abundant blessings.

This week has been a festival of tears.  I am officially finished at Aledo Middle School (waaaaahhhh!), and our house is officially on the market.  We have received excellent feedback on the house so far, which made my last day at AMS much easier, but still a bit devastating nonetheless...

The three girls coaches and the "Sunshine Committee" threw Tate a baby shower on Wednesday, and I have to say, nothing makes leaving more difficult than seeing firsthand once again how amazing all of your co-workers are.  Tate was showered with so many wonderful gifts by such kind and generous people.  We are truly blessed.

Thank you to Virginia, Keegan, Amber and Paula!  I love you all!

And thank you to everyone who was a part of the baby shower and to all of the amazing people that made my run at Aledo ISD so special.  

Saying the final goodbyes to the girls I coached this year did not make Wednesday and Thursday any easier!  These kiddos are amazing, and no matter where I go or where I end up, it's going to be incredibly difficult for any kids to compete with the ones from Aledo.  And I don't mean literally compete in sports (although that'd be quite the task as well), I mean as a whole, Aledo kids are indescribably awesome and I have been SPOILED rotten by these kids for the past 6 years.

 

I'm completely and totally bummed out to leave this 7th grade group before their time at AMS is over.  I was so looking forward to coaching them next year and being able to see the great strides that I know they will make because of all their hard work and dedication.  Guess I'll just have to watch from afar!  And, make some special trips north toting Tater to watch them kick butt!  

These girls "flash mobbed" us and did the wobble out of nowhere.  It was freaking awesome!

Have I bragged on the Aledo Softball girls winning state yet???  I could not be more proud of this amazing group!! 

Ahh the seniors...seems like yesterday they were just babies, and now they're winning championships and heading off to college.  This group means so much to me because they were my first group of 7th graders when I started at Aledo.  They have made me SO proud of all their accomplishments over the years.  And this one takes the cake!

Congratulations to Rhylie for winning MVP for 4A.  What. an. accomplishment!  And so well-deserved.  This kid is a beast.  And just a junior...watch out 2015.

And last, but certainly not least, my baby Haybo.  I never understood how coaches and kids developed those "friendships" because I felt like it would stand in the way of me doing my job to the best of my ability.  Haylee helped me see that I can be a confidante, a mentor, and a friend without jeopardizing my position as her coach.  I love this girl, and I'm so proud of all she has already accomplished so early in life.  She is going to do amazing things, and I'm blessed beyond measure that our paths crossed 6 years ago.

And then there's this.

To top off the week, Lemons dropped by Tate's shower to shower me with an amazing gift.  Sorry to steal the spotlight from my Tater, but this is big. 

I consider this my "honorary" gold medal from the softball teams' state championship.  Although I am completely undeserving of it, I am truly honored that Coach Lemons would even think to include me.  I love those girls so much and I'm so grateful to have played a small part (several years ago) in their well-deserved success.  I will truly cherish this medal forever, and it will serve as a constant reminder of my amazing time at Aledo, working with amazing kids and amazing coaches.  It's funny.  Once I quit coaching softball 2 years ago, they went to state back to back years.  I feel like maybe Lemons gave this to me as a thanks for getting the hell out so they could do bigger and better things... :)  Honestly though, our family has been cursed for years, unable to bring home that coveted state championship.  Since I had technically already resigned from Aledo, and obviously was no longer coaching softball before they won, I guess the "Comfort Curse" may still be in existence...

  To sum up the kids at Aledo, just this year - the boys won state in football, the girls won state in softball, and tonight the baseball team plays for the state title.  THESE KIDS ARE AMAZING I TELL YA.  And they're smart (over 11 million earned in scholarships for this 2014 class).  And multi-talented.  And have I mentioned awesome?

I leave my job here with a heavy heart, but I know that this is what's best for Miles, myself, and baby Tate (and of course Hambone).  I love that God allowed me the opportunity to make the memories I've made in a job that I have loved.  Coaching runs deep in my veins, and I hope to someday be able to continue doing what I love.  But for right now, this little Tater tot coming in just a couple of months is going to be my priority, and I couldn't be more excited about the adventure Miles and I are about to embark upon together!

empty nest...

I still think reality hasn't quite set in as far as the move to Houston goes.  Although, now that Miles is gone, it's getting really real really fast!  Hambone and I are still in Fort Worth until I finish school and get this house sold.  Milesy had his first day at his new job yesterday, and so far, so good.

We went "neighborhood hunting" last weekend while I was in Houston.  We are trying to decide what area of the suburbs we want to live in - although we won't be able to get serious about buying anything until we get this house sold in Benbrook.  It officially goes on the market tomorrow, so we're hoping for a quick and easy sell.  I love this house so much, so I hope that someone else can fall in love with it just like we did 5 years ago.

Hambone is pretty much totally confused, and thus, acting a tad psychotic.  He went bonkers last weekend in Houston, and the whole drive back to Fort Worth he paced my back seat.  I feel terrible for him because he's so uncertain of what's happening!  I've posted pictures before of him climbing in our suitcases and our laps when we pack for a weekend away, so just imagine his bewilderment and anxiety as we packed up our entire house!  I wish I could warn him that it's only going to get worse before it gets better... but I just have to remember (as Miles tells me ALLLLL the time) - he is a dog.  He will be fine. :)

Our house is almost completely empty, with the exception of our big furniture and some suitcases that I'm living out of for now.  Talk about barren.  The pantry is empty.  No big deal, not like I'm 7 months pregnant or anything.  OHHHH WAIT.  Yes, yes I am.  I see me gaining an exceptional amount of weight as long as I'm living here because I want ice cream every night and I want fried food every day.  So basically, frequent trips to Sonic and Braums are quickly emptying my wallet.  I may need help.

Speaking of food, none of my clothes fit.  So that's awesome.  Nike shorts or tights and t-shirts have completely taken over my wardrobe.  I'm one of those bitches with the "I refuse to buy maternity clothes for 3 months" mantra.  I'm sorry, but maternity clothes are expensive, and I'm cheap.  Especially now that I'm unemployed and we are essentially homeless.  Seriously though, every time I walk through the maternity section at the store, I pick up one or two things, mosey down the aisle, and put them back up.  No idea why.  I've never even tried anything on!  I hear GREAT things about maternity pants, so I'm not sure why I keep holding out.  I can't hold out much longer though, what with baby showers coming up and people expecting me to show up in something other than gym shorts...

Speaking of baby showers, my co-workers are throwing me a shower tomorrow, so pics will be uploaded soon.  I've been so blessed to work with such amazing people at Aledo Middle School, and I'm going to miss them TERRIBLY.  And the kids.  Such awesome kiddos at Aledo.  This sucks.

Ahhh, okay - I apologize for the sadness.  I really am looking forward to the adventure of moving south.  It's just that sometimes I have gloomy moments, which I believe is to be expected.  It's a lot, especially considering the additional hormones I'm rocking these days.  Lemme tell ya, those have made the past couple of weeks tons of FUN. :)

Although it's easy to get stressed out, we have lots and lots to be thankful for these days, so a little bit of a hectic schedule is really nothing to complain about.  It makes life very interesting, to say the least!  Above all, we are fortunate, we are blessed, and life is good!  Stay tuned!