Hitched, Ohio style

The event Avery had anticipated all year finally arrived: her debut as a flower girl.

Otherwise known as my brother Casey's wedding! And what an event it was.

First things first.

All dolled up and ready to rock the aisle.

Let Lear finish napping in his carseat (air-conditioned and supervised, of course) or wake him for a family photo op?
Easy choice.

I didn't get any great pictures of the church service. Apparently I was too busy trying to force-feed a wiggly, cranky toddler goldfish crackers in an effort to contain that tantrum I could see lurking just under the surface.

The reception, however, was held at the bride's childhood home - 21 acres of the most beautiful Ohio countryside I've ever seen.

Seriously, perfect.

Meet my new Sis-in-Law, Cammie! Casey and Cammie Coe... doesn't get any cuter than that.

Every little boy's dream come true!

They have chickens, goats, and real tree swings!

The big Coe family (my dad's siblings & a handful of my 11 cousins).

As the evening continued there was dinner, cupcakes, and dancing. With our bare feet in the lush grass we spent magical time relaxing with family under big shade trees.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

But that's where the blog version of this wedding story ends. Because some things are just better left under the big white tent!

(except for this gem... sorry dad, had to do it!)

Best-ies

We may have moved 2,730 miles from Avery's bestie, Cheyenne, but it just so happens that we are now located a short hop north of the beach where the Goodnight gals vacation twice a year. Well, isn't that a spectacularly convenient coincidence*!

No time like summertime for an East Coast reunion... we just love this crew.

  

*I do not believe in coincidences. Praising God for His sense of humor and grace in the friendship of two little girls!

 

Countryfication of Two Yuppie Kids: Part 2

Avery's Antics 4.2

"Do crabs pee?"

"Mom, what's a home birth?"

"How do you say penis in Chinese?"

"My life is so hard. I have a really rough life."
"Avery, you do not have a hard life. You have clothes to wear, food to eat, friends to play with, and a family that loves you. Why is your life hard?"
"Because I really wanted those princess spaghetti-o's and you wouldn't buy them for me."

Holds up a quarter - "Mom, is this George Washington?"
"Yes."
Holds up a nickel - "And is this Hamilton Wrinkleknees?"

"I wish we could marry our brothers. I just love him so much and I don't want him to leave and marry some other wife."

"I totally pissed out."
"Excuse me?! What are you talking about?"  
"In the car... when we were driving home last night. I was really tired and pissed out in the car."

The Countryfication of Two Yuppie Kids

toad from The McNeils on Vimeo.

Getting Settled

Virginia Beach is not San Diego.

The weather is not gorgeous all the time and there are more bugs, BIG bugs. There are no palm trees and very few freeways. You can't drive 1/2 a mile without stumbling into a stripmall and the terrain is mostly flat.

Life is slower here. Life is simpler here.

Part of that is due to the fact that we know very few people in town. And with no kids in school, we have no place we "have" to be on any given day.

Honestly, that's been nice. No rushing, no busy-ness.

Accomplishing the mile-long-new-house-project-list is slow going with two kids in tow.  Avery did help me paint the kitchen, though. I think her self portrait is spot on!

And, while I was hyper-aware of the wet paint, making sure no small hands tracked blue high-fives to my furniture... I failed to notice Lear sneaking upstairs to leave his own mark on our brand new carpet. (Of all the WASHABLE markers Avery left out, how did he find the one gigantic permanent sharpie? Wait, why was there a sharpie in her stash in the first place?!?) *sigh*

Avery did, however, use her art supplies to draw this stunning portrait of me sailing. I just told her to go draw a picture of me and this is what she came up with. What a joy she didn't come back with a picture of me doing laundry or sweeping the kitchen!

Avery views me as a sailor, but my son will be sure to keep me classy. Every morning he finds these red pumps in my closet, brings them into the bathroom, and insists I put them on - as if I could totally handle a "mom-day" wearing those bad boys! As Matt says, "At least he's not wearing them!"

 

We've had lots of time to run through sprinklers,

check out the Atlantic shoreline,

and rainbow-gaze.

I get this distinct feeling that this will be a marvelous place to grow up. Whether my kids are building forts in the tall green trees, catching those big bugs in mason jars, or peddling their bikes fearlessly around this nice flat neighborhood, they will find joy in the little things. The air here is clear. There is room for growing healthy imaginations. The handful of new people we've met have opened their homes to us like old friends.

Virginia Beach is not San Diego. And I'm strangely ok with that.

Sayonara San Diego

The McNeil adventure continues!

You 6 stud-muffins will load all our heavy junk in 1.5 hours all for the price of a gourmet burger and a beer? Done.

 

Ever think about what your "last meal" would be? Well, when driving out of California, this is the obvious choice.

 

Just my groom and me, on the open road for 4.5 days. Was actually quite fun, except for that horrific accident in west Texas where we got to stare at this for over an hour... Thankful for XM comedy radio!

Looking at our route on day 4, we realized we'd be traveling right through West Monroe, LA. And if you don't know why that is so awesome, shame on you (go google Duck Dynasty right. now.). Definitely worth the short detour to get take this pic and buy Avery her very own (pink) duck call.

Also got to finally see the lovely city of Greenville, SC that Katie calls home. AND she was cool enough to wash the sheets for us. That's one classy lady.

Dinner that night was true southern fare: fried green tomatoes and shrimp n' grits. Both very tasty!

We arrived in Virginia Beach to mostly sunny weather, a new neighborhood, and lots of unpacking! Fortunately, my parents have the kids in Ohio one more week so the goal is to at least be out of boxes by the time they return.

We are SO blessed to be making this move as a family this year. Supporting Matt as he pursues his career goals will be heaps easier with us all in the same city. And while San Diego will always feel like "home" at least to Matt and me, we are anxious to see what incredible new things God has in store for us here. Just another chapter waiting to be written...

 

Your First Best Friend

Dear Avery,
I know that moving is hard. You will miss your home, your school, your room, and especially your friends. In particular, you will greatly miss your first best friend, Cheyenne. You "met" when you were 6 months old and she was only 3 months. Your friendship is a special one, as you don't even remember a time when she was not in your life. I hope that through Skype chats and a few yearly visits you are able to stay friends forever. But for now, here are a few of my favorite pictures from the last 4 years...
xo
Mom

Easter Celebrations

It's been a tradition while living in San Diego to spend Easter with the Baranowski/Pettits. This year was no different, although we held the celebration a few days early due to travel/moving schedules.

They always have the best egg hunt.

 

Matt teaching Lear some moves and Lear practicing said moves in a proper Easter get-up.

This whole crew as been a cornerstone for us here and we will miss them tremendously.

Easter Sunday was the day before the kids headed to Ohio with my parents, so we did one last brunch at the Boat House in Coronado - absolutely picturesque.