It’s beginning to look a lot like craziness over here! I’m holiday shopping, party planning, preparing for Ashby, attending two Thanksgiving lunches at two different schools, packing for a trip to Missouri, baking food for my blog, baking food for Thanksgiving, hanging twinkle lights, putting up trees, addressing Christmas cards…you know, all of that holiday craziness :).
It’s crazy and yet fun at the same time. I’m just drinking extra coffee and listening to carols…that’s my solution to pretty much any kind of hectic day…coffee and carols.
Day 309: After five weeks, I was finally able to work out again! Due to the placement of the three incisions across my back, I wasn’t able to do any type of physical activity besides walking for five long weeks. I was so excited to join my friends at the gym again!
Friends, if you’re still visiting tanning beds (as I so stupidly did between the ages of 18 and 22), please stop! Thanks to my years of tanning, I have three fresh new scars across my back. The tan lasted a few weeks but the scars will last forever.
Day 310: The boys were in Missouri, so the girls did girl things! On this night, we gave ourselves manis and pedis on the patio after school.
Day 311: The perfect Friday night with my girl…pizza ordered, pajamas on and Maleficent in the DVD player!
Day 312: The boys are home!! Yay! We missed them so much! They were pulling into town right at 11:30, so Kensington and I met them for lunch at this little restaurant right behind our house. I’m wearing my navy and green plaid scarf and Smith is wearing his pajamas :).
After lunch, we headed home and the boys cleaned up and then we went out for the kids to pick out big brother/big sister gifts for Ashby. We told each of them that they could select one gift to bring with us when we meet her. This was such a fun little moment for us.
Day 313: It was wear your Manda Strong tee day!! My four proudly wore our Manda Strong tees (available to purchase here!). My heart was so full of love and gratitude when I saw all of the pics on Instagram of people wearing their shirts. Thank you so much to all of you who are praying for our sweet friend and supporting her family by purchasing and wearing this shirt. I sincerely cannot thank you enough.
We are getting Manda Strong!!
At church that morning, everyone in our Sunday school class who had on their shirts took a group pic. Manda and her husband Aaron are the directors of our class. Manda wasn’t with us on this Sunday but we sent her this group pic.
Later that night, I found myself sitting on a stool in my dark pantry eating my kids’ Halloween candy and enjoying the silence.
And then they found me, turned on the lights and began to wrestle. So much for quiet time.
Day 314: This is what Smith thinks about Mondays.
And then I told him we could get a package of Winter Oreos and he perked right up :).
Day 315: Several of my sweet friends showered Ashby with gifts on this night. I am so thankful for my precious friends who love my girl already.
And right before the shower, I took Kensington to her Nutcracker rehearsal. I love being this girl’s mama. She makes my heart so full.
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If you’re looking for a yummy side dish to serve this Thanksgiving (or any day!), try my yummy Sweet & Simple Creamed Corn!
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XOXO
Macy Strozier says
Looks like somebody is coming home soon!!!!!!! ??☺️????????
Anonymous says
Do you mind telling where you got Smith's red and gray hoodie?
Thanks
Sylvia
Erika Slaughter says
Next time you have a girl's weekend…there might be three of you!! Can't wait!!! Scratch that…if football season is over then there will be five bc E and I will crash the fun!
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Love that the kids picked out something special for Ashby! And on your next girl's weekend, if Chris is out of town, Carter and I might come too. We'll just throw him in the corner with some Legos or something. 🙂
Narci says
So exciting!! Can't wait to love on that sweet girl!! I love the pic of K practicing! So sweet!!
Anonymous says
Thank you for sharing your wonderful life and family. God bless you all!
Christene Demers-Rowland says
🙂 What a sweet idea for Kensington and Smith to pick out special gifts for Ashby when they met their little sister for the first time. Christmas carols and cofffee is the best way to start the day.
Blue-Eyed Bride says
I just get all choked up every time I read about Ashby. So soon! Praying for her and for y'all! And my tree is going up on Saturday. It is time!!
Natalie Zambreski says
What kind of class is that you're taking at the gym? It looks like a good one!
Aubrey says
Precious week! Love the ordered chaos of the holiday season!
Anonymous says
You must be getting so excited to meet Ashby! I am excited to see some pics and hear all about her, like how old she is, etc.
It's been a long time coming!
What a perfect time of year to welcome another to your family.
Thanks for the fun posts…I love starting my mornings reading your blog.
Jan Fisher
Erin says
So excited for your family, it sounds like Ms. Ashby is coming soon!
Sorry about the incisions, I too made the bad decision to go tanning and now am paying the price… at least our girls will know better!
dresselfamily.blogspot.com says
Oohh I love that Smith has a bright orange stuffy!!!… Ashby is coming home.. Eekk so exciting for you!
Anonymous says
Wondering where you got the framed iron piece above your fireplace?
Mix and Match Mama says
That fireplace is at Sheaffer's house…I'm betting she got it at Home Goods. 🙂
Jamie Ross says
Shay, I am just so excited for your new addition to arrive into your wonderful family. Ashby will be such a blessed little girl! Tears came to my eyes when I read about your sweet friends showering you with a shower for her arrival. Also, the Sunday School class that you and your husband are apart of sounds so good! It's so awesome how you always take time for your friends and family. What an example of Christ's love you show! I LOVE your blog!!! 🙂
Anonymous says
I was wondering do you have any advice to those who want to adopt but aren't sure as to how to get started? My husband and I have suffered 6 years with infertility and feel that the lord is leading us to adoption but it is so overwhelming as to where to start. Congrats on your Ashby being almost home.
Anonymous says
Shay, I have a question! I am always excited to hear about Ashby in your sweet posts, and I understand there are some details that you don't want to (or shouldn't) share online. In saying that, I'm going to ask anyway! I started wondering if Ashby has pictures of you guys. Has she seen her mom's, dad's, brother's and sister's faces yet? So exciting! Does she know her name? And then I realized, maybe she is a baby… I'm imagining a young girl.. Can you share her age?
Way too many questions!! Just love anticipating along with you and your family! So much love!!!
Karen I.
Jaren says
What a beautiful week! So many good things coming!!
Amanda Long says
What a blessed week !!! I love the shirts and the tanning advice : )
New follower from http://uniquelyunfolded.blogspot.com/
Love Amanda
Anonymous says
Shay thanks for putting the word out concerning skin cancer. I too spent years in a tanning bed and have so many scars from all of the surgeries I have had to remove melanoma, basel cell, and many non cancerous lesions. One on my back was so deep there is literally an indentation since it had penetrated all the skin layers. I had to have lymph node biopsies once I was diagnosed with melanoma. I am very lucky despite it being a deep melanoma the biopsies were negative and I am now past the 5 year mark. My back is so scarred from all of the surgeries I can no longer wear anything which would show skin. I am simply dumbfounded why tanning beds haven't been banned. I now see my dermatologist 3 times a year for a full body check. Thankfully, nothing major has cropped up lately.
Haley @ Cupcakes and Sunshine says
Thanks so much for sharing about the tanning beds. So scary! Your girl's night looks like so much fun! I may have to have a Disney movie and pedicure night myself 🙂