New Car!!

Remember a few months ago when I blogged about Josh's new car? And remember how I went on and on about Josh's good friend that always finds us great cars? 

ughhhh...I hate car salesmen.

Well...I had this great plan about waiting 1-2 years before trading my truck in for a new car. I even told our car-friend, Mark, about this great plan...describing my dream car in full detail. And I told him I wouldn't settle for anything less. 

So long story short, he found my dream car and we bought it:

Okay, okay...while there is nothing ugly about an Aston Martin, I was actually referring to a way more practical dream car:

Yes...I traded in my good ol' truck for a 4Runner. I guess I missed Josh's old car so much that I couldn't resist (and yes...we're buying a car in bathing suits...we had big plans for the day). 

It wasn't supposed to happen like this. It all started on that Friday. I was minding my own business...making sales calls...loving life without a car payment...when Mark rudely interrupted me via text to let me know about a 2015 CHARCOAL GRAY 4Runner with only 9900 miles. I'm not gonna lie...my first response was rated R. I cussed him out and told him to leave me alone. 

ugh...I hate car salesmen. 

He didn't give up, and he eventually convinced us to just come by to "check it out." I wouldn't even test drive it at first, but he slowly and surely chipped away at my soul...until I was in that dang sales office ready to sign my firstborn child over:

Just kidding...Jace helped me negotiate. 

In all seriousness, this really was the car I've been dying to have. My truck was great for running people and trashcans over...but it was just not practical. And it didn't even have A/C in the backseat. I've wanted this exact car for like 12 years now.... 

ugh...the more I think about it, the more I hate car salesmen. 

The good news is....

Jace loooooves it.  

Special thanks to Mark and Duncan Automotive for another great experience. Two new cars in less than six months. I think they owe us a sandwich or something...

But I still secretly love hate car salesmen :) 

Baby Showers Galore

There must be something in the water in good ol' East Tennessee, because I am seeing babies everywhere. The weekend before last, I was so excited to attend a baby shower for two of my favorite ladies!

Jace and I started out Saturday morning attending Kim's baby shower for her sweet daughter that is on the way. Jace was very proud to be the only boy in attendance. We are so excited to meet Baby Aston next month (and I am just in love with that name). Mega props to Kim for looking absolutely phenomenal in her third trimester :)

After Kim's shower, Jace and I headed across town and into the beautiful Maynardville countryside to celebrate Kristina and her TWINS. OMG - I don't know how Kristina does it. And she does it so beautifully :) 

On the drive over, Jace might have leaked through his diaper. And I might have forgotten a spare outfit. And Jace might have spent the afternoon in swim-trunks and a borrowed shirt that was waaaaaaay too big for him. #momfail 

Thankfully, Tyrah was there to make fun of me and proudly hang out with my poor kid. She even fed him icing, so she got mega-points from Jace. 

We are so excited to meet sweet Baby Evelyn and Baby Wade any day now :)

Cheers to Kim and Kristina! Can't wait to meet these kiddos soon! They sure are lucky to have such pretty Mommas :) 

Upstate New York - Saturday

Yes. I am still carrying on about my Upstate New York visit. 

Saturday was our final full day in our little heaven. Kara, the older boys, and I woke up early to check out The Windmill. This little farm and craft market is about as cute as it gets. Fresh food. Handmade gifts. Adorable everything. Thank goodness we didn't bring a U-Haul or I'd be begging for a credit increase on my AmEx right about now...

While we headed to the Windmill, Grumpy offered to watch Baby Jace. I told him it was okay as long as he followed a few rules: No 4-wheeler, no tractor, and no ladders. Grumpy promised he would be behave, and I left the two of them like this:

Aaaaand...then as I was pulling out of the driveway, I saw this:

Grumpy is paying me back for all my teenage years of rule breaking.................

We got back from our little morning excursion, and I was so relieved to find my little Jace alive and well and playing with the dog toy:

#SMH

We still had one major item on our agenda to tackle. KEUKA LAKE. Baby Jace had his first dip in the lake!! Mom says I was about the same age as Jace when I was "baptized." What a sweet family tradition :)

The lake was frigid. We hung out at the beach for a minute or two and worked on our sitting-up some more:

#momfail

Thank-goodness Auntie Kara was there for the rescue:

We headed back to Broken Road Farms and got a little rebellious. Y'all, Julie's El Camino was calling our name the entire vacation:

She may only get 4 mpg, but she is a BEAUT. Took me back to my Texas-living days. 

We ended the trip with a picture perfect picnic and campfire with family.

Special thanks to Grumpy and Gege for showing Jace and the rest of us such a great time. 

We can't wait to come back soon :) 

Upstate New York - Friday

Our third day in New York was one full of so many memories. We woke up early, and headed to Hammondsport (where my entire family is from) to visit all of our old spots. Baby Jace needed to see our family history. 

We started out by visiting the "Lower 45." This is 45 acres that my grandfather (my idol, my hero, my favorite person I've ever met) purchased waaaay back when my Dad was a young'un. I remember Dad telling me stories of him and his siblings spending "miserable" summers grooming these 6-inch pines to grow straight and beautiful. And about 45 years later, you can see their progress.  Something about the history of this property just melts my soul. It may not look like much to an outsider, but it just means the world to me:

I don't mean to be all political, but one thing I love about the beautiful Upstate...NO FRACKING. Let's keep this place the way nature intended it to be :) 

We walked the boundaries, got back to the dirt road, and then hit up more of the property that I had grown up to know and love:

We headed up good ol' Two Rod Road to visit my Dad's property. I grew up spending every single summer 4-wheeling, brush-hogging, and camping on this acreage. Dad has spent much of the last 15 years growing a beautiful apple orchard.  This was the first year that I've actually gotten to eat the fruit. One of the first lessons I ever learned: a tree is one of the kindest gifts you can give to the next generation. 

And Chase and Jace (and Sammy when he's not swimming) have gotten to enjoy that gift:

We then made the short trek over to where my Grandma and Grandpa's ashes were spread. I'm not quite ready to share my heart on how much this means to me, but it was very special for Jace to visit these souls for the first time:

I hope they are proud :)

And just a side note...Josh and I got married about 15 yards away from here in the most beautiful and intimate ceremony that I could ever imagine (complete with the Forrest Gump Suite playing live in the background). 

We next headed up the hill to Grandma and Grandpa's old house. It's now for sale, and I only wish I could win the lottery to preserve this gem for life. Again, if I go into too much detail...it's just too much feels for someone like me that has a tough time with heavy emotions. Just look at the pictures and imagine THIRTY years of summers spent at this majestic Heaven on Earth:

And yes y'all...this is NEW YORK (and not that ugly, overpopulated, cemented city):

Absolutely ridiculous, right? My heart..........

As an added bonus, Baby Jace got to meet his Great Uncle Rich:

We then headed down to the "Coolest Small Town in America" for lunch and some ice cream:

We headed back to Broken Road Farms, where Dad and Julie had a great surprise for the girls. Kara and I had the absolute pleasure of visting "Cross My Heart" where they let us each pick out two beautiful handmade gifts. I can't wait for the Tennessee chickadees to enjoy their new home :)

Just a short distance away, we enjoyed hundreds upon hundreds of sunflowers:

We then headed back to the house, and enjoyed some relaxation and another gorgeous sunset in the prettiest place that I know:

Upstate New York, y'all.  HEAVEN ON EARTH :)