here and there...

Well we spent Friday ninght with two of our favorite dudes in town, Cy Austin and Colby Todd. Their mom and dad had a special date night and we had a sleepover. We started at the mall where they ran crazy with all of the other children in Franklin who apparently hang out there at the play place on Friday nights, too...

...and did a little driving around...

...and then ended up all snuggled up with popcorn and a movie. Shaelyn Jade learned how to say Cy ("th-y") so she pretty much goes around the house saying it all the time....

Then Nate and Rich left for work in Atlanta this week so Tiff and I joined our crews again last night for another sleepover at "Grandmo Connie's" house. We had one extra "cuz" join us so her mom and dad could also have a date night...and again it was just about more fun than they could all handle!

But I must say the highlight of this party was that we finally ALL got to talk to Joe and Court and the kiddos together this morning. Uncle Dra even showed up to get Livi at the perfect time and got to sit and chat with Joe for a bit...I know it did both of their hearts good. It was such a joy to see all of their faces- after too long...and hear their excitement at their new adventure. Briley is cast-free and has caught an African frog...Braxton showed us another one of his very cool lego creations and got to talk to his two best buds...Barron had MUCH to say to everyone over and over again :)...and told us about the baboons that are as big as him that walk all over the place there...we got to see Bristol walk (and heard her fall down the stairs)...heard a classic Joey story of how he ran over a snake the size of HIM (and a local took it home for "snake soup"...FOR REAL!)...and got to see our sweet "sis" Courtney and hear about her new home...and see that she is good. It was just what Tiff and I needed to hear, and KNOW----that our crazy family is still their same, crazy, HAPPY selves there that they were here!

So today as my sweet girl naps my heart is FULL of THANKFULNESS for my family...the ones HERE who we hold close and see lots (and who help fill the void of our other missing peeps) and who Jadeybug is growing to love more and more as she comes so alive to this world...and for those far away who we hold EVEN closer :), see less, miss more, and pray for MORE...and count days til we are with again. We love them all the same---so so much and feel so blessed to share such deep bonds with those who are my family. It was so good to be reminded, today, that those bonds will never change or lessen despite time or distance.

We will continue making memories as a group...here with "Th-y" and Colby (which she absolutely cannot say at all!) and via SKYPE with Bri and Brax and Bear and Brist. It's new for us, but hey- we'll take it! Oh how sweet to see those smiling faces...