NYC

I think it's safe to say I'm a wee bit behind on my blogging. We have been busy getting into the routine of Kindergarten and preschool and activities that I've neglected the blog. I thought I'd start to catch up with some of the fun stuff we've be able to do over the past couple of months. First up, David and I got to spend a long weekend in NYC in early October. It was our first trip, just the 2 of us, since our honeymoon 7 years ago! The weather was wonderful and we had lots of fun walking around, shopping, eating and going to a couple of shows (Once and Wicked). It was such a good reminder to us that we need to make an effort to spend time just the 2 of us more often. It's a beautiful thing when you can have an adult conversation without getting interrupted 10 times. Big thanks to Mimi and Bubba fo taking care of the little ones while we were away. We didn't take very many pictures but here are a few:

Steamboat

While the kids played at Camp Suzu, we had am amazing mini-vacation! We had 3 nights (4 days) of pure wonderfulness. We slept a lot, ate a lot of yummy food, rested a ton, hiked, enjoyed a break from the heat of Houston, and even more so enjoyed some quality time together.

Bubba and David had never done the hike up the ski mountain (and I hadn't done it in years) so we decided to tackle it together. Oh my legs, it was hard. But we were so proud of our accomplishment once we got to the top to enjoy the view!

Steamboat is and will always be our favorite place to visit, 

thanks to Mimi and Bubba for hosting us for a great long weekend!

May 6th

I feel like every post right now starts with something along the lines of me forgetting to post about something or posting about something a week later. Oh well. 

David and I got to celebrate our 6 year anniversary last weekend by having a kid-free stay-cation! We stayed in Houston at my parent's apartment (that was strangely just like staying at a nice hotel) while they kept the kids in College Station. I am one spoiled girl because David planned the whole weekend out and made everything a surprise. After some much needed sleep, some delicious food, some fun pampering and lots of quality time together, I felt more refreshed than I have in a really long time. I am so blessed that this guy is mine and that I get to keep him for the rest of our lives.

The past 6 years have been amazing (albeit strange and unusual) and I can't wait to see what the next 6 hold for us! 

Strange and unusual

This post has been a long time coming. Disclaimer: I copied the concept of this post from a friend's blog.

A little tribute to my one true love...

While May 6th is just another day to most, it is special to us because it is our very special and very strange and unusual day.

May 6, 2004
First let's back up, shall we? We had been friends through our families for the past 7 years but never anything more. You took me on a date my freshman year of college and I had a huge crush on you (which you knew). You told me that night that you didn't see anything happening between us "unless something strange and unusual happened". True story. No one really knows what that means, I certainly didn't at the time. I was so irritated that I ignored you for a year. The fall of my sophomore year, you took me on another date. This time, you were interested but I was still irritated about the whole strange and unusual thing so I told you I wasn't interested. So, come May, I was finishing up my sophomore year of college and you were getting ready to graduate. If you had told us then where we would be in a year, we both would've laughed. At the very least, we would've thought it was strange and unusual.

















May 6, 2005
You had gotten down on one knee and proposed a month ago! What a strange and unusual year this was. We started dating, fell in love, and were engaged all in 7 months. I was finishing up my junior year at a&m and you were finishing up your breakaway internship and getting ready for seminary in the fall. We had just set the date and knew that by next year at this time, we would be getting married!

May 6, 2006

This was one of the very best days of my life, our wedding day! I couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect day and couldn't wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

May 6, 2007

We made it through one year filled with lots of growing and learning living in Dallas. We survived a mouse infested apartment (only for a couple of weeks), I survived my first year of teaching, and you survived seminary! It was a challenging year but was made infinitely easier because we had each other to lean on. We celebrated by going to a fancy restaurant that I can't even remember the name of. Within the month, we moved into our first house in Houston and found out we were pregnant with Micah.

May 6, 2008

By our 2nd anniversary, Micah Man had been a part of our family for 2 months. Some said that we started our family earlier than most and younger than most, but just say we are strange and unusual like that. We wouldn't have it any other way. We left our little guy with Suzu to go to Maggiano's (my fave) for our first date night since becoming parents. 

May 6, 2009

On our third anniversary, we were feeling very unsettled and were awaiting much transition. David was exploring the possibilities of a different job, our house was on the market, we had just barely joined HFBC, and we had a very active, energetic, and happy 14 month old. We were thinking about expanding our family and within a couple of months, we were pregnant with Laurel.  

May 6, 2010

Our 4th year of marriage was full of change. We moved into our 2nd house, David started Ell, and we welcomed Laurel! On our anniversary, we were proud parents of a 2 year old and a 1 month old. Our friends Allison, Cason, Becky, and Chris all babysat so we could go out for our first date since 2 kids at Taste of Texas. 

May 6, 2011
Here we are. 5 years of marriage, 2 kids, 3 dogs (only one of them still with us), and 4 homes (if you count the mouse infested apartment). The past 5 years have been full of laughter, fun, learning, growing, but most importantly love. I love you more now than I could've even imagined I would 5 years ago. I feel so blessed that I get to walk through life with you by my side.

Maybe the last 5 years have been strange and unusual. I love strange and unusual.

Nothing Fancy

I have been working for the past week on our 2010 scrapbook. I am about halfway finished but just finished by far my favorite page. I totally ripped off the title and concept from a digital scrapbook I saw on a blog a couple of years ago. I have been waiting for the perfect picture and this one was it for so many reasons. David and I have been going to Steamboat together since I was in 7th grade. No joke. It is by far our favorite place to go together because of our history there... well and because it is gorgeous and a super fun town. We have taken so many pictures in front of this fireplace that when I saw this one, I couldn't wait to scrap it...

It does exist!

Fall, that is. Houstonians, did you know that some parts of the country actually do get to enjoy the season of Fall?

David and I got the opportunity to take a little vacation this past weekend. We went to our favorite place Steamboat for a few days. It was a MUCH needed and very much enjoyed 4 days! David's parents were already up there when we got there and my parents took care of the kiddos while we were gone so BIG THANKS to all 4 of them, this trip really couldn't have happened without all 4 them!

It really was so nice to enjoy Fall. We saw the leaves changing and enjoyed the cool weather.

We also enjoyed a hiking date on Friday to upper fish creek falls. I had only done this hike once before and I had forgotten how beautiful (and hard) it was. It was 5 miles round trip so we had our work cut out for us. It was definitely worth it once we got to the top to see the upper falls.

We spent most of the rest of the trip eating a lot of yummy food, relaxing, and SLEEEEEPING. The catching up on sleep part was really great.

Thanks again Mimi & Bubba and Suzu & Teddy (and Nat and Dan because they babysat one night and Audrey for picking us up at the airport) because without all of you we couldn't have gone!

This is what 2 well rested people look like:

Though we had a blast, we sure missed our munchkins and couldn't wait to get home to them. Highlight of my night was when Micah said "mommy, I love you thiiiiiiiiiis much!" and gave me a big hug! While it is nice to relax and rest for a few days, I wouldn't trade being a mom for anything.

Life's a dance...

Please indulge me while I am a bit cheesy. Today marks me and my amazing hubby's 4th anniversary. It is crazy to me when I realize how much has happened in the last 4 years for me and David. I think the fact that we have 2 kids, I get to stay home with them, and David owns his own business tops the list. We have both changed and grown in so many ways, but are so blessed that our personal growth has only helped our relationship grow stronger. I adore David more and more each day and feel so blessed to have him as my partner in the dance of life.

See, I said it would be cheesy. :)

3 Years ago today...

... I married the love of my life! It was one of the best days of my life (tied with the day Micah was born). We have had 3 years full of fun, change, challenges, growth, love, and laughter. I couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else... I love you David!

Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday...

Breakfast table conversation...

Quite often, I find my and David's breakfast converstaions amusing. Here is this morning's:

David: What time did you get up this morning?

Ally: (wierd look)

David: Really... what time exactly did you get up this morning?

Ally: Ok, I guess it was right at 7:00

David: hmmm, ok.

Ally: (still confused) What?

David: Oh nothing, I'm just trying to do a little math in my head.

Ally: (catching on) What kind of math?

David: Just seeing how long it takes before I can talk to you without getting in trouble.

Ally: (rolls her eyes)

David: No really, I think I am going to stick to the 9 to 9 routine. After 9 at night, you are grumpy and ready for bed and before 9 in the morning you are still waking up and grumpy.

Ally: hmm


**Obviously, I wouldn't have posted this if it were at all factual. I am a complete delight to be around 24 hours a day, 7 days a week**

Men are like waffles, women are like spaghetti...

so proves the conversation David and I had this morning at breakfast.

David: This is good bacon.

Ally: I need figure out what time our flight leaves for Steamboat... (then Ally stares off into space).

David: Alright, let's hear it.

Ally: (coming out of space) what?

David: What's going through your head?

Ally: Ok... I need to figure out what time our flight leaves for Steamboat, fold the laundry on the bed, make the apple cake for tonight, get Micah dressed, put Micah's lunch in the diaper bag for today, sweep because I feel a crumb under my foot, pack for our trip, finish that scrapbook page, get the tools off the floor in the guest room, and call the exterminator.

David: Oh ok (with an added chuckle).

Ally: Why? What are you thinking about?

David: I wonder if it's snowing in Colorado.

Ally: That's all? Nothing else?

David: I can't think about more than one thing at a time. At work, I have to make a list.

Ally: I see.

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday (May 6th) marked my and David's 2 year anniversary! Isn't it amazing how time flies? It seems like yesterday when we were moving all of our stuff into our first little mouse infested apartment in Dallas (don't worry, we only lived there for a month). Looking back to our 1 year anniversary, we never imagined that by our 2 year anniversary, we would already have a family! God has blessed us beyond measure! We have had 2 awesome years and can't wait to see what the next 2o hold for us. To celebrate our anniversary, we went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Maggiano's. It was so nice to have a date night out to just sit and spend time with each other. Here is a picture we caught with our little guy right before leaving. We had to interrupt his bottle so he was a little confused.

Happy Anniversary!

...and a happy one indeed! David and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary on May 6th by going out to dinner and buying a puzzle. "A puzzle?" you may ask, yes a puzzle. We have been wanting a big puzzle to work on together as a way to spend more quality time together. So, we walked out of Puzzle Zoo with a 3000 piece puzzle that is very intimidating. I'll let you know how that goes.

Our anniversary this year comes with much happy news about the months ahead. David found a job (yay!) as a junior account executive for an advertising agency called Idea. We are very excited about this opportunity for him. I (Ally) also found a teaching job (yay!) at my favorite school. I will be teaching either 1st or 2nd grade at my alma mater, Greentree Elementary. I am more than excited about joining the staff at the school where I spent my elementary years. I will be a Greentree Gator once again.

Would you believe that there is even more good news? There is... after both of us received the news that we had jobs, we began looking at houses. We found a house that we both fell in love with in the neighborhood that we both wanted to live in. So, we are set to close at the end of May and move in the beginning of June.
Sometimes it is crazy to see how in 1 months time, your entire life can change. The Lord has taught David and I more than ever in the last month to trust. It seems so simple but sometimes it is the hardest thing. We have learned now more than ever that the Lord is our ultimate Provider. Thank you for your prayers over the last month.

"Those who know Your name will put their trust in You.

For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who

seek you."

Psalms 9:10

Spring Break

Hello all! Since the last post was in October, we figured it was time for an update (we promise to be more diligent about updates). Spring is in full swing and we are both feeling it! David is feeling his semester at DTS coming to a close and Ally is feeling her first year as a teacher ending as well. We enjoyed a relaxing Spring Break in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It was an awesome time with both of our families. We returned from Colorado and began planning for what is ahead. We are planning to move back to Houston, our home, the first week in June. We will be joining a ministry there that we are ecstatic about. We will be working with a city ministry bi-vocationally. David is currently looking for an advertising/marketing job in Houston and Ally is on the job hunt for another teaching position in the Houston area. So, we don't know where we will be working, don't know where we will be living, but we know that this is the Lord's plan and we are in His hands. We appreciate your prayers as we prepare for the months ahead!

Formal Introductions

Welcome to our Blog! This is our first post ever! We figured a good way to start would be to introduce you to the members of our family that many of you haven't met. The dogs. The dogs are our children (for now). They take up quite a bit of our time and are our entertainment. They love each other very much (notice them giving kisses in the picture above) and love to play. As we are adjusting to life in the "real world", they are wonderful to come home to and play with.

Now a lot of you have met Cooper, but not Mia. Mia is our newest addition. She is 4 months old and weighing in at 30 lbs. She is an Alaskan Malamute and her estimated weight at full growth is 100 lbs. You are probably thinking that we are crazy to have 2 large dogs in our tiny apartment... we are. Mia is a sweet cuddle bug but her other personality is a terror who destroys and eats everything in her sight. Cooper is a lackadaisical boxer who only cares about his orange ball. Well, they do say that opposites attract. They are the best playmates any parents could've asked for.

Other than that, all is well around here. David is working and studying hard. Ally is teaching hard and doing a little cake decorating on the side. More information (and we promise it will be more pertinent) coming soon!