Houston & Hazel // new beginnings

at the end of November I got a phone call from Becky Blaine - our church's Director of Early Childhood Ministries. she told me about a family who needed someone to watch their kids during the week. This was a special, personalized request though because one of the kids has Prader-Willi Syndrome which is a rare genetic disorder in which seven genes (or some subset thereof) on chromosome 15 are deleted or unexpressed (chromosome 15q partial deletion) on the paternal chromosome. (thanks, Wikipedia.) another symptom is a chronic feeling of hunger that can lead to excessive overeating and obesity. Becky knew I'm going toward a degree in Special Education and thought I would probably jump at the chance for hands-on experience. She was right - I jumped.

I met the family - Annette, Chris, Hazel and Houston - and fell in love. The kids (3 year old twins) are delightfully sweet. Of course at first they were both pretty shy - Houston especially, but at the end of the night I got sweet, sweet hugs from both of them. Hugs that made me so excited to return to watch them.

We figured out a schedule - Annette is nurse and works two days of the week. She can pretty much pick her schedule so we decided Mondays and Fridays will work the best with my Gymboree schedule. I left their home after the meeting without saying yes or no - I had to call my boss and run this by her. After a night of praying, talking to my parents, Korey, and more praying..I called Karian with confidence and was met with encouragement and willingness to help out. I was ecstatic! We all really thought this was The Lord's blessing and something He's had in the works for awhile now.

This past Monday the 6th was my first day. Let me tell you - by the time 6:00 came around I was exhausted. I've babysat since I was in 8th grade. I've worked with kids pretty much every day for the past year (almost, anyway). But watching two kids, keeping them entertained, and keeping them from annoying each other for a solid 9-6pm shift? That was a challenge. A challenge I will gladly accept every week.

We played with play-doh, played hide-and-go-seek, watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, ate hot dogs for lunch, took a bath (I mentioned taking a bath as a joke and suddenly Houston was running down the hall naked, ready to jump in the tub), danced, listened to music, and rested.

play-doh

making art 

say cheese!

the day was good. the day was long. the day was sweet. 

one of my favorite moments was when I had put Hazel in her bed to nap (sweet and cute all in itself) and Houston and I rested on the couch together. He sighed at one point, smiled, and said "I'm sleepy but I am NOT closing my eyes." and then he did close his eyes, I moved a little bit, his eyes shot open and he said, "I didn't fall asleep!" 

I'm looking forward to seeing these kiddos every week. I'm excited to watch them grow and get into a routine with them. I'm so happy I've been given this chance to help a family, hang out with kids, and learn so much. 

keep your eyes open for more pictures and stories :)

xoxo,

H

exercise//relax

today I was home all day. I made an errand to deposit a check from my first day of nannying *more on that later* and then got Burger King. after sitting on my butt for most of the afternoon, I decided to get up and get my heart rate above resting.

I've posted about yoga before but I honestly have not kept up with it..like, at all. so I got my DVD, mat, and strap out. I also used my dad's new "Perfect Pushup" handles. Those suckers mean business. I could only do 12 push ups today, but man - I think I'll feel it in the morning. I do Pinterest and have a board entitled "For the Body" which consists of healthy recipes, workouts, and homemade face masks. I had done none of those - until today!

I chose a Victoria's Secret model workout first. It was insane - I have mad respect for those ladies. Sure, they may not do the exact workout I did, but it's fun to pretend I'm like one of the models :)

After doing that workout and wanting to cry, I switched to squats, ab work, and then yoga. I always love coming back to something and remembering why I liked it in the first place. That's yoga for me.

I left my heart in Indiana...

On Saturday, the 28th of December, I woke up at 5:15 in the morning to get ready for a ride to the airport. This is the day that Korey and I had been looking forward to since he left Kansas City back in October. 

Saturday

Landed in Indianapolis around 10:30

Walked/ran to baggage claim to find Korey

We hugged/giggled/kissed hello

We left the airport and went to eat lunch

After lunch we went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA)

We browsed the different sections of paintings and after just a little bit of culture, the exhaustion of the morning hit me and I asked if we could leave and rest (not before hitting the gift shop, of course)

Went back to Korey and his brother Kris's apartment in Fishers (about 30 minutes outside of the city) and I met their English Bulldog, Eisley. 

Talk about a cute puppy. Also talk about a biter.

After hanging out with the puppy and taking a nap, we got ready to go out and eat.

We met their friends from church, Jeff and Mandi, for a dinner at a restaurant called Sahm's. 

Jeff and Mandi are one of the neatest couples I've met. I honestly was afraid it was going to be awkward - meeting new friends and having to make conversation?! Ack!

But it was easy - they are so kind, it was a breeze to keep conversation flowing.

After dinner we went back to the apartment and played Apples to Apples and Monopoly Draw. It was so fun! (Jeff won one round of Apples and I won the other.)

The day was long - plane flight, meeting new people, meeting the puppy - but it was a good, good day.

cliche plane photo

after landing :)

meeting Eisley

my first round of Apples to Apples

Sunday

Korey picked me up for church around 9:30 (he had to go in early to practice with the band)

I met lots of people, worshipped, and then met more people

We went to Panda Express for lunch with Kris and their friends Kyle and Jenna

After lunch we headed to a pastry shop for a Bible study that Kyle led

We talked about the New Year and setting goals - Kyle is a very gifted teacher, I learned a lot in just a short 30 minute session! 

We left the study and went back to the apartment for a Sunday nap 

Then we invited Jeff and Mandi over for another game night! (I love board games and am so glad I've found someone who shares that love!)

We ordered yummy pizza and watched Youtube videos :)

We then played more Apples to Apples.

Monday

Korey had to work until 3:30 so I was able to sleep in and then Mandi came to pick me up 

we ate lunch in the town they live in, Noblesville at a place called Rosie's

it was such a cute place! we ate and talked for over an hour. 

it was such a blessing to be able to share our stories and to know that Korey and I have a couple that is rooting for us. 

after we ate we walked around downtown. 

if any of you reading this are Gilmore Girls fans this town is set up a lot like Stars Hollow! Mandi is a big fan and mentioned that Rosie's is like her own Luke's :) we loved finding out that we like the same kind of things - mostly normal girly things but we also have lots of other things in common! 

we browsed through a couple of antique stores and wished we had all the money in the world

after trying to be nice and visit Korey at work but failing, she dropped me back off at the apartment so I could let Eisley out to potty and eat lunch 

Eisley and I hung out for an hour, watched The Office, and then Korey got home!

That night we went on a date just the two of us. We drove into the city to eat a taco place called Bakersfield. It was so good! The place itself was very cool and the food made it even better. It was loud, so we couldn't have cute, in-depth conversations, but we did get to people watch and be a couple just like everyone else! That was so nice - to finally be able to do "couply" things. 

We finished eating and then drove back to Fishers. 

We then watched Dumb and Dumber with Kris - I had never seen it! It was hilarious.

(Come to find out, I have not seen a LOT of movies...Korey has now made it a goal to educate me on all I have been missing.)

that face!

date night!

Tuesday (New Year's Eve!)

Korey woke me up at 7:00 because I had planned on going with him to the vet for Eisley to get her second round of shots, but then I said "ummm..I'm just going to sleep..." and he lovingly allowed it :)

After getting ready, we drove to Bloomington to meet his

parents and grandparents. 

We took Eisley with us and met them at Cracker Barrel. 

(if you ever want to go to lunch, we're going to Cracker Barrel. I love that place.)

We ate brunch and then drove to Doug and Nannette's (his parents) house - they live with Doug's mom in a subdivision that his dad built - it's all so neat!

When we got there I was looking at their DVD collection and noticed that they had our high school's production of White Christmas! So of course we had to watch it. It was hilarious seeing Korey and myself on stage, falling in love as Bob and Betty. It was an unexpected and funny walk down memory lane. 

We then got ready for dinner with the rest of his family! I was pretty nervous about meeting everyone, but once we sat down and I got to talking to his 6 year old cousin, Mason, I was much more comfortable. We talked about what first grade is like and what he does at recess. He then introduced me to a NASCAR guessing game. He'd give me the sponsor name and I was to guess the driver's name. I was very bad at this game - which pleased Mason very much. 

After dinner we went back to Doug and Nannette's and hung out for a little bit. The kids played with Eisley while Korey and Kris hunted for board games. We said goodbye to the kids and his parents. His parents had a church service to go to. Then there were four of us - Kris, Korey, their cousin Jeremy, and me. We played (kinda) Trivial Pursuit - the original edition. We really just read each other questions and realized how hard the game is and how many things we don't know. It was still fun, though! Then played a couple of other card games. We set an alarm for 11:55, when that went off we went in to the living room to turn on the tv. We watched the ball drop, Korey and I got our midnight kiss, then Jeremy left and Kris fell asleep. Korey and I ended up staying up til around 3:30 talking. When you live 500 miles away from each other and rely so heavily on texting/Facetime/phone calls to communicate the opportunity to stay up and talk in person is one that you take - you don't say "eh, it's late." you keep talking while you yawn between each sentence :) it was a perfect way to begin 2014!

driving to Bloomington

NYE 2013 :)

Mason, me, Marlee, and Korey :)

Trivial Pursuit

Kris and Eisley

Me, Eisley, Mason, Korey, Marlee, and Madeline

Wednesday (Happy New Year!)

Wednesday Korey again let me sleep in (he's so sweet) then we got up and got going

He and his mom fixed lunch - pork chops, potatoes, and salad. 

Korey seasoned the meat and they were delicious. 

(have I mentioned how much I lucked out with this guy?!)

we ate and then packed up to make the trip back to Fishers. 

we went to see the Secret Life of Walter Mitty - it was so good! I highly recommend it!

after the movie we drove to Noblesville to Jeff and Mandi's house for dinner

Jeff makes his own sauerkraut and Mandi made homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce

It. Was. Delicious. 

we had some really great conversations, too.

McGonagall

after Kris left to let the dog out, Mandi and I teamed up against Korey and Jeff in a game of Catch Phrase. Mandi and I beat them in 2 games. It was great. We were great. We were the WINNERS.

We ended the night there with talks of our favorite movies, looking at their wedding photos, and talking about their cat's, McGonagall, quirks. 

That night at Korey's apartment we watched Dirty Dancing. 

He was so sweet and stayed awake the whole time! :)

Catch Phrase

Thursday (back to Missouri day)

overnight it snowed up to 7 inches and it was bitterly cold.

Korey and I stayed at the apartment all day and watched movies. 

it was really great. 

my flight ended up getting delayed an hour so we got some extra time to lay on the couch. we were not complaining at all :)

we left for the airport after showering and getting presentable

the trip normally takes about 45 minutes, but with snow and road conditions it took us 1.5 hours

It was not so fun. We made it on time thankfully though. 

"thankfully" - I'd rather have been able to stay just one more day! or forever. whatever. 

I then got through security and on the plane and flew away.

movie day!

watching movies with us :)

snow day/movie day/cuddle day

he got me that cardigan! I love it.

   

sweet girl (until she bites you)

Indianapolis

Kansas City

The week was perfect. It was just what we needed. 2 months apart was awful. I know that couples go longer. I know that couples live farther than 500 miles apart. I know that couples who are separated because of the military have to deal with the stress of possibly losing their loved one to death, but there are also couples like us. and it sucks for us, too. I respect all of us. Distance is very very difficult. We have learned a lot in just 2 months, though. Definitely. and I'll say it again - I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us. We would love your prayers. We would love your support. 

This trip was the first (second, technically) of many. He is coming to KC in February for Valentine's Day! We then plan to start meeting in St. Louis and staying with my grandma Carol. It's a 3-4 hour drive for both of us. So that is doable and much cheaper than flying. 

Thanks for reading my novel. I did this for y'all to read but I also did it for me! I love coming back and reading about what has happened. :) 

xoxo,

H

Christmas! Food! Pictures!

My holiday break has been so very good. Time to rest, hang out with the pup, and rest some more. I have been working still and subbing as often as I can to make some extra money. I of course had planned on reading like, 13 books "just for fun" over break but after working and getting some "sleeping in" time, that just did not happen. I'll have time when I'm retired - right? :)

A few moms at Gymboree have expressed interest in me babysitting their kiddos and I had the chance to watch one little girl a couple of weeks at the beginning of my break. Her mom was at home while I was there, but I took Addie downstairs to let Karyn get some household things done. She's planning on having me back before I go back to school also so she can get some scrap booking done. Addie is the sweetest and we had a blast the two times I went there. I'm looking forward to seeing her again!

best friends - she calls me "Nanna"

Addie's first selfie!

My grandma Carol, my dad's mom, came up here to see me sing in the church's Christmas show "First Christmas." We were supposed to have a show on Friday night, but we got lots of snow and ice so that first one was cancelled. I called to tell her it was cancelled and she was 20 minutes away! She decided to stay the night and go to the Saturday afternoon show with my parents. Her coming on Friday meant we had the whole day to spend together. This is rare with us! We decided to make it a girl's day and go to the mall. We shopped for my parents, me, and her. We laughed, talked about life, and had a really great time. We picked up dinner for my parents and us at Famous Dave's and then watched Monster University that night. I am so glad that the show was cancelled - that sounds awful, but our day together would not have happened! :)

a $3900 French Bulldog - she didn't buy it for me :(

That next weekend, the weekend right before Christmas, we traveled to the St. Louis area to do Christmas with grandma Carol and the rest of my dad's side. It was a great weekend! We played games, ate lots of food, went to church, opened presents, and ate lots of food. On Saturday night we went to my dad's aunt's house and ate soup and played games. It was a lot of fun. My cousins Brent and Casey brought their two dogs and then my cousin Andrew lives there his dog so Monster had lots of friends to play with! It was interesting...and loud.

Lucy and Monster

Casey with Nemo, Monster, Miles, and Lucy :)

On Sunday before we hit the road we stopped by my Grandpa Jim's house. Monster had fun barking at their dogs through the windows. Grandpa got out a bunch of toys for him to play with and he got pretty tuckered out!

ruff life

On Christmas day we traveled to Tightwad, MO (yes..that's a real place) and spent the day with my mom's side of the family. We once again played games, ate food, and opened presents. Monster was allowed in the house at my Uncle Ron and Sharon's! Uncle Ron and I talked about boats and hunting. We drank my Papa's (he passed away a little bit over a year ago) favorite wine and talked about how happy I am to be in love - literally. The women and I talked about how great Korey is and how excited I was to see him over New Years. It was great - and the men were probably glad they were hanging out in the barn :)

Monster does so well in the car!

Monster and Uncle Ron :)

After Christmas, in preparation for my trip to Indianapolis, I once again got my hair cut!

short, short, short!

I also got my eyebrows done and painted my nails! :)

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas season. Thank you for reading my words.

xoxo,

H

The Giving of Thanks

Over the years, Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. As a kid I was very into Christmas - presents, duh. Now that I've "grown up", I've realized that I actually like my family, and love the chances we get to be together. I realize how hard it is to plan a time for everyone to be in one place at the same time - schedules and life are hectic. 

This Thanksgiving was such a blessing. 

Josh and Ashley drove up from Texas on Tuesday night, stayed in South Missouri that night, and got to Lee's Summit around 1:00 on Wednesday the 27th. The original plan was for them to drive up all day Wednesday - getting them there late Wednesday night, but we decided to surprise my mom with an earlier arrival. Wednesday was her birthday! 

Those two met me at work - I showed them around Gymboree - and we went to lunch. We had decided to make a video for her. We titled it "Now That You're Old Enough." Mom turned 50 this year and we did not want to make her feel like an old geezer because she is in no way, shape, or form old or a geezer. (that sounds like a type of bird anyway - mom is human.) So the theme of the video was things that she can do now that she's older - like take a long time walking places, use the motorized scooters at Target, and buy lots of knick knacks for no reason. You can watch the video here.

We had a blast filming all afternoon. Then we went to the house and surprised mom. That night we ate out at On the Border and had a great time catching up and embarrassing mom by having the waitresses sing to her. 

On Thursday my mom's side of the family and my dad's mom came to our house to eat food, watch football, and eat more food. Harper came and kept us all entertained as usual. We watched the National Dog Show, we colored pictures with my other cousins Karson and Ashley, and we listened as Harper sang us Silent Night and other Christmas carols. It was crazy to think that Christmas was already less than a month away! 

This year, as every year, I have soooooo much to be thankful for. 

To be blunt - I AM thankful to be alive. If things had gone my way, not the Lord's? I wouldn't be here.

I am thankful for such a supportive family. This past year has been a tough one on all of us. 

My parents have opened their arms, home, and lives up to me and I literally can not imagine living anywhere else during this season of my life. 

I am thankful for my friends - the ones who have stuck with me through this time of confusion and change. 

I am thankful for the Lord providing a way for the love of my life, Korey, to be placed back into my life. We have such an exciting time ahead of us and as I've said before, we can not WAIT to see what God has in store for us. 

I am thankful for a new church family that has also been incredible supportive and surprisingly easy to fall in love with. I feel like I have a purpose there and I have a new group of people who are praying for me and who are interested in my life - that is something refreshing and something I need so badly. 

To sum up, I am thankful for a Savior who is full of grace, forgiveness, wisdom, and love. He has showed me what it feels like to be truly accepted for who I am. He has placed people in my life that have showcased what it means to be a true friend. He has given me two incredible people to be my parents, my leaders, my rock. His mercy and love are never ending - thank you, Jesus for being everything that I will ever need. 

Here are some snapshots from this time with family :)

Monster's "I want turkey face." Mine, too.

I love these two!!

Harper :)

dad showed her the classic "airplane ride"

coloring!

ideal To-Do list :)

I hope your holiday was blessed! I love you!

Hannah