March ~ A Good Month!

March has proven to be a really good month! We started it out with a visit from Grandad & Grandma Duncan, which was super fun!! Elli loves attention from her grandparents...good thing she has a lot of them :) The 2nd & 3rd week was dedicated to packing up our home for our latest move; this time to North Carolina!! My mom (aka Nana), came to help us with the packing/movers/Elli entertaining, and got to come with us on a quick little vacay to Charleston, SC (our reward to ourselves for 6 moves in as many years!). I LOVE that place...definitely a "must visit" if you haven't already! After that wonderful trip, we dropped my mom off at the airport and started our 4 hr. drive to our new home in NC. We hit the ground running as soon as we got here, and were blessed to have GG & Grandaddy (Chris's mom & step-dad) come out to help us with the move-in. Oh, and we celebrated my 30th birthday in the middle of all of that too!! It's been a crazy, but wonderful month. A new house, meeting up with old friends, lots of family visits, & a birthday!! What could be better?!

Grandad, Grandma & Elli...in front of the dog fence. She's going to miss those little puppies!

"Whoa!! Did you guys see that?!" This is what she did after she bowled for the very first time!! She was so tickled with herself :)

Nana, Me & Elli at Ft. Sumter
Chris & E at the Magnolia Plantation...in the petting zoo!
In the park on the Battery in Charleston

At the Charleston Children's Museum...we couldn't get her out of the water!!

In the middle of moving, and while staying in a hotel, I thought that there was pretty much no way that I would be getting a birthday cake. I was so sure of it that I went out and bought myself a cupcake :) And what did I find when I got back to the hotel that night?? My sweet husband had surprised me with my favorite cake (red velvet!!) & candles...I felt terrible for doubting him!! He's the best :)

Elli playing in the fountain in front of the Charleston Aquarium.

PaPa's Visit

The older I get, the more I long to be with family. My dad came out for a visit 2 weekends ago, and I had such a great time being with him. Just being. We didn't plan anything special, just spent time catching up & soaking in the gorgeous weather. He taught Chris and I how to play 42, and Texas Hold 'Em, & we finally played Mexican Train by the rules...no small feat when you play in our family :) But the best part was just relaxing, talking, and watching him with Elli. That part truly warmed my heart. She loves her PaPa, and no matter how many miles may be between them, it's a bond that runs deep.

They tested out just about every park in our little town, attempted to feed the ducks (complete with duck calls & everything...to no avail!), walked up and down the hill on our street at least 10 times, and drove E's little barbie car until the batteries nearly quit! He was able to hug her good-night, and give her kisses every morning. And it was wonderful. Truly.

When he left, I cried. Might not be a shocker to those who know me, but I don't usually cry-cry when people leave...just mist up a bit. What can I say, I'm a softy! But this time, I cried. I don't know if it was because it will be the last time he visits us in this house, or that I'm nervous that it won't be as easy for our families to visit at our next base, or that I just hated to see such a great weekend end. But whatever it was, it pricked my heart.

The older I get, the more I long to be with family. To tell them how much I love them, how much they mean to me, and how thankful I am for them. To hug them as often as possible, and to spend quiet moments together. To experience Elli's life with them, and capture the memories that will buoy her until the next visit. To just be.