Moody Mania: Everything's A Memory

We need to be careful of going through the motions in life without stopping to make mental notes and memories. After all, there are so many things in life we can't take with us. Memories, thankfully, do not fall in that category.

This is why the Camera Roll on my phone is always in the thousands.

Some days I'm just grateful for the small accomplishments; like having both of my cell phones charged to 100%. I mean, that happens what? As frequently as a Kathy Griffin apology?

I've got a whole 24 hours on this battery.

We are officially almost THREE MONTHS AWAY from being a family of four, and I know that things are about to get super crazy. So we are soaking up the remaining occasions as a family of three.

One of the ten Moody cousins was getting married on May 20th, so my parents saved the day (or shall I say weekend) and reported for Grandparent duty that Friday.

While the rest of the family joked about how sketchy their accommodations were after finding them randomly on the internet...

Ryan and I rested our heads in luxury at Casa de Joy. She was an absolutely wonderful host. Somehow we didn't take any pictures (!!!) Shocker, I know, but let's just say that Joy, Ryan, and I had a fantastic time eating at Adam's Bistro (hands down one of my favorite restaurants), shopping, and hanging out at her neighborhood pool for an entire afternoon. She even gave up her king bed and entire master suite so that we could have it all to ourselves. Joy, you are too much!

Presenting host of the year...

Congratulations to Matt & Riviere! Their engagement was a long time coming, and we were so happy to celebrate with them. Heather and Autrey are due just three weeks after we are. We're adding lots of family members this year!

True story; wedding receptions always make me nervous, because I never know if they'll have food that I will actually eat. Thank the Lord for chicken tenders and pork loin. I can't tell you how many times I've been to the drive thru in my finest after such occasions.

But I don't LIKE caviar!!!

Here are the TEN Moody boys with Granny Earline, minus Aaron who had a work obligation.

The next day the party kept going. Pizza and cake? Hmm...let me think about it.

Hurry! We've gotta beat the pizza delivery guy to the door!

*If Katharine were a runner*

When we first toured Emerson's daycare I distinctly remember meeting three children in the infant room. Kennedy was one of them, and it was time to celebrate her fourth Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese.

As per usual, Emerson wanted to do one thing only at the arcade, and that was ride the yellow carousel horse that she named, "Sunshine." I didn't argue; at least it kept her contained and in one spot.

We were so excited to see baby Cora and catch a glimpse as she was awake! But Emerson kept staring in a frightening manner at the stage, and I couldn't figure out why, because she loves characters. Then I saw it for myself.

There are two mice at Chuck E Cheese; one is real and gives the kids hugs, and one sits on stage. This is apparently his resting face with no eyes, and I have to hand it to her. That is frightening. It looks like the average person sitting in their cubicle on Monday morning...after an exorcism.

Memorial Day weekend was just that- one for the memory books!

First up was Katelyn's graduation. I have grown up (not in height, obviously) with this family and was so glad to be there for such a special occasion.

These girls were junior bridesmaids in my wedding...

And look at them now!

Last Friday we did one of the most patriotic things possible; had lunch at Shuler's under the massive American flag. Emerson was as enthralled with the ducks, turtles, and fish as I was with the chicken...bog. And fortunately none of us went over the edge of the deck, although it was a distinct possibility.

When asking my Dad to take a picture of us on my iphone...

"Sorry! It was on selfie mode."

"What?!?"

"Just- nevermind."

Dress my daughter in themed clothing? What are the odds?

That afternoon was bittersweet as we visited Nana on her very last day of school. She has been the media specialist there for 42 YEARS and has that library down to a science. She is one in a million, and so many people had the sweetest thoughts and well wishes for her on her retirement. They should engrave a brick with her name or something. Maybe a fountain with her face on it? Don't put anything past me.

Hilarious outtakes from Nana's photoshoot...

Just as she has done for many generations, her last reading on that carpeted area was to her own granddaughter. I sat in that very spot many years ago.

And as my Dad pointed out, they will BOTH be working this fall...it just won't be for pay.

The next day was filled with swimming and shopping. Emerson and I had a blast with Dorothy and my parents at the Coleman's pool.

We were extra smiley at church that Sunday knowing the next day was a holiday!

Freedom *is not free.* Someone paid the price for it on your behalf. I am so thankful to all the brave men and women who have sacrificed their time- and their lives- for the rest of us.

Ryan had been hosting a guy's weekend, so when we got back home we headed straight to the pool and then cooked out. We were all in food comas afterwards.

We spent two more hours at the pool Monday morning, and for the first time I was able to get Emerson to wear the bonnet I bought three summers ago. We call this #progress.

Memories are like a bag of grapes; we soak up the good ones and disown or toss away the sour ones. Within the past few weeks the following things have happened:

1) Ryan and I had pink eye...in BOTH eyes.

2) My Mac hard drive died AGAIN. This time I had all my information backed up, so mercifully I didn't lose anything. Word to the wise; don't just close your laptop and throw it in a bag or the car. It hurts the hard drive. You need to take the two extra seconds to shut it down first. Given the fact that my hard drive was not even five years old, they think this is what happened to mine.

3) While driving in construction on the interstate the truck in front of me swerved for no apparent reason; but by the time I saw why it was too late. There was a huge, tractor-like tire that had blown out and was sitting directly in my path. I braced myself as the impact shook my whole car. By the grace of God nothing appeared to be wrong, and I am incredibly thankful that I wasn't hurt. I arrived at Emerson's daycare, and it wasn't until I walked back out to the car that I saw it...

The whole bottom piece of my (brand new- AHH) car was hanging on by a thread. Emerson asked what happened, and I said that "I hit something on the road," but all she heard was, "I hit, "and proceeded to scold me. "You hit Pearl? (my car's name) That was NOT very nice."

Indeed.

But what was nice is that the dealer reattached the piece for absolutely no charge. I'll take that any day! Reattach piece = reattach peace. See what I did there?

Things like this are bound to happen, and what I try to remind myself constantly is that I'm not the only one. At least situations like this make me thankful, because things can always get worse...I totally know that!

Emerson demonstrates how to keep your cool.

I was super busy one day recently and came across this poem one night while literally being kicked at night by my little girl. And as my Dad reminded me, I get kicked by Landon and Emerson right now, but I'll take every one.

"I won't always cry, Mommy, when you leave the room,

and my supermarket tantrums will end too soon,

I won't always wake Daddy for cuddles through the night,

and one day you'll miss having a chocolate face to wipe,

You won't always wake to find my foot kicking you out of bed,

or find me sideways on your pillow where you want to lay your head,

You won't always have to carry me in asleep from the car,

or piggy back me down the road when my little legs can't walk that far,

so cherish every cuddle, remember them all,

because one day, Mommy, I won't be this small."

In life we have to remember that the annoying and frustrating things always come with the good, too. And while we can't control what happens to us, we can control how we react to it.