The 'Ultimate Smile' and Other News

Why, hello there old friend.  It's been a while.

I've taken some time off from this friend of mine.

There have been many, many, many days in the past few months, where I've wanted to share a story or an event or even just some fun memories about our family, but I'm gonna be honest, it's been hard.

Not hard in a bad way, but hard because our family has had a lot of uncertainty these past few months.  A lot of 'what-ifs' and a lot of 'maybes'.  It's been hard for me to focus on much lately, other than just focusing on life...and the three most important people in my life.

But, the other night, Andrew (who is always giving us something fun to talk about), who was having a really hard time falling asleep, gave me something to write about...and it's a good lead into our 'other news'.

For a couple of weeks now, I've been promising my kiddos that 'if they slept in their own beds all night for 7 consecutive nights, I would take them to Chuck E Cheese.'  Well...it's taking them a while to get to 7 nights.  And, the other night, as Andrew would not fall asleep and the hour was approaching 11:00 pm, he came up to my bed and asked to snuggle me, and I said, "you know what?"

Andrew: "What, Mom?"

Me: "You know who I think is going to be the only one to get to go to Chuck E Cheese is?"

Andrew: "Who?!" {thinking it was him}

Me: "Well, she's the only one whose been staying in her bed lately....it's Bella."

I looked at Andrew's face and he cracked the biggest, most silly smile I've ever seen...then, he started cracking up.

And, so I told him, "Oh, Andrew, I love that smile of yours."

Andrew replied, "Well, Mom, this isn't any old smile...this is my ULTIMATE smile."

And, he couldn't wait to tell Parker this the next morning...and, he did finally go to sleep.

How I love that boy {and his brother too!}.

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This past week has been the most intense week for us.  I'm thinking that if our marriage survives this week, then we can survive anything.  On top of gymnastics dress rehearsals and programs, multiple soccer games and practices, as well as a Cub Scout overnight camp out (this was cancelled due to rain), and multiple work obligations, friends coming over, homework, helper days at preschool, board meetings, and everything else that happens in life, we actually SOLD our house!

It's true.

And, not only that, we also BOUGHT a new home!  Yep, it's the one we wanted...we've been eying it for months and I am so so so so so happy that it has all worked out. {And, thankful for the new friends we've made in this process...}

I know all of you know that I carry a bittersweet heart about all of this moving mumbo jumbo {tears}, but I can't tell you how happy I am that we now know what and where we will be in six weeks.

You also have to know that almost every time I talk about this, I cry...like a baby.  Like 10 times a day.  Really...I cry at work, I cry when I drop the kids off at school, I cry when I'm doing the dishes, I cry during gymnastics performances, I cry picking kids up, having friends over, talking about the weather....you name it, I've cried all over it.  Living in a small community for 10 years will do that to a girl.

But, then I smile....and let me tell you friends, this is my ultimate smile.  I'm smiling because I know of the new adventures that are ahead for us.  I know it's not all going to be easy {so, you Mommas out there that have moved your kids to a new town, please, please, please give me some advice!}, but {like I told the boys} no matter where we are, as long as we are together, we will be just fine.  And, this is a super duper exciting time in our life!

#wecandohardthings

{Thanks for the most appropriate hash tag ever, to my friend who just moved her family to a new state.}

And...the best part is...the boys are really excited about this!

Whew!  I know there's a gajillion other things I want to tell you, but that's about all I can handle for now.  So, until next time {because, let's be honest here, I don't know when that's going to be}, I hope you have many 'ultimate' smiles...and some regular smiles too.