Straight from the Hart

Sunday, October 19, 2014

September 2014

September started out with Maddie's first week of playschool at the church. She absolutely loves her teachers and all the activities she does when she's there. School is Monday and Wednesday morning and it's a great time for Maddie to be with other kids and for mommy to get errands done before our big move and baby #2! We spent the first part of the month playing the waiting game...keeping the house clean and waiting for an offer on our house. In the middle of September we received the best news...we accepted an offer on our house! Right after the offer was finalized and we were under contract, we made arrangements to go to Atlanta the very next weekend and house hunt. I was 33 weeks pregnant so that was pushing the timeline for me to travel. We had been to Atlanta/Cumming in August to look at neighborhoods and saw a house we loved, but tried not to think about it in case it sold. After looking at houses all day, we finally decided to make an offer on the house we loved from our first trip in August! Finally everything is falling into place and we couldn't be happier with our decision to move to Georgia!

Maddie's project for her first day of playschool!

First day of playschool, 2 year old room, Prince of Peace Catholic Church

Mini golf with daddy

Maddie's school work

Baby Boy is growing!

Lunch at Panera after church

Making a wish in the fountain

33 weeks and growing...

I found a token while I was cleaning my purse, so we took a ride on the carousel while our house was being inspected.

Running with daddy after a yummy pizza dinner

Just hanging out after dinner!

In the hotel in Atlanta! Excited for house hunting!

Our new home!

The new Hart family residence on November 17th!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

August 2014

August has been a busier month than originally planned!

This was suppose to be our last month of summer with fun activities and preparing for our new fall schedule and our new baby. In July, Shawn changed up these plans when he was offered and accepted an opportunity to work for Travelers Insurance in Alpharetta, GA. This move will be a chance for us to put down roots since there are lots of opportunities for growth in the Atlanta area. On August 11th, Shawn began working over in Alpharetta. He drives over on Monday and drives home on Friday. We are very lucky that his boss has agreed to this because it affords us some flexibility with selling our house, finding a new house, and preparing to bring a new baby into the world! Lots of people think we are absolutely nuts to be doing this all at once, but I know it will be a small part of our lives later on. We are all healthy and happy...everything else with fall into place.

So with our house on market and daddy gone during the week, Maddie and I try to have as much fun as we can while we keep the house clean!

Heading to the library to return our books

Morning picnic at the pool

Working on some numbers

A trip to the mall always includes a ride on the carousel

Maddie always asks daddy to "push me to the moon"

Washing the cars....everyone must earn their keep!

Love shopping with this girl!

Another trip to the ice cream shop

Dad was working from home one Monday, so Maddie decided she would put in a little time on the computer too!

We love the carousel

Growing feet means a trip for new shoes for these two friends and of course a ride on the carousel!

Maddie eating lunch at Helena's birthday party

A lunch date with just the girls!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

July 2014

July was quite the adventure!

We started our month off with a trip out to Dallas, TX to visit with Chris, Kara, and Kalia. We had not been out to their beautiful new home since they moved last April 2013.

The cousins had a wonderful time together. They are finally at the age where their 6 month age difference is hardly noticeable and they were able to play together and have conversations. Since they don't see each other very often there was a period they had to warm up to new surroundings/routines but they had a great time. We didn't spend much time sitting down, which was great for the girls. Our days were filled with the pool, the beach club, making dinner together, a Home Depot workshop, breakfast out, a 4th of July parade, and ducks and dinner!

Here are some photos from our Texas adventure beginning with our 11 hour car trip!

Starting out the early morning dressing our babies

At every new state we gave Maddie a new toy we had picked out...Stickers and a new coloring book for making it to Mississippi

Family selfie...Headed to Texas!

Louisiana...Sophia doll and castle

Texas...play doh and cheerios

Met up with my HS friend, Katie, and her 2 kiddos

The grocery store had this cool car!

Pizza outside after more pool time

Pool time with daddy

Happy 4th of July from the Hart cousins!

Watching the parade

Snacks in the wagon

A beach in Dallas?!

Matching cover ups...Thanks, Granny!

Brothers and their daughters <3

The brothers with their rival college hats and their oh so cute little girls!

Our 4th of July glow necklaces and bracelets!

Saturday morning Home Depot workshop

Maddie and daddy with their bug house!

Jumping!

Having some free shaved ice!

Hey look...we can put our tongue in the water bottles...that's silly!

More pool time!

Dinner with the ducks

Picture time!

Heading back to Alabama...we stopped in Monroe, LA at the famous Duck Dynasty shop

After Texas we were able to get back into our routine for about a week. We had a week of fun with dance class, the park, and a free Chick-fil-A lunch date!

Park time after dance class

Dress like a cow and get a free meal...yes, please!

The giant cow was walking around and Maddie was less than interested!

What to do on a hot Alabama day...sprinklers, water table, and a jump house!

It was soon time for our next July adventure, which was welcoming Lindsay and Courtney with their babies to Birmingham! I was so excited that they decided to make the long drive from Florida all the way to our new home in Birmingham. We had a great time with all the kids and got to enjoy some girl time at night.

Matthew and Victoria came to visit!

The zoo

Courtney and Maddie at the zoo

Courtney and Victoria on the carousel

Lindsay and Matthew on the carousel

Maddie and mommy on the carousel

Trying some yummy Alabama BBQ

Had such a fun week with all these kiddos and their mommies!

Another short week of rest before our next big July adventure!

Maddie loves to check out books from the library

We love our jump house!

Just an afternoon dressed up like Cinderella

The adventure continues...this time to Florida for 10 full days with mommy! We started our trip by just heading down to Granny and Papa's for the night and then continued on down to Orlando. While in Orlando we spent the night with Kelly, Catherine, and a night with G-ma at a Disney hotel. We are so lucky to have such accommodating friends! Our trip included 2 birthday parties (Happy 1st Birthday Victoria and Ellie), a baby shower for our new little man, Maddie's first trip to the Magic Kingdom, tons of fun at the hotel pool with G-ma and a trip to downtown Disney, a fun day in the sun and at the library with Jacob, and a great day at the Orlando science center with Catherine, Nina, and their kiddos. I truly have wonderful friends...many of which I have shared over 13 years of friendship. It's so nice to be able to spend time with them and their children even though we have moved away.