Happy Easter!

With our past few weeks being nearly more than I could handle, Easter provided a much needed break.  For two qwwka, I found time here and there to slow down and enjoy the spring weather, family and friends, and the gift of the season in the gaps between the difficult trials that keep presenting themselves.

Our neighbors Rachel and Ryan have been enjoying France while Ryan's mom Connie stayed home with Addie.  We have had many playdates and fun crafts!

I know how much my mom appreciated my friends including her when we went to Australia last year (it is tough hanging solo with a three year old!), and with as much as I enjoy Connie's company and the fun activities she put together for the kids, it was a joy to spend time all together.

Making spring Lego crafts

Last weekend was our squadron Easter party.  The weather was perfect!

After learning about rainbows and ROY G BIV all week at school, Potatoes's first experience with face paint was a show stopper....

James thought Alexander looked just fine before the rainbow!

The next day we celebrated Elena's first birthday.  The three amigos had a blast as always!

I've enjoyed some walks with lots of neighbors and friends in this beautiful weather.  This was my favorite, though, with Stella catching the air!

Andrea and I made a day trip to Pensacola for a USO baby shower

Hosted by Heidi from What Not to Expect, Target, and the USO, it was a fun event with a great swag bag

Ready for the school Easter party

Potatoes's oldest friend.  He and Mia started school together when he was just 10 weeks old and she was 6 weeks old.

Saturday before Easter we made it out to the big base Egg-straveganza

Addie and Connie met us there for an added bonus

That night we decorated eggs and the hardest part was when there were only twelve to decorate.  When we told him to put out his Easter basket, he put it directly in front of the door!

That night, Potatoes started his usual fight of getting to sleep.  I explained to him that if the Easter bunny came down our street and found Addy asleep, he would fill her basket.  If he hopped on down to our house and he was still awake, he would have to keep walking and may not have time to come back.  He immediately squeezed his eyes shut and asked me to turn off the lights and go to sleep.  At 1a.m., I hear him through the monitor, "I need to go potty, but I don't want the Easter Bunny to skip my house!!!!" He cried the whole time we were in the bathroom that he just needed to get back to sleep.  He was so relieved and excited when he saw his basket of goodies in the morning!

Another great Potatoes story:

Daniel took him to the track to run intervals, and on a break, Potatoes leaned into Daniel and said, "Wanna hear something crazy.....(long pause).... about me?  I'm big for the slinky dog ride!"

He has gone through a growth spurt recently and Daniel told him he is now tall enough for the slinky dog ride at Disney....at least once a day he either tells us this fact, or asks when we are heading that way....guess we have a trip to Orlando in our future!

Easter Sunday was wonderful.

I put my phone on silent Easter Sunday for the first time in two years so I don't have any pictures, but the day was beautiful

This kid is so secure in who he is!  When his bestie asks to play dress-up, he is ready to go!

He is Risen!

Happy Easter

Major Mayhem Coming Our Way!!!!

We Are Expecting!

Boy Number Two is due to arrive late September or early October

While many may be surprised, as Daniel and I were both adamant that we were "one and done," time shifted our perspective and this little one was prayed and hoped for.

After an amazing trek through Australia last year, Daniel came home with a new outlook on the future.  He realized just how much joy our little crew brings him, and that he wanted to shift things so that family took a higher position.  We talked a lot about what this would look like, and knowing how social and people-oriented our little Alexander is, we both decided we would be overjoyed to add to our crew.

Not only are we expecting, but we are moving!

After six deployments and countless other work trips away, Daniel put in for a job change that will bring him home every evening.  Though the doors tried to close on this opportunity, the power of God prevailed, and we are officially moving to Las Vegas in June.  We found out on a Thursday that we got orders, and that Saturday that we were expecting.

Our whole world flipped in three days' time.

I will not lie.  This is not an easy change for me.  I have such a community here, and love my life here in a big, big way.  My friends span many different circles, my home and my neighborhood are a part of me, and my job is one of joy and enjoyment.  However, family is first, and my prayer was for guidance in the direction God laid, and I trust that that is the path which has been set.

We have not chosen a name for our newest addition (hard to follow Alexander Octavius), but we do know he will be a Legend in our hearts!

Zoey was the first to realize I was pregnant.  Daniel and I noticed her being extra needy.  She even let me cradle her like a baby for TWENTY minutes one evening.

We wanted truly colorful pictures to add color to our new home, as Vegas is VERY brown...

Potatoes talks to his brother all the time and is already in love

Big Brother, Big Heart

I am so thankful for Lindsey Daffin and Blackwood Photography for the beautiful pictures!

I made terrible chalkboard signs, and with the help of Uncle Ahgo and my girl Rachel, everything came together perfectly!

Shameless plug!  Lindsey's work can be seen at

Blackwood Photography Facebook Site

AND her beautiful home can be seen at

Beautiful Navarre Home

She has trusted me to help as her family also prepares for a big move.  This home is amazing, so if you know of anyone looking in the area....send them my way!!!

Monster Trucks

For the second year in a row, we made the drive to Pensacola to enjoy Monster Truck Jam.

Daniel was in Dallas hanging out with Diesel and going to Hech's wedding, so Godfather Ahgo joined the crew. 

Potatoes was stoked about wearing daddy's super headphones.

We had s blast!

Viva Las Vegas, Baby!

ERA's annual convention was in Las Vegas this year, so the whole Martin crew (minus Zoey), decided to make a week of it!

I spent three days at the convention, FUEL, and have to say the greatest thing I walked away with was close relationships with people from my office.  It was a terrific way for us to all let our hair down a bit and get to know each other outside of the hectic world of real estate.

This lovely lady and I had so much fun!  One of the highlights was walking into the Source where all the vendors were, before it opened.  Apparently we may not have been supposed to be in there, but the people at the door smiled and said good morning when we walked in....guess our matching outfits and confident stride made it look like we were meant to be there!

We had the whole room to ourselves to roam and check things out without being sold anything.  We even ran into royalty!

After the first day of classes, we set out for a night of fun at a Great Gatsby party

We danced the night away!

Special thanks to Charis for lending me this dress- love it!

The second day was a general session with ALL Realogy companies- 10,000+ realtors in one arena!

Katie put up with a lot from me on this trip....we were in our room between sessions when I received a text that I had been selected for a meet & greet with the Property Brothers!  I was so excited, I may have slapped her arm a couple times....whoops....luckily i got to take a plus one, so she got to enjoy the win as well.

Prior to the meet & greet, Drew and Jonathan spoke to the whole groupm and let me say, they are even greater in person than on television.  So personal, so funny, with just the right amount of edge to keep the belly laughs going.  

So many realtors

The general assmebly was one of the only times I ran into our amazing team leader, Paula.  With all that was going on, it was hard to catch people!

I am still waiting on my official picture with these two....just found out it may be up to two more weeks.  Still worth it, though!

Fancy drink before a disappointing dinner at Wolfgang Pucks

Katie celebrated her birthday while we were there.  Love you, friend!

Imagine Dragons concert! 

 We had so much fun jamming out to Imagine Dragons with all the Realogy realtors.  They put on an amazing show, despite learning from a couple of conference attendees that the group is not cool with millenials...too mainstream...funny elevator conversation that had me chuckling at being part of an older generation all of a sudden

Such a great group!

Not only was the music awesome, they had great effects to go along with it!

 On the third day of conferences, KAren and I skipped out on the second round of classes and ventured out on the monorail.

This was also the first day of March Madness, so I offered to take Potatoes along for the ride so Daniel and Larry could enjoy some basketball in the Sports Book

He loved the train, and loved Karen even more!

As I said, this trip really offered an opportunity to bond, and my team member, Karen, and I had a wonderful time just getting to relax and explore together.  I feel like our friendship found a new level on this trip.

Another celebrity siting! Why hello, Toby

After being very patient while KAren and I did a little shopping, I treated Alexander to a special doughnut, then we both returned to the room for a nap.

That afternoon, I passed Potatoes back to Daniel and ventured out to the Stratosphere with the ladies.

Such a beautiful view!

I loved this part of the trip so much.

On Friday, I said goodbye to my coworkers and headed over to Bryan's house for a little more Vegas exploring with the Martin crew and friends.

Potatoes and I had a blast at the Circus Circus arcade, playing games, winning dinosaurs, and watching a trapeze show.

We got to see the official Budweiser Clydesdales!

I enjoyed the Stratosphere so much, and knew Alexander would too, so we headed back with the guys to check it out

I graciously offered to hang back with the little guy while Daniel, Bryan, Larry, and Ahgo did this....

yeah, um, no thanks

A pair of official RayBan's to ward of the Las Vegas sun

This kid is ready to own Vegas

We had a great time and are so appreciative a=of all Bryan did for our family while we were in Vegas.  We are looking forward to seeing more of you,m Uncle Bryan!