Wordless Wednesday: Simplicity Makes her Happy

Emma Claire found so much joy just sitting on the front steps

watching the squirrels and kicking her feet.

Life is so simple when you're two.

What I've been up to the Past Two Months

The past two months have been absolutely crazy for my family and me.

After almost three years, we finally said good-bye to Okinawa and moved back to Kansas City.

The trip home consisted of:

26 hours of traveling

2 babies under the age of 2

3 different airplanes

1 parent

Yes, I had to travel across the world by myself with both babies.

Thank you Marine Corps.  My husband and I still can't believe 

they booked our flights separately.  Thankfully both Emma and Jude were

incredible throughout the entire trip.  They made what could have been an unbearable

experience quite pleasant.  I am so grateful for the blessing of well behaved children.

Bits and pieces of our long journey home

Getting out of the Marine Corps was a huge decision for my husband to make.

It was a decision that he and I both thought long and hard about, prayed about, and

held many conversations about.  We ultimately decided

that we had already spent way too much time away from Lilly and Raley.

Our lives, our home, our family were not complete without them.

It was time to go home and stay home.

Yes, my husband made a huge sacrifice in terms of his military career,

but there is nothing more important in life than family

and it was time to have ours together again.

Being reunited with our oldest girls and knowing that we will never leave them again

was worth any sacrifice we had to make.

There was no greater feeling than being reunited with the girls for the first time.

We ended up leaving Japan at the perfect time because 

we made it home just before Lillian Grace started kindergarten.

I am so glad she was able to have her Daddy there for this big milestone

in her life.  I know it meant a lot to Joshua that he was there for it.

Lilly is such an intelligent and imaginative little girl.

She has the capability to do incredible things with her life and to touch the lives

of many people with her genuine concern for others.  Her Daddy and me

are so excited to be home with her so we can help her reach her greatest potential. 

Lilly's first day of kindergarten.

Unfortunately Jude Scott was sick for almost the entire first month that we were home.

It started with the usual cold like symptoms that the babies always suffer through after flying,

but instead of going away after a week like they normally do they just got worse.

Turns out Little Man had his first ear infection.  The first round of antibiotics didn't clear it up

and he also developed an upper respiratory infection. 

 My baby boy was miserable.  It broke my heart.  I felt so helpless.  

All he wanted to do was cuddle with his Momma so that's exactly what he got.

Sharing sweet cuddles with my sick baby boy.

Shortly after our return home my baby girl turned two years old.

I'm still not sure how it's possible that she's two, but from the moment I first held her

to the moment I watched her blow out her candles she has been bringing me so much joy.

She has amazed me with her beauty, intelligence, and sweetness every single day

for the past two years and I know she will continue to for the rest of my life.

She is truly something special and my love for her is impossible to explain.

Even though she was sick, I think she had a good birthday.

The husband and I celebrated our three year anniversary on September 17.

This year was the first year we actually got to go out on an anniversary date,

and although we didn't do anything fancy it was a wonderful night spent just being "us."

The past three years have been full of big decisions and major life events 

(some joyous, some stressful, some sad), but through it all our love for each other has

continued to grow.  We are more in love today than we were on the day we said "I do"

and to me that is so incredible because we were already so deeply in love.

My husband, my Joshua Scott, my best friend is my everything today and will 

continue to be until the day I die.  I love you Handsome Man.

Marrying this man changed my life and filled it with so much love and happiness.

Yes, this is how we acted on our anniversary date.

We left our ocean view and sandy beach behind when we left Japan,

and it appears as if Jude decided to leave his baby stage behind as well.

He is a pulling up and climbing on everything little monster.

He's a rascal and he knows it.  He looks back at Daddy and me

before doing something he knows he's not supposed to then flashes us

a huge smile, shakes his head, and laughs hysterically.

It's just about the cutest thing in the world.  He's fearless and daring

which worries me a little bit.  He is definitely all boy and there is no doubt that

we are going to have our hands full with him.  Thankfully he's still a huge Momma's boy

so I still get lots of kisses and cuddles, all of which I embrace, cherish, and love.

 This boy melts me heart.


On top of all that we have been house hunting since before we even got back to Kansas City.
We've probably looked at 1,000 houses online and been to 100 in person, at least. 

As usual, the process hasn't exactly gone smoothly.  We have made an offer on a total of four homes,

one of which we went under contract on only for it to fall through at the last minute.  

 Luckily we have found another great house since then and everything seems to be on track 

for us to move in in just over a month.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

We've also had to shop for two new cars since we both sold ours before moving to Japan.

I've always said that I never want to own a mini van, but I must admit that I am

absolutely loving my new "Momma Wheels."  The convenience of a mini van

definitely outweighs the stylish looks of my old Chevy Traverse.

But the most stressful part of this transition phase we are in has been

not having any of our stuff from Japan.  We have been living out of two suitcases

and a couple of boxes we personally shipped for the past two months.

We have not seen any of our household goods, most of our clothes, and the 

majority of the babies' toys since the end of July so day to day life has been a little inconvenient.

Thankfully my mom set us up with the basics 

(dishes, a couple pots and pans, silverware, and some toys)

other wise we'd really be having a rough time. She has been a huge help to us.

All of our stuff finally arrived in Kansas City about a week and a half ago,

but we can't get any of it until we move into a house so I really hope this one works out. 

Trying to get everything situated and organized has meant a lot of running around

and dragging the kids from place to place, appointment after appointment. 

It's a good thing we are able to fill what spare time we do have with moments like these...

Watching our kids play together is such a blessing.

Yes, it's been a crazy two months, but our family is together.

We are happy, healthy, and ready to start this next chapter of our lives

creating incredible memories together.  I welcome any further craziness that comes up along

the journey because the six of us can laugh and smile through anything.

Momma's Little Ball Player

This is how Jude spent the majority of his day today.

Chasing after, rolling, and throwing balls are definitely his favorite things to do.

He may be a Momma's boy right now, but he's going to be one tough

ball player in just a few short years.  I can't wait.

Chasing after the balls.

Watching his great throws.

Such a boy!

Oops, hit himself in the head!

A post summarizing my last month and a half is in the works.

The Park is our Happy Place

Her pony tail bouncing on top of her head as she runs.

His big gummy smiles that light up his whole face.

Her cheeks turning red as cherries from playing so hard.

His contentment in watching his big sissy run wild.

Her fearlessness in trying to climb every ladder, rope, and net.

His eyes showing their true blue color in the sunshine.

Her high pitched squeals as she comes down a slide.

His consistent finger chomping when being pushed in the swing.

Her friendliness toward every kid there.

His big belly laughs when he is thrown in the air.

Her genuine excitement when she realizes where we are.

These are what make every trip to the park so incredible.

Jude's first time swinging at the park.

Jude's first time going down a slide.

Nothing cuter than a group of little girls playing together and holding hands.

Our attempt at family pictures make me laugh.

She Understands the World around Her

This is the conversation I had with Emma this morning.

Me: Emma, what do you want for breakfast?

Emma: Toooast! (she walks over to the fridge)

Emma: I reeeeeach. (stretches her arms above her head trying to get the bread)

Me: I don't think you can reach that high baby.

Emma: I climb. (puts her foot on the door of the fridge)

Me: Don't you dare try to climb up there.

Emma: I fall, hurt self.  (pats her head)

Me: Yes, that would be a big fall.

Emma: Momma be saaaaad.

Me: You're right, baby.  Momma would be very sad.  I don't like it when you fall.

Emma: No. (smiles and runs out of the kitchen)

She is such a big girl and I absolutely love being able to hold conversations with her.

Her tiny little voice and facial expressions make my day.  She is truly a special girl.

"Biiiiiig Bow"

Jude's morning nap time was arts and crafts time for Emma and Momma today.

I thought it would be fun to make a big Minnie bow with my little Minnie loving girl.

This was so easy to do and Emma absolutely loved it.  She kept saying "biiiiiiig bow" 

the whole time she was putting all the little circles on it.  I absolutely love how this quick and easy

project turned out.  This simple construction paper creation will be cherished forever

and I look forward to showing it to Emma when she is older and sharing its story with her.

Once the bow was complete and Emma marveled over her masterpiece for awhile,

she quickly turned from excited to upset.  She was not happy that she couldn't actually 

wear the bow.  You would have thought the world ended.  The bow almost had a very short

life span because my wild thing just about tore it in half.  Luckily my creative juices were flowing this morning and I quickly taped the bow to the wall and had Emma stand under it so it appeared

as if she was wearing it.  This was good enough for my sassy girl and her sweet smile returned.

Then she decided that Minnie needed to wear the bow.

I love doing these special little activities with my baby girl when we have one on one time.

She may still be too young to remember them, but I will always be able to share the story with her.

Wordless Wednesday Part 2: Best Breakfast Ever

I know I already did a Wordless Wednesday, 

but this just happened and I thought it was too cute not to share.

Emma decided to make eggs for breakfast this morning. 

Stirring

When she helps me cook it is always her job to dump things

into the bowl so she had to dump her eggs into a different pan.

Adding a little bit of spice.

Taste test

Transferring to the table.