30

Holy cow, I turned 30. I don’t even know how or when this happened. But a birthday was involved, and in the best way. We took an extremely long road trip to some of my favorite places anywhere. Disney World, but we have covered that slice of happiness. Of course, no such road trip would be complete without a visit to New Orleans – NOLA, The Crescent City, The Big Easy.  Without a doubt, it is my number one favorite city. And what do you do when you come here? You eat and eat. So, thank you Stanley and Cafe Du Monde, you were just what a birthday girl needed. And, you walk and rub your belly (just a bit) ’cause that’s what pregnant women do, right?

Walt Disney World-Fall 2014

 

We are so proud to announce that, yes – we are going to be having a precious baby boy! He, of course, is arriving this winter and we couldn’t be more happy and excited.

So, to continue the family tradition of fun Disney trips, we headed on a road trip through the south to where else? Walt Disney World in Florida! It was the only perfect way to celebrate Heather’s birthday and to have a family trip for (most) of the Brooks family in anticipation of Baby Boy Liles’ arrival! Road trips are always…different…every single time. With Heather expecting, we tried to make it a slower and more relaxing trip – but our excitement for Disney ended up trumping all and soon enough we were at the Pop Century resort and Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. It was hot, but fun and thank God for the pool and free beverages! It was all about Studio Ghibli in the Japan feature in Epcot and the Dole Whip at Magic Kingdom! We ate incredibly well, pretty much every cuisine and every type of treat. (But most defiantly everything sweet in moderation.)

Soon enough, our road trip began again and we were driving past beautiful houses and beachfronts in Panama City  and on to New Orleans for Heather’s birthday. Who doesn’t love lunch at Stanley and beignets at Cafe Du Monde?! A perfect way to cap off a wonderful birthday and trip.

 

August 15th

 

Some things hold a specific memory, a particular place and time that will remind you of the journey you are on. They are simple trees. But we got married by these trees, we said our vows under their branches, we prayed by these trees as the late summer sun filtered through their leaves. And we have returned every year to remind ourselves of where we have been and where we are now. And what is now? It was just the two of us then. Then two puppies in the span of three years. And now in our fifth year? One precious baby on the way.

Fifth Wedding Anniversary

Our anniversary is Friday.

5 years. It’s a just a number, but it’s more than a number. It has been a journey that has taken us to places unexpected and through many a trial and yet by grace we are here – with a child on the way. 6 years ago, we met and soon were building a life together, exploring, making and documenting memories and learning the little details of each other. And then we found ourselves married, living in Dallas, going to school and work and having barely a clue about what all the future would hold. Fort Worth has been a part of this journey, with its familiar comforts and frustrations all the same. We have lived in a few houses, some small, some large, some just so-so. We met and fell in love with our Pomeranian Emory. We traveled a lot through the South, falling in love with New Orleans, the coast and frequenting Disney World, the Happiest Place On Earth. We met and fell in love with Clio, the wonderful Pekingese in our life.

We have had challenges, from the ever present adult responsibility of finances, to work, to embarking on business ventures and to learning how to be a family as 2 young adults + 2 pups. Now we are going to be 3 + 2 pups. And that is a whole new adventure. So, 5 years is just a number, but it comes with memories and emotions and frustrations and stress and love, joy and hope and the great unknown. Things aren’t perfect and we know life isn’t expected to be. We have our own highlight reels that the world sees, and we have plenty of issues, we deal with depression, we have family issues, we have money problems, but we definitely live in gratitude and grace.

It’s the start of year 6, and we are more than ready to step into the future, a future that is all new for us, and the child we have the joy of being parents to. Here’s to many more perfectly imperfect life adventures.

 

 

What’s Going On

What the heck is going on around here?! We have a baby on the way. which is amazing and scary and still very new to us. So, these photos are what has been going on – and in no way are strictly a highlight reel. Things have been “real” real around here in our world. Stresses beyond belief, so it’s as if it has been a very long, not so very hot summer. We are struggling in finding a place to live (again), not getting to hang out by the beach, BUT conversely getting ready for our Disney World (again) trip with our family, feeling the baby moving around in there, lots of the (pregnancy) moody blues, as much pool time as possible, and dreaming of winter. We want winter to come as soon as possible.

Oh, and a few baby bump pics, because, well ya know…

Oh Hey There

Coming Soon!!

A huge thank you to our friends at –

New Orleans Weekend

 

Going Ons

 

Its April, April already! Can you imagine? April 1st was Clio’s first birthday, or  as its known around here: the day we celebrate our April Fools Baby. But really, he is no fool! He has stolen our hearts just as his brother Emory continues to do every day. We are so so so blessed to have these little puppy boys in our lives. So, of course we had to have a little party for his special day! Balloons, party hats and most of all, a puppy Sprinkles cupcake for the birthday boy. And being that he is a little tyke – soon enough he was passed out taking a nap. It’s been a special year, and here’s a lifetime of memories to be made with a certain tuxedo’d Pekingese.

And so, we being our spring with birthdays and despite some random cold days, it’s lovely to be on the other side of winter. It’s time for sunglasses, road trips, New Orleans, bicycles and lots of lots of sunshine.

 

Disney California Adventure

 

Jumping Jacks

So, we seemed to have dropped off the face of the planet?!!! RIGHT! No, not really at all. That’s all dramatics, or theatrics…well, it is something. But what have we been up to?It’d be easy to give a generic answer about living life and how excited we are about of adventures, blah blah blah…and that would be technically true.

But the truth is that we are doing life and that is always more more intricate and complex. We are getting our heart rates up, riding bikes and jumping jacks. Thanks, mom!

All that being said, we started marriage counseling aka therapy. So, there is that roller coaster of memories and emotions. But this is a good thing right? It is. We are good.

But life is strange, Bo was very gently let down from a job he applied for and really wanted, and we are still looking for the right place and home to call our own. But we take it one challenge at a time, process all the emotions and feelings and do our best. Right? Right.

So, it helps to talk about it – to have family that is involved in your life, to have community! So more of that!