finish exploring Gary smokes meat and we watch football outside in the backyard.  He missed out on so many Saturday's with the family and now we don't take them for granted!

One week he smoked a brisket and the another he did pork.  He's in his element and he loves it.  He's been cooking more for us every single night since I started working. I love being in the kitchen with him.  We sorta fell back into our dinner routine of him doing the meat and I do the sides.

I enjoy coffee on the porch in the morning.  I love watching the doggies get frisky in the fall air.  I'd rather watch them than browse Facebook right now.  Ugh.  Can the election be over yet?  Sometimes I wonder if some of my friends on FB live in a bubble.  Goodness, the nonsense going on on social media right now has me irritated.  That's why I love Instagram.  It's my happy, peaceful and no drama space!

I was so nervous, but excited to start my new job.  After 11 years as a stay at home mom I was worried about messing up our family dynamic.  We all have good communication.  We're all happy most of the time.  I didn't want my schedule change to effect us all negatively, but it has been wonderful.  I couldn't be happier with my choice to become a working mom.  It's working out great for everyone in our little family.  So far we are thriving in our new normal!

Muted Monday - A trip to Tonkawa Falls

Amicalola Falls and Stringer Mountain

We had a fun Sunday exploring Georgia with our buddies!

We met a fun couple who love the outdoors as much as we do.  They have  kids basically the same ages as our kids, and they have a Jeep!  

They knew we would love exploring Amicalola Falls and they also knew we'd love driving the Jeep up to Stringer Mountain.  Once we got to the top in the Jeeps we did some hiking and had a picnic lunch.

Love these kiddos.  They all had so much fun!

The sun was shining bright so we took the T-tops off the Jeeps and let the sun shine in.  It was a gorgeous day with abundant sun and a slight breeze.  At the top of the mountain though it was chilly.  The wind was really whipping.

The kiddos loved the tops off because they were sticking their heads out and talking to us one Jeep back!

Of course we had to stop for a second so I could get a picture of this lovely stream!

WooHooo!  Jeepin'!

All the kiddos were so nice to strike a pose for me every once in awhile.  They know I love taking pics while out exploring nature!

These boys are one year apart, but the are both equally full of energy!  The both love running and playing with any ball they can get their hands on.  They are both named Hayden too!  

The girls are soccer teammates, that is how we all met!  

We are so thankful for fun friends we have met here in Georgia and they are so nice to help us get to know our area.  I'm sure we will be doing tons more Jeepin' and exploring soon.  They love to camp just as much as we do.

I think it is going to be a fun summer for our family!  

I may be a Texas girl, but Georgia's beauty is really taking a place in my heart!  It's breathtaking to see all the tall trees, giant lakes and huge mountains. 

 I'm in love with my new state!  ;)

exercise and exploring

Yesterday my lovely Chef friend, Piper and I decided to go explore Kennesaw Mountain.  She has been multiple times, but I am still learning all about my surroundings in Georgia.  

I seriously discover a new restaurant or park every single day.  It's awesome here y'all!

  We hiked about a mile up a steep mountain and took in the gorgeous views all while getting in a good cardio workout. I was a little outta breath and my legs were feeling the burn!  

Part of the Civil War was fought in this area, so it's basically an outdoor museum.  Pretty cool huh?!

The weather was perfect and I loved being outside since it's been raining so much.   The park was busy and bustling; everyone was enjoying the sunshine.

After our 3 mile hike all together, we decicded to try a Colombian restaurant in Marietta square. 

I really enjoyed the tamale we split.  It had huge chunks of chicken and pork inside.  It wasn't shredded meat like you'd think and this tamale was totally different from any tamale I'd ever met.  It was steaming hot and the corn outer layer was absolutley mouthwatering---delish!  Sooooo then we needed to workout again.  hahahah! 

We had a fun day and I'm so thankful for my new friend!

bird eggs!

He's so excited about his most recent discovery.

No, these aren't Easter eggs!  They are bird eggs.  Hayden found them while jumping on the trampoline.  He grabbed them out of the nest and then he put them back.  

We were all nervous that the parents wouldn't come back, but the momma bird DID!  She's still caring for her baby eggs, so that wives tale about the mom smelling human scent is FALSE!  I'm happy to know this, because I was worried.

We can't wait to see if they have hatched when we return from our Spring Break trip!