Simply the best.

Moving...well, there isn't much to be said about it, except for maybe a 'sigh' of relief when the actual process is completed, if you have ever moved then you know how exactly what I am talking about. Our decision to move was kind of a spontaneous one that had been thought long and hard about. Once we said "YES"- well the process started and didn't really stop until the beginning of this week. Moving has been the best thing that we could have done and I wonder at least once daily why we didn't do it before now. The fun and the opportunities are wide spread over this mountainess terrain- peace flows like a river and life feels, oh so new and fresh....ok, now i'm starting to sound a bit like a country song- so, I shall move on. With all the peace that I have had about the move I must say when the actual thought of "Ok, we are really moving" touched base in my mind my main concern was my kid and how he would adjust. I never wanted to put him on a routine- because the type of girl that I am if I get a wild hair to do something then I wanted him to feel flexible to do it and not put pressure on a situation that honestly doesn't need anymore undue. However, my child puts himself on schedule- a routine that is actually fairly flexible so it fits everybody (have I mentioned lately that he is pretty darn awesome?!?). My child LOVED "home" down the mountain. He had his space, his area of play that we spent almost every waking moment in. The sight of the playroom would light his face up- it was his most favorite place in the whole world with the exception of sleeping in between mom and pop; and well, the thought of having to- what I thought would be 'dragging' him away from that which he loved so very much really broke my heart. However, as I stated before-my kid is beyond awesome and I did all that worry for nothing. Hey I'm a mom, it's what I do. Needless to say, he has loved his new home on the mountain. He loves seeing his daddy everyday all day, he loves the cabin life, the grass and running around in bare feet, having airplanes land in his backyard, watering the horses and of course all the other stuff that's simply everyday life. The kiddo sleeps wonderfully, and if you know us at all- you know that he is a bit like his momma and doesn't always sleep so good, it has been an answer to prayers. Nothing makes my heart more happy than seeing and knowing how happy and content he is....now. Yes, I said now. There was a few moments in the whole preparing to move, packing up, the actual moving, getting stuff situated that he was not so happy. We had to work non-stop to get everything ready to go and in doing that there wasn't a lot of time of energy left at the end of the day to play (which BROKE our hearts!!!). He was fussy, sad, unhappy, unsettled and I KNOW wishing that he could have his old more fun parents back. So, once we got settled here at our new home and ready to open the store- we took a whole day and dedicated it to Logan- well called it the Logan fun filled day or in short the Logan Day. We woke up and went to the Dinosaur museum which he absolutely loved with his little big heart. We were the only ones there and he was able to run around and growl at all the life-sized dinosaurs, it was awesome, and of course we had a blast as well simply watching him. We left from there, went for some lunch and then rode the trolley on to Dollywood (seeing as how we are only 20 min away-we got season passes for a year full of fun) we rode as many rides as we could fit in that afternoon. Logan was wore slam out, got all snuggly and fell asleep on the trolley ride back to the car. It was the absolute best day ever...we had a blast! I didn't want the day to end. I know I say it all the time at least in every other blog entry that I write, I just don't think that I can say it enough...I love being a mom, I love all that it is, all that it requires, all the little things that take my breath away and leave me in awe of the little person I call mine. I don't care to be anyone else, to do anything- I am absolutely, completely and utterly happy as long as I can continue everyday being a momma to that little blue eyed boy with the most beautiful smile you ever did see.

Here are some pictures from our family fun day...our Logan day. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did seeing them thru the shutter.

(Logan and Momma with the T-Rex)

(Amazed at the T-Rex...his favorite)

(Pretending to be a scary Dinosaur)

(Daddy and Logan at the Dinosaur Museum)

(Trying to touch the 3-horn)

(Loving the trolley)

(Bees with Daddy)

(Duckies with Momma)

(Riding the Dragon on the carousel.)

(Driving Daddy)

“When you look at your life the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.”

The Birthday Girl.

So...This past weekend was my birthday. If you know me you know birthdays are of upmost importance to me (ESPECIALLY my kids). They are a day to be HUGELY celebrated because obviously there is nothing more important than life. I pull the birthday week card and the boys do special little things for me everyday of the week- little notes, flowers, small gifts, massages-anything and everything they can come up with and suprise me with everyday, which is my FAVE! I fell ill a couple days before my birthday (as did my mom and sister) and prayed that I (we) would feel better- what a disappointment to be all icky on such a big day as that. Luckily, we for the most part felt better and were able to muster up some energy to get together and PARTY. We got all fancied up and they took me out to dinner in Knoxville, yummy! Cake and presents followed. The next day my mom took us girls and treated us to a pedicure and a little shopping which was loads of fun. We tried to make it to the Titanic museum, however, it being a museum the tickets were sold out, therefore we have plans of going during the week. We spent the whole weekend doing things here and there having lots of fun. The best gift was being with my family, enjoying their company, making memories and of course celebrating me! :)

Did I say how much I love birthdays?!?!

some of my love.

“The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.”

Time flies and he just keeps growing...getting bigger, smarter, happier, sweeter, funnier, quirkier. I look at him and my heart takes flight.

Making the choice to have a child and surrender yourself completely is the most rewarding gift you will ever give yourself. My life has changed and everyday gets better because I get to be a part of his tomorrows. Words cannot express all that my heart feels for him and how much it grows every minute. I wish that I could bottle up time and moments. I wish I could capture each smile, laugh, funny little thing he does so that I never ever forget. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't tell him how much I love him, how truly spectacular and wonderful he is and what a great guy he is and will be. It is such an honor to be his momma and to share in something so much bigger than anything I have ever known, a miracle.

For the love of INK.

So my hubby got a new tattoo a few weeks back, before we moved and I just haven't had the time to share it yet. I had all bets that he would never get another one, but much to my surprise and months and month of him thinking about what he wanted to get- he got it. I personally think that it is awesome, as did the artist who tattooed it- Marcus of Ink Link (he took a picture of it before he let B leave- which we thought was awesome, lol). So before you see it let me explain to you what exactly it is. It's a tattoo of paper cranes- first I will tell you the meaning of them throughout history and then the meaning that B derived from the historical meaning.

Throughout history, birds have been viewed as animals of special value and have been endowed with meanings often drawn from legends and stories that have endured over many generations. For the Japanese, the crane—or tsuru—is considered a national treasure, appearing in art, literature, and folklore. The Japanese regard the crane as a symbol of good fortune and longevity because of its fabled life span of a thousand years. It also represents fidelity, as Japanese cranes are known to mate for life. Over time, the crane has also evolved as a favorite subject of the Japanese tradition of paper folding—origami—as children and adults attempt to master this art. Shortly after the end of World War II, the folded origami cranes came to symbolize a hope for peace through Sadako Sasaki and her unforgettable story of perseverance. Diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to radiation after the bombing of Hiroshima, Sadako became determined to reach a goal of folding 1,000 cranes in hopes of being rewarded with health, happiness, and a world of eternal peace. Although she died before reaching her goal, the tradition of sending origami cranes to the Hiroshima memorial has endured as a symbol of the Japan’s ongoing wish for nuclear disarmament and world peace.

Each bird, for Bruce, means something different- the first for the day we got married, the second for the day Logan was born and the third for the day that we made a change and moved to TN. For hope, prosperity, happiness, joy, longevity and fullness of life. It looks awesome- has great meaning. I LOVE tattoos that have meaning and thought behind them. Now, not everyone likes tattoos and unfortunately people will stereotype and judge because of them, which I think is a shame on their part. We are good people who love some good ink. A permanent note of something that we want to forever remember.

So with that being said- I have posted a pic of it, well, because I think its pretty dang awesome.

Fam(ily)

♥

♥

Home Sweet Home.

The Hull family are now officially Tennesseans. We moved this past weekend and BOY WAS THAT A JOB! Me and B didn't leave good ole' RC until about 12:30 last Friday night, which put us pulling in at the lovely time of 3 o'clock in the morning. We had a wedding to photograph, dinner with some family, saying goodbyes and a bit more packing up to do. The drive up was a fun- we got to kinda relax and enjoy each others company. Logan rode up with his Nana and Papa and spent the day with them.

We are loving it here, including Bruzer. I was concerned at they- Logan (and Bruzer) were going to adjust to our new living situations, since they neither one deal with change very well- much to my surprise it has been a smooth success...I worried for nothing! Logan loves the cabin and the closeness of us as a family that it brings. It's so cozy and nice and his sleeping has magically improved, the Hallelujahs fill the air. We still don't have everything in it's place and are working on that slowly but surely. Logan did NOT like us working 24/7 when we were packing up, so we have made it a point to simply take it slower now that we are here that way we can spend some much needed time with him and get some R&R in. We are hoping to have a day where we just do spend time together- we are calling it the Logan day. The day all about Logan- where we will do all the things he loves- I, myself am looking forward to it. We are working on getting everything ready for the Grand Opening- running here and there. I am ready for somewhat of a schedule back. I'm not much of a routine oriented person, but I do know now that I like to know what is going to happen from day to day.

It's so nice being here with our family...it makes my heart happy. I don't think I realized how much I missed them until we got here. Logan thoroughly enjoys being around everyone. We are happy, really happy not to mention excited about all that our future holds!

my love's Past.

The picture you see above is from mine and B's first beach trip seven whole years ago. Wow, where has the time gone?!?! I was so excited to find this picture in my hubbies computer stuff and be able to share with everyone a piece from our past. I don't have a lot of our pictures on the computer- so needless to say, my night was made when I ran across this. I remember it like it was yesterday- I can feel all the excitement that this picture holds. Goodness-gracious- I can feel all the "giddy" flutterbies in my belly...complete and utter sheer happiness-so strongly its as if today is yesterday. The eight years that we have been together have been, by far the best of my life and only it's only gettin' better. I have one heck of an awesome guy- he still gives me those "giddy" feelings, loves me like mad, would go to the ends of the world for me, sees me perfectly inspite of my imperfections...is my bestest friend- I am by far the luckiest girl in the world. I am so proud to be his-from then to now and on and on for many tomorrows to come.

“When we love anyone with our whole hearts, life begins when we are with that person; it is only in their company that we are really and truly alive.”

out of the blue.

I just love these new pics of Lo. They say summer, beauty, happiness, excitement, change. I love being able to see his little body and summer, well summer, allows just for that. Seeing how he has grown and is growing-reminds me everyday that he was formed and molded inside of me and how great and amazing that whole experience is...that he is (it brings tears to my eyes).
He is the most rewarding thing that I have ever done, and the rewards are never-ending.

Easter Holiday.

Let me start by saying, Happy Easter Ya'll. It has been a great couple of days and the weather has been simply beautiful. I love holiday's and fun festivities, always have- but especially now that we have a little man in the mix- he makes everything 150% more fun. We spent yesterday enjoying the outside and playing, then went to a egg hunt with some friends of ours, there is where we discovered that Logan LOVES hunting for eggs and gets extremely excited when he finds one! Our entire family went to dinner together yesterday evening, I don't think we have been all together since Christmas- that's a good while when you live only a mile apart.

Coloring the eggs was loads of fun. Logan was awesome, it's as if he has been coloring eggs for years. He got so excited and first thing he "accidentally" did was dump over the yellow coloring, of course he thought that it was hilarious and how could we not?!?! He had a basket full of boyish colored eggs- of which he colored and decorated himself- such a big boy! Not to mention between the "Easter Bunny," Nana, Papa and his Easter egg winnings from Grandma- the child racked up! It's always so fun to have an opportunity to buy little gifts and decorate them all the holiday-ish- it's one of my most favorite things to do. Any occasion to lavish him with fun stuff, stuff that he loves, stuff that makes him smile, is up most fun for us.

Spending time with our family, watching Logan run around finding and gathering eggs, the smiles, laughter, good conversation, the photo opportunities to capture more memories- are what makes holiday's the best around here. Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure from our Easter holiday.

I, we, hope you have had a great and very blessed Easter.