Three years ago today

Three years ago today, we signed the paperwork to buy this house. I showed John the above picture a minute ago, and he said it didn't even register in his mind at first that it was a picture of Mary.


About a week later, we were back to stay. Mary and I drove up by ourselves while John stayed behind to finish up with the movers.

And now Mary's done with preschool! She'll be starting pre-k in 2.5 months.


This picture was the last day of school. They were both looking at themselves in the window. Silly girls. I love this picture. They both look so pleased at what they see.

I cannot put into words the emotions of the last three years. I can't even wrap my mind around it. Tears come to my eyes. Moving, the house in Evansville still being for sale when we moved and the mess that ended up being, trying for months to get pregnant with Ellie, having a crappy pregnancy with so much back pain that I couldn't move most of the time, then having a newborn, good times and bad times in our marriage, crazy, crazy stuff. But now, the Evansville thing is behind us, Ellie's growing into a little kid who is so much fun, and Mary's matured so much recently that I hardly recognize her as my Mary. Being four is a very good age for her. The girls can play together sometimes, and John and I get to have actual conversations! We went on a trip over the weekend, and it couldn't have gone better. We actually like taking road trips with the kids. It seems like just yesterday that I was taking the five hour drive from Evansville to Richmond with just Mary. It was miserable. She hated the car. I'd never driven that far before with just her. We had to stop a million times I am sure. I don't even remember.

I am so happy right now. I am so super in love with John and the girls. I love living here on this beautiful piece of property. We are raising our kids in the exact environment we wanted for them. Mary's going to be attending a wonderful school in the fall. I know that things won't always be this perfect, but I am trying to enjoy every minute of it while it lasts.