Moving.

Trey and I have been married for nearly 5 years and we have moved a total of 5 times. It feels like a million times by how much I loathe doing it. I

We've moved and cleaned and moved things around and cleaned around the things that are being moved. Man my head is spinning. I'm also trying to just settle down every night after work but so much has to be put in place and I can't seem to sit still until it happens. 

I asked my mom to snap a picture of me and Alba because I really don't ever have any (sad, I know) and also to brag that she's been pretty much the best dog ever since we've moved. She has settled in so perfectly!

Moving.. sigh.

I had to show you.. our closet doesn't have a door so I'm using our door to hang my shoes - only the door is outside of the frame so pretty much everyone gets to see my shoes on my feet and off..

Momma and Alba

These two are a pair. My mom feeds Alba and Alba loves her for it.. can't save any crackers in this house, guys. My mom and Alba will eat them all! ;)

Lately I've been thinking about the blog and how I want some serious changes to happen with it. I've spent several months being so uninspired (or maybe not letting myself get inspired) and over the course of this week, I've decided that inspiration can come from anywhere. It can't be labeled and it can't be pinned down to any one thing. It just is what it is. I'm so inspired by my husbands everyday courage, by my pups playfulness, by my parents and their hard work, by my strong friends who can overcome grave sadness and by these amazing mama bloggers I get the privilege of reading everyday while I get breaks at work. I look so forward to reading about their lives and being inspired by them. I'm ready to be on a new 2016 journey with you, if you'll have me!

Small Christmas cookie recap.

I know what you're thinking.. we're WAY past Christmas. And you're right. But here is a night I really enjoyed. Trey bought me a pretty little mixer that I got to make the best sugar cookies with. Also, there was some first timers watching The Polar Express (okay! it was me!) in the living room while those cookies were in the oven making our mouths water.

The night was special because some of my favorite people came into our very crowded, little home and helped me decorate the mouth watering sugar cookies. Also, there might've been a little pre-Christmas gift opening..

OH.. yeah there it is ;)

 Helping me pick out cutters

 J is a quick learner and loves to help out

 I forget to buy stuff that actually makes icing cookies easy.. so 

we did all things make-shift and it worked out pretty okay

LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE CUTE SHAPES

 It was definitely a learning experience for cookies.. 

but totally worth it

Couldn't miss the opportunity to snap a picture of Mae by the tree. I'll forever miss this stage where she is still little enough to want to hang candy canes with me and not be off with her friends. 

I'm so glad I still had these pictures hanging around my camera. I'm not good about uploading my pictures and even worse about letting time pass before I get to share my adventures. I'm working on it. What a year 2015 was. I have officially deleted ALL of the pictures off of my camera and am starting fresh. 

Beware all of you unsuspecting people out there who are oblivious to the big camera that'll be dangling from my hands. You never know when you'll show up on this blog. 

Happy Tuesday!

January 2016 [WHAT].

Y'all - how is it seriously already 2016?! I can't even believe it's the new year (and lazily enough on my blog end) we're already almost to February and then I'll write another blog titled "February 2016.. WHAT?!"

Just kidding. I'll spare you.

I've been thinking a whole lot about my absence on the blog and I wouldn't really like to continue doing that to all three of you. So I will do my very best (see how I avoided words like promise and definitely/certainly?) Because lately for me.. my best is as good as it gets! 

Our biggest update it that we're moving out of our itty bitty house into a pretty one with hardwood (!!!) floors. February 1st seems like so far away.. only it's not! 

Other than that, we went back to our old home this weekend and saw our people and man it was much needed. We got to recharge and laugh and celebrate and it was amazing. I miss you all. 

Here's to more blogging, more planning and more laughing. I'm loving you already, 2016!

Cheers. 

Ice is close enough to snow, right? + pictures of Alba in reindeer antlers.

So apparently West Texas just ices over. I have high hopes for lots of snow but mostly this weather has been ICE. It's so pretty though, right?

 It was pretty.. but so.much.ice.

Our poor tree - I think it's a goner. 

 Getting these onto Alba was horrible - she was not happy! But isn't she cute?!

 See - so cute!!

 I love these two knuckleheads. 

 It got more sad as she was learning to toss them off of her head and onto the floor.

The best it gets. I love you, little thing.

Here's to putting trees up and praying for SNOW!!

My favorite time of the year.

Hello there, everyone.

I'm pretty sure it's been months since I've said hello. So sorry. I won't abandon you anymore, I promise. 

I went through a pretty rough patch this Summer. Trey and I had moved and I did my best to put on a brave face but actually I was pretty sad. I was mostly lonely and I didn't feel like (at the time) sharing that with anyone. Now I'm hoping I can help someone when they read this little ole blog of mine and see that it just happens. Sometimes it just takes getting out and not letting life get the best of you. I had major unnecessary cabin fever - had no job at the time - and wasn't coping with it very well. So let me update you. 

We got a puppy! Her name is Alba. I will probably do a whole post on her pretty soon. Still pretty heartbroken over Charlotte but Alba fills the emptiness in my fur-lovin' heart with her rambunctiousness and playfulness. I can't wait for you to officially meet her. 

I got a job at a really great bank. I never thought I'd be a banker but truthfully it's the best job I've ever had. I know you're thinking but you're only 25.. how can it be the best? Well, you should work at a bank and see ;) plus, bankers hours?! Who can complain? 

I turned 25! Just last week. I was really excited for 25. It feels like such a grown up age to say, "Hi, I'm Vicky and I'm 25" - okay, so I won't say that.. and maybe it's not very adult-like to say things like 'it feels grown up' but it totally does. Wait till you're 25 and see! (and if you're past it, I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about).

And lastly, and probably not all that fascinating to you, or maybe it is! Trey and I cooked nearly the entire Thanksgiving lunch by ourselves. We were so proud of each other and proud of how things turned out. So thankful my momma walked me through her famous dressing via FaceTime (thankful for FT!) and so thankful I have such a patient husband who helped me all around the kitchen and made the perfect turkey his very first time around. Homemade pumpkin pie and yummy green bean casserole. Also, very thankful my sister and her family showed up to celebrate such a heartfelt day with us. We are so, so very thankful for family.

Here are a few food pictures:

I had to get this picture of the turkey before it was cooked. Trey had fresh rosemary inside and was sprinkling sage on top. I didn't get his hand in this picture but I loved that you can see him putting the finishing touches at the top of the picture. He worked hard and researched the best way to cook this turkey. He's wonderful.

Homemade pumpkin pie spices ;) yum

Ah, isn't that a beautiful bird?! :)

Momma's dressing - it's forever my favorite!

So much pretty yellow! 

So thankful for this time of year. It always lifts my spirit and makes me the happiest girl alive. 

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

ALBA.

Do you remember when we first moved here in July and I wrote a painful paragraph about the heartbreak losing our pup Charlotte? I felt like I would never want another dog again. Ever. But Trey really wanted another puppy to play with and to stand guard over our house while he's standing guard over our border (thanks, baby!). 

After searching high and low, Trey found some beautiful little German Shepherds over in Bastrop (I wanted all white but all we could find in our price range was all black) and Trey fell in love via picture. 

That little thing blending into my leather seats is Alba Rowe. 

While Trey has been at work, we mostly nap and mostly play with the toys we've gotten here. We go over tricks and we try desperately to learn to potty train. We're also working on the whole not chewing thing. It isn't going so well. RIP: sandals, iPhone charger, favorite blanket and beach towel. You will be missed. 

Here's to many more pictures of our black ball of fur. Still miss my Char-girl, though :(

Happy Thursday!

Soccer practice for a non-mom.

Hey all you beautiful people!

I've been back with my parents a few days and getting to do all of the fun things I wouldn't normally get to participate in back home. I feel like since we moved away, I sort of miss out on all of the growing up my niece and nephew have been rudely doing since my departure ;) I miss them so much and sometimes just wish I could press the pause button on them getting bigger. Wait for me, guys. I just want to watch the magic happen, sometimes! 

Lyric starts dance next month but Uriah has already started soccer practices. Jo and Keith (my sis and brother-in-law) invited me to his soccer practice today, and while it was extremely warm out, it was so fun to watch. I really enjoyed sitting with my sister and catching up while we watch my nephew learn the soccer ropes. I remember being 7 and learning how to really play basketball, as opposed to just watching Jordan ball with the other Bulls. I miss those days! Anyhow, it was fun and sort of funny (...have you ever watched a bunch of kids learn a sport for the first time, so funny) and I had a blast. Can't wait til Uncle Trey comes home and can see this kiddo dominate the fields! 

Love you, Ri!