Swimmin' and Scooters

One of the first things on my "to-do" list since I have a little bit more lenient schedule was to get to make a trip to Dalhart without having to rush back home! It seems like everytime we do get the chance to come up here, we are getting here late one Friday night and have to leave Sunday early afternoon. And most of the time there is always an event going on to where I don't feel like I ever really get to "see" my family. 

Since Josh has been super busy between the fire station and planting cotton, Hensley and I took the opportunity to come and visit my family. The only thing that could have made the trip better was if Josh could have come with us. It was SUCH a needed trip. I got to have one-on-one conversations with my parents and my grandma Me-Me. This does my heart lots and lots of good. 

I also go some time with my sister, her hubs and my amazing nephews and niece. 

On Sunday night, we went over to Rebecca and Lance's. The boys had the swimming pool filled up and were having the time of their lives!

Love this action shot!

Rebecca---does this look like you when someone threw you a ball?!

There was a lot of this going on!

Sweet girl sat in the shade and out of the wind rockin' some shades...

...until K-K stole them!

He is getting too big, too fast!

So is he!

If only he knew the power he had over me with this grin!

Or this one!!

Then it was off to the scooters!

These boys are quite talented on these things! I was so impressed. 

I tried Rett's and I must admit, it was quite a workout!!

You had to wiggle back and forth

The pro showing me how it is done!

favorite.picture.ever

Weeeeeeeeeee!

My turn!

Hanging out in the office with PoPo

Representing C's Cattle and Seed with the sweet Pioneer hat

Love my baby girl

And Gentry Kay has grown too fast too. 

She is absolutely beautiful and I could just eat her up!

Eek...those pig tails!

And that grin!

I really don't like this picture. It makes him look way too old!

But isn't he handsome?!

As you can tell, I am quite proud of my family! I am so blessed. I was so thankful for this time at home. 

Job Change

Since I was little, I can never really remember ever wanting to grow up and be something specific. Yes, there was a phase where I wanted to be a teacher and I would line up my babies and play school. But mostly I just wanted to be a mom. I could be seen with a baby doll until the age where I should probably be embarrassed to do so. I can remember saving my money to buy me a stroller--a REAL baby stroller--to push around, because the play ones just wouldn't do. 

I went off to college and got my degree in Agricultural Education but even my advisor knew all I really wanted was my MRS not necessarily my B.S. Thankfully, Josh showed up and soon after I got my degree, I also got my MRS  :) I love that man even more now than I did then. 

I'm guessing if you read my blog, you know me pretty well---or possibly we are Facebook friends--but you have probably seen a picture or two of this little sweet thing:

Since she came along about 7 months ago, the desire to stay home has become a little more intense. We are blessed to have a baby that sleeps really well--like by really well I mean goes to bed between 6:30-7:00 and sleeps till about 6:30-7:00. Which is wonderful--seriously. The only drawback was I worked in a town 30 minutes away. So by the time I picked her up and we got home, it was almost time for her to eat and go to bed. So Josh and I hardly felt like we got to see her. Not cool.

Ok--so now for a little background (because this is how I really tell stories in real life! I stink at them and ALWAYS have to backtrack)

Several years ago, my mom started a business called Initial Creations. She makes some really neat stuff. Boards, canvases---great, great stuff. Anywho, she knew how much I wanted to be a "Stay at Home Mom" but she also knew I couldn't just stay at home. I also needed to be making some sort of income. So being the incredible woman she is---she branched out and started another little business that Josh and I get to help run and operate. It is Initial Creations, Too. We have a Direct to Garment printer that prints on t-shirts. We can also print on burlap and pillowcases! It is SO much fun. 

Mom took some burlap with her to market in January and picked up a few stores for us. Since then there have been times of mass chaos and staying up printing late at night and on weekends. Which has been great to get the business going. But I was getting tired. I was anxious to get to do it full-time. I have not learned everything there is to learn about my machine or the programs it takes to run it. 

**If anyone has tips on photoshop---I'm ALL ears**

So after many prayers and long discussions, Josh and I decided it was time. As of May 31st, I "officially" quit my job. It was VERY bittersweet. I had the world's best boss....seriously. We laughed and joked, had serious discussions, and gave each other a hard time. If something ever came up, he was so understanding and never hesitated to tell me to come in late. There was not a day I left work that he didn't tell me thanks for all I had done--even if it was just answering a few phone calls. I have never felt more appreciated at a job. I am beyond thankful for the 2 1/2 years I worked at the Extension office. I met more people than I ever would have if I would have worked somewhere else. I was welcomed in to the community of Tahoka with open arms....which was a huge blessing since I had just got married and moved away from my family. I laugh because I will be telling a story to Josh about people I assume he knows (since it is his hometown) and he has no clue who I am talking about. :) I am going to miss everyone a lot!

So as of now, I am staying at home with our sweet little Hensley and working. I knew that being a stay at home mom was not as easy as everyone thinks it is but dang, I was exhausted at the end of every day! It is totally worth it, though. 

Be on the lookout for all of the fun things we have to offer in our business. I am slowly trying to get caught up/ahead and start advertising!!! We are so excited to get to start showing people what we have to offer. But just as a little teaser--I made these for some friends to give as Mother's Day gifts!

Can not wait to really start getting to make our own stuff and advertise it. 

A girl has kept me really busy with t-shirts and then some stores with burlap so I'm excited to have time to do more of our stuff! Hopefully soon you will be hearing more about this!

Abilene Zoo

Since we were already in Sweetwater, we decided to have a little mini-vacation and go on to Abilene, spend the night and go to the Abilene Zoo the next morning. I am so glad we did. I have never been (well Mom tells me when I was Hensley's age I went) and it is a GREAT zoo. We had a blast. 

This little birdie found John not too long after we entered and wanted to be his best friend

They bonded for a while but then we had to move on

FLAMINGOS!

We could have stayed here all day. They are so beautiful.

*Photo courtesy of Josh Hawthorne.

He was quite proud of himself.

So glad I get to sleep in a bed and not on one leg resting my head on my back. 

Checkin' everything out

GORGEOUS

More flamingo pictures...those two were not happy with each other

So thankful for that women who gave birth to that handsome fella beside her :)

---and for many other reasons, too

He wanted to grab him--not pose for a picture

I promise its not fake---and amazingly I barely edited it. 

They are such beautiful creatures

Tyler, Brittany and Hayes --Love this sweet family

Can't believe this sweet boy turns one next week!

Crazy monkeys

Possibly the best part of the zoo---You can feed the giraffes

It was Hayes' turn to feed him

He really wanted to eat the cracker himself but eventually gave it to the giraffe

Look at that tongue!

God has such an imagination. 

The lion right after he threw down the lioness and put her in her place.

The men obviously loved this!

Pretty bird

Love my family....a lot. 

Another family picture!

It is hip to be a "Hen" :)

If you are ever in the Abilene area and need something to do---I would highly recommend the zoo. Such a fun family outing!