I never intended to have a 3-month hiatus from photography and this blog, but life kind of happened.... And Josh unexpectedly packed the computer away in storage! So, what exactly happened these last few months? Well, I'll tell you.

1. Wallace had a birthday

2. We had to move out of our house and in with my Mom (poor Granny...)

3. Anna had a birthday

4. We fell in love with and lost 3 potential houses due to crazy seller circumstances

5. We got a puppy! Why not? Everything else was pretty crazy for us, seemed like the perfect time to throw a puppy into the mix!

6. We went on a couple of trips

7. Meredith got baptized

8. We finally closed on a new house!

9. Josh's truck was stolen

10. Josh's truck was recovered

11. A lot more that I'm sure I'm forgetting about....

So, I don't really have pictures of everything that happened during the hiatus, but I got a fair amount of it. I started to get kind of down on taking pictures since I wasn't really able to look at them and process them, so I caught myself just not really taking my camera with me to a lot of the places I normally would.

Anyway...this will be a long update, but hey...it's been 3 months...what'd you expect? :)

WALLACE'S BIRTHDAY!

Wallace turned 2! This was one of the last things we did in our old house! And you can probably tell life was already getting a bit hectic. Poor kid got a rice krispie "cake". "/

Dallas and Madison were in town and stopped by for the festivities!

Wallace cracked me up at my Mom's house.  In good ways and bad...  He was a little off-balance I guess, and never really figured out that sleeping was to be done at night and running around the house was to be done during the day. — Wallace cracked me up at my Mom's house. In good ways and bad... He was a little off-balance I guess, and never really figured out that sleeping was to be done at night and running around the house was to be done during the day.

But then he would do the cutest stuff...like try to help me with the dishes.  :) — But then he would do the cutest stuff...like try to help me with the dishes. :)

So...we decided to get a puppy.  We hadn't really planned on the timing of it, but our dog trainer had organized a litter of drathars, and we honestly thought we'd be in a new house before they were born... — So...we decided to get a puppy. We hadn't really planned on the timing of it, but our dog trainer had organized a litter of drathars, and we honestly thought we'd be in a new house before they were born...

Josh was out of town for this, but when the puppies were about 4 weeks old our trainer had them all over at her house, so all of the perspective puppy parents and their families went to visit them.  We didn't even know which ones were ours yet,… — Josh was out of town for this, but when the puppies were about 4 weeks old our trainer had them all over at her house, so all of the perspective puppy parents and their families went to visit them. We didn't even know which ones were ours yet, but Anna was drawn to this little guy. Happens to be the one we got! He was super adorable and calm, and nothing at all like he is now. "/

Since we didn't feel right about bringing a puppy home to my Mom's house we would go visit Hoss at Tammy's (the trainer) place every weekend...and that's when Anna decided to fall in love with another little puppy.  She was the last of the litt… — Since we didn't feel right about bringing a puppy home to my Mom's house we would go visit Hoss at Tammy's (the trainer) place every weekend...and that's when Anna decided to fall in love with another little puppy. She was the last of the litter, and just seemed to have so much love to give. So after some thought...we decided to get her too! I know! We're crazy people! The other cute little girl is Riley, Tammy's niece.

Since Hilde is my puppy, I decided I could go ahead and bring her home to my Mom's house.  I don't think Granny was super pleased with me, but I think it was good for me and the puppy.  Although...she still isn't house broken...  "/ &… — Since Hilde is my puppy, I decided I could go ahead and bring her home to my Mom's house. I don't think Granny was super pleased with me, but I think it was good for me and the puppy. Although...she still isn't house broken... "/ Arg....super frustrating having a puppy for the first time in like 15 years. So, the vet had said I should let her run around with the leash on but not holding it for a little while so she could get used to it...

...yeah....she insists on holding it the whole time you walk her now....

We went on the annual family trip to the Frio with Josh's family, and I took a TON of pictures. It was the first time I'd pulled my camera out in a while since we had moved in with my Mom....I got a little carried away.

Anna was thrilled to see it again.  ;) — Anna was thrilled to see it again. ;)

I decided to pack my camera in a ziplock and brave the treacherous Frio River rocks (those things are sharp and slimy!) to get some pics of the kids in the water!

I honestly can't believe how good this picture turned out!

The boys found a tree swing!  I can't believe Cy is the same age as Anna...she was not quite ready to jump from a tree swing this summer!  He was a maniac! — The boys found a tree swing! I can't believe Cy is the same age as Anna...she was not quite ready to jump from a tree swing this summer! He was a maniac!

Totally worth it to risk $2K in camera equipment!  :) — Totally worth it to risk $2K in camera equipment! :)

Wallace is starting to look a little bit like a monkey...and he's so fair, we have to coat his entire head in sunblock, so his hair gets a little out of control too.  :) — Wallace is starting to look a little bit like a monkey...and he's so fair, we have to coat his entire head in sunblock, so his hair gets a little out of control too. :)

She's so good even Anna let her paint her face!  And that's saying a lot! — She's so good even Anna let her paint her face! And that's saying a lot!

Someone came up with the awesome idea for the kids to paint t-shirts for the 4th of July parade!

Erica brought awesome treats for all of the kids!  She's pretty popular with them.  :) — Erica brought awesome treats for all of the kids! She's pretty popular with them. :)

Yeah...they were just a little excited...  ;) — Yeah...they were just a little excited... ;)

Uncle Mark came too!  But Wallace didn't want his picture taken with him apparently...  "/ — Uncle Mark came too! But Wallace didn't want his picture taken with him apparently... "/

Aunt Lynn brought an adult beverage concoction that required a good bit of shaking!

Just about everyone took a turn "shaking the baby!"

It was so funny...no one wants their picture taken while shaking this thing, but their faces were so funny when they'd realize I was snapping away.  :) — It was so funny...no one wants their picture taken while shaking this thing, but their faces were so funny when they'd realize I was snapping away. :)

I'm not so sure Joe liked it....  He might have just been swatting a fly though.  :) — I'm not so sure Joe liked it.... He might have just been swatting a fly though. :)

Ava was there!  And even though she closer in age to Wallace, she and Anna played together quite a bit! — Ava was there! And even though she closer in age to Wallace, she and Anna played together quite a bit!

So, I've been visiting the Frio since I was in middle school and used to go with a good friend every summer...  When exactly did the Frio become the Guadalupe???  "/ — So, I've been visiting the Frio since I was in middle school and used to go with a good friend every summer... When exactly did the Frio become the Guadalupe??? "/

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but the kids found a beer bong while tubing one afternoon!  And could not wait to try it out! — I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but the kids found a beer bong while tubing one afternoon! And could not wait to try it out!

And then there was the pinata!

I got pics of each one of the kids taking swipes at this thing!

Ava never really did get the hang of it....  :) — Ava never really did get the hang of it.... :)

Oh my gosh!  How cute is this!  She was so excited! — Oh my gosh! How cute is this! She was so excited!

Tanner was so funny!  He managed to knock it down without cracking it open.  :) — Tanner was so funny! He managed to knock it down without cracking it open. :)

Not to worry!  I was raised again, and Dillon took the first major swipe that got some candy to fall out! — Not to worry! I was raised again, and Dillon took the first major swipe that got some candy to fall out!

The kids all grabbed up the candy in between major swipes like this for quite a while.

Wallace hadn't been feeling great in the week leading up to this trip, and it seemed like it took an eternity, but he finally started warming up to some of his cousins after a few days.  :)  Yay! — Wallace hadn't been feeling great in the week leading up to this trip, and it seemed like it took an eternity, but he finally started warming up to some of his cousins after a few days. :) Yay!

Ha!  Josh and I just seem to be constantly covered up in kids lately.  :)  I've never loved the way he holds the babies like he's all about to drop them off his hip, but they never really seem to mind too much... — Ha! Josh and I just seem to be constantly covered up in kids lately. :) I've never loved the way he holds the babies like he's all about to drop them off his hip, but they never really seem to mind too much...

So, there's nothing better than a water gun float at a parade in Texas on the 4th of July!

Except for maybe a Lawn Chair Brigade!  These people were awesome! — Except for maybe a Lawn Chair Brigade! These people were awesome!

I love these mad dashes for candy in between floats!

Wallace's sunblock hair again.  :) — Wallace's sunblock hair again. :)

I've been trying to get some good pics of Meredith since I've finally got a fancy camera and a baby!  I never find time to do this.  "/ — I've been trying to get some good pics of Meredith since I've finally got a fancy camera and a baby! I never find time to do this. "/

Believe it or not....Anna actually took these pictures!  It was very sweet of her to offer.  :) — Believe it or not....Anna actually took these pictures! It was very sweet of her to offer. :)

She's quite talented!  Managed to keep us in the frame!  :) — She's quite talented! Managed to keep us in the frame! :)

And then on to the beach!

So, I took Hilde to the beach, and I was so stressed out trying to keep her from peeing all over the house that I just didn't get very many pictures of this trip.

The girls all had a ton of fun playing together!

And poor Wallace is the only boy in this group.  "/ — And poor Wallace is the only boy in this group. "/

Meredith's baptism!

Meredith's Godparent's got her her Christening gown, and it was super fancy!  She even got a little bracelet!  Adorable! — Meredith's Godparent's got her her Christening gown, and it was super fancy! She even got a little bracelet! Adorable!

And she didn't even really complain when she was woken up by the actual baptism.  :) — And she didn't even really complain when she was woken up by the actual baptism. :)

This was our baptism announcement picture.  It was a collaborative effort!  My Mom had to take the picture, and Jen had to process it.  I think it came together really nice! — This was our baptism announcement picture. It was a collaborative effort! My Mom had to take the picture, and Jen had to process it. I think it came together really nice!

Well...you made it to the end! :) Can't believe you stayed with me through all of that. Hope you enjoyed the update!