5 years & San Antonio: Riverwalk

We took a long weekend to go and visit Arizona. It amazes me every time I go there how much it feels like home. I'm not completely sure why I have such deep feelings of home connected to that place other than it was the place where Julius and I started our life together...5 years ago. I was just a young, naive, young woman in a new place far {and I mean far} away from any familiarity but I think it was there I grew into a woman. I grew as wife to and was blessed with a loving and tender husband who was patient with my insecurities and understanding that I had some growing out of a young woman into a woman to do. It's hard to believe it's been five years. The milestone isn't that grand but it's a milestone none the less and I'm grateful for these five years because I have grown in ways I never would have if it weren't for Julius. Especially these last two. They might be the hardest yet but they have meant the most to me. They have taught me indescribable things...things that only a loving Heavenly Father would want me to learn to better myself and to better my family. These past two years have taught me how much I want and desire to be a mother. They have taught me that the Lord's timing is better and usually different than mine. They have taught me how to love. They have taught me to have an open mind and see things through eyes that aren't mine. They have taught me how much I love Julius with all that I have and how I wouldn't be who I am today without him. To the next five years and many many more. I love you Julius and am so happy that you chose me and I chose you.

On the way back to Texas we stopped in San Antonio to stroll the Riverwalk.

I can't stop laughing

Oh, I have not been able to stop laughing since julius added some caption to this already fantastic picture of Elder Park. 

Galveston

I headed down to South Houston with little Miss Ivy to meet up with our friend Stacie and her two cute pups. We had such a blast. And I was completely shocked by the charm of Galveston. The homes were beyond adorable and you could tell they had stories to share...Oh, how I can not wait to go back down and explore a little more.

Ivy loved the sand...the water, not so much but we're working on it :)

life through my iphone lately

Here is miss Ivy showing off her oh, so delicate chicken legs.

Someone burrowed through my shorts to find the "perfect" sleeping spot while I put on my mascara.

She got a HARNESS!! That she hates but with her instantiate need to greet everyone and give them some of her best Ivy love {usually kisses all over the face and hair biting if you're extra special} it was time for her to be tamed.

I took a trip out to Arizona to help out a good friend of mine move this past month and it was so great seeing her and getting to have some really good girl time but I must say it was one of the hardest trips away from Julius {and now Ivy too} EVER. Distance makes the heart grow stronger...I know this for a fact even more than ever. I love my little family and can not wait to be near my real family in Texas in just a couple weeks.

tennis & a puppy

Not the best of ideas to combine tennis with a puppy. She did okay for about a minute and then wanted to run on to the court and sit her little tush right next to my feet. She didn't quite grasp the concept of tennis {she's only 3 months old, we'll give her a break this once}. Maybe when you're older baby girl we'll try the tennis thing again, but as for now we'll keep it to the two of us.

Tennis is one thing that I'm really grateful I get to share with Julius. Even if he wins every.single.time.

fireworks, friends & our fourth of July

We spent our 4th of July in great company. 

Although the humidity and head index made me oh so uncomfortable {along with almost everyone else} it finally cooled off just in time for fireworks.

J & I threw the baseball around for a bit...oh, how I love that man.

Happy Birthday America

{here's to many more birthday's}

 {our friends the Hallows}

 {Just the girls}

 {Bostyn and her pine cone throwing skills}

 {out of focus, but I secretly like it}

 {it was quite the show}

I love this country and am beyond grateful the sacrifices that have been made in Her behalf.

Our father's God, to thee,

Author of liberty,

  To thee we sing;

Long may our lands be bright

With freedom's holy light.

Protect us by thy might,

Great God, our King!

Pink Pee?

{pretty sure she just decided all by herself we were done with our walk & plopped right on down in the middle of the sidewalk}

This little had her second round of shots today and it was one. rough. day.  But first, all of the vet techs and doctor remembered Miss Ivy and were amazed at how much she had grown since her last shots and could not quit gushing on what a little sweet heart she is {which she is}. Now to the "rough" patch of the day.The doctor was trying to find some "meat" on Ivy {which on her .72 lb frame there's not much to work with} and when she finally found some tushy meat that met her standards she proceeded with the sticking :( and I was a little confused when I saw liquid starting to pool on the table and my initial thought was...um, pretty sure she has never peed pink before... and then it hit me...she had pierced Ivy! and it wasn't pink pee but the medicine from the syringe pooling on the table because the syringe had gone through all. the. way. Doctor lady immediately stopped as soon as she had realized what had just happened and said, "well, haven't done that in a looong time." {comforting...real comforting lady} So my little Miss had to get poked again and she wasn't to thrilled about it. The cucumbers didn't even seem to help ease the pain {ps cucumbers are her treat of choice at the moment..its quite adorable}. Even with the mishap she was a little champ.