Every.Thing.Else...

Without fail, while in Alabama (aka Home), Chris and I spend a good deal of what little adult conversation we have alone (oh so little) discussing the pros and cons of moving home.  All in complete hypotheticals since Chris is gainfully employed in Texas.  

Details.  Smetails.

In our immediate family, we are the only ones living more than 45 minutes from our parents' doorsteps.  We miss out on birthday celebrations and kindergarten graduation programs and sleepovers with grandparents and well, free babysitting.  There.  I own that.

But what we miss out on most is just the everyday kinda stuff.  Getting together to watch football games.  Sunday dinners after church.  Playdates with cousins at the park.  Those are the things that can't be replaced.  

There are so many advantages to being in Texas.  We live in a wealthy little part of the world.  Where parks are equal to the number of Volvos.  The schools...public schools...are exemplary.  For our little artist, there are art classes, Children's Theatres and music schools on every corner.  There's our amazing church which has completely rocked our family, our identity and our view of the world.  

The cons highest on the list when considering a life back in Alabama are THE HUMIDITY and the ridiculousness of the Auburn/Alabama rivalry.  Honestly, I loathe them both.  Texas, your 100 degree heat ain't got NOTHIN' on Alabama's 99.8% humidity.  And really, y'all.  Can't I love my school without that being an attack on you and your school?  For.Real.

Those two things are really standing in our way necessarily.  That would be the gainfully employed part.

Smetails.

So when we are home, I do my best to soak up every minute.  

Nana, Puddin', Noah, Aubrey Kate, Miller and Rhys.
I think they are the happiest grandparents ever...

My brother, Adam, SIL, Carrie, Noah and Miller...

I know it's hard to imagine but AK does, on occasion, complain about her little brother.  And why won't he leave her alone?!?!  Which is less of a question and more of a whiny scream.  Sometimes, when I am feeling more loving and patient, I pull her in my lap and try to explain the whole little brother thing.  

Yes, Baby girl, little brothers can be frustrating and yes, he does, FOR NOW, want to play with all your toys.  But someday...very soon...he's gonna become more and more independent.  Then you'll look up only to realize...he's way cooler than you are.  Trust me.

So for now, we have to dress the cousins alike, feed them Skittles and M&M's and dance around like fools to make sure there are pictures made.  Evidence of precious weekends spent at home as one big family.  While their parents cherish these photos now, the children in them will grow up and treasure them probably even more.  

We miss home.  Not the humidity and the football junk, but we miss everything else about it.