Houston Visitors and Trip to Birmingham

 *Before I delve into our recent lives, I ask my blogging family to pray for my sweet mom, her siblings, and nieces and nephews.  We lost our sweet Aunt Shirley, mom's oldest sister, last week.  She was the kindest, most selfless woman with a heart of gold.... and she will be greatly missed. 

It's been a while.  We have been super busy the last few weeks.  I cannot seem to wrap my head around the fact that tomorrow is November.  My baby was born in May!  WHAT?!  Recent happenings here in La Casa de Hardison have been M's parents trip here to Houston, this past weekends trip to the Magic City, and drum roll please...my transition from working mom to stay at home mom (plus some PRN work on the side!).  Matthew and I are very excited about this new development in our lives here.  Not that we have to explain ourselves to anyone, but it is just going to make our quality of life here in Houston a lot better.  We feel incredibly blessed that God has given us the opportunity for this to happen.  As a guy I work with said, "My wife stayed at home, we had the oldest cars on the block, but we had a great life"

M's parents came to town the second weekend in OCT.  They arrived on Thursday night and stayed through till Monday morning.  The best way to describe what we did all weekend, relaxed and ate.  I both can't wait and am dreading Avery getting older so it is more fun to get out and do things with her.  I don't think they cared too much, they got to spend time with their granddaughter for 4 days!

This past weekend we headed back "home" to the Magic City to visit friends and family.  We could not wait to touch down in the Southeast and get our hands on some Birmingham eats.  We ate dinner with our wonderful friends Thurs night (Katie, Drew and McNeill, Blake and Holly Beth, and Charles and Cara).  Matthew and I feel so incredibly blessed by these friends.  We always feel refreshed and recharged after a night spent laughing and reminiscing with them!

Avery LOVED McNeill

This pic makes me so happy

Friday, Avery came down with a horrendous case of pink eye, along with an Upper Respiratory Infection.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find a single pediatrician's office to take her Friday afternoon, so we had to take her down to Children's ER to get her seen.  I know, for pink eye, ridiculous... Friday night we stayed with Ed and Shawn and enjoyed a "Shawn dinner".  He is by far the best chef I know.  My mom is the best cook; Shawn is the best chef :)  Geoff and Mollie came over as well and we enjoyed a relaxing evening taking in the Birmingham view.

View from Ed and Shawn's back yard

The Matt and The Ed

Her poor eye.

The rest of the weekend we stayed with Jonathan, Kristen and Sam.  Bless their hearts for again opening their home to the three of us for multiple nights!  Truly grateful for a brother and sister-in-law that we view not as just family but as friends.  For 2 years it was just the 4 of us in the Magic City, and I would not trade those days for anything! Saturday night the boys met Benjamin for the MS State Alabama game.. ROLL TIDE!  Boo on me not getting to go to the game, but Kristen, Morgan and I got some girl time in while they were gone :)

I love my Aunt Kristen.  My onesie says, "Auntie keeps the candy comin" :)

Sweetest little Lady Bug that ever was!

Great friends.

Love my family

 We worshiped with our Homewood family on Sunday morning, and attended their Trunk or Treat Sunday night with J, K, and Sam.  Sam is a bowlful of fun these days!   He LOVES his Uncle MattNo.  And even asked for Ann a few times! Can't wait for Baby Boy #2 to get here in January!

Fun times, great weekend.  Sweet Home Alabama.