the road trip that didn't happen..

well, we made it to Gurdon, Arkansas. population 2000. 

I had grand plans for an amazing Nashville trip recap this week.  we left for Memphis TN last thursday to stay one night and then on to Nashville for the rest of the weekend.

we didn't make it. 

the weather man had been talking about residual rain from Harvey but we didn't anticipate it completely ruining our time in Tennessee so we packed up the kids and dropped them with BB and Papa before heading out. we were abut 5 hours and three pitstops into the roadtrip, just crossed over the Texas-Arkansas border and all hell broke loose.  the car started sputtering/stalling out and the "check engine" light started flashing.  we pulled over.. confused and concerned because what the heck was happening with our car?! we sat on the side of the road in hopes to let the car cool off a little and maybe it would let us get to a place where we could get it checked out.. because there was nothing where we were.

we drove a few more miles up the road and finally were forced to pull into a gas station that legit looked like there wasn't a soul in site.

..and then it started to rain.

..and whatever at&t cell tower was in or around this area blacked out.  literally.

so lets recap.

no phone. no internet. no CAR. and we didn't exactly know where we were at. we ran into the desolate gas station/truck stop and thank goodness there was someone behind the register!  we asked her if she could point us in the right direction for finding a place that we could get our car looked at and she casually pointed to the shop that was in the same parking lot as the store. which also happened to be connected to a restaurant. 

we pulled our car into the shop and the sweet young guys gave it a look over.. thought it could be the battery and then also thought it could be a sensor.. they had to call someone with a computer to come and hook the car up, so we waited and waited.  Gurdon is about 30-45 minutes from the next town over in both directions, so there was a lot of waiting that day.

I checked "pumping in a truck stop" off my bucket list and we went to see about getting some lunch.  still no cell service or internet at this point, but we were able to use our waitress' cell phone (thanks, verizon!) to call Jordan's dad.  we were on the phone with him when the tower blacked out and the last he had heard was that we were having car trouble.
so we sat.  and sat.  ate a grilled cheese and a fried pie..
the cell tower booted up again around hour 4 of waiting (YAS!) and then waited some more.
by the time hour six rolled around they had finally hooked the car up to a computer and determined that one of the sensors was firing incorrectly. OKAY. so there is still hope!  they assured us that they could fix the car, but wouldn't be getting a part until maybe the next day.  maybe?? at that point we started trying to figure out if we were going to have the car towed to a dealership about 35 miles up the road or if we were going to stay put until the next morning and let them fix it.
oh and there happened to be a motel, albeit creepy AF, but there was some place to stay if we needed it.  we talked to my mom, who was a life saver in all this helping us with hotel rooms (she works for Marriott).  we cancelled all our plans for Memphis and eventually decided that our trip money was probably going to car repair.. so Nashville was off, for now.

SUPER bummed, and I might have shed a tear, we started up the car in hopes that we would be able to limp the car down the road back towards home.  the car would run, just not very well.
UNTIL we started driving.  nothing.  no check engine light.  no shuttering.  no stalling.
so we risked our chances over paying $500 to tow the car and drove about an hour back to a hotel my mom had helped us book last minute.
the car didn't make a peep.  
as we laid in our hotel room that night, still licking our wounds over the fact that the entire trip had been ruined, we watched the news reporting tornado warnings in Memphis.  and the next story was flash flooding in downtown Nashville.  I woke the next morning to a text from my mom saying that the hotel we were supposed to stay at in Nashville was evacuated and flooded.. the roads we were supposed to take were nonexistent at the moment.
if we would have made it to Tennessee we would have been stuck there for a hot minute!
we took the scenic route home and made a stop in Canton for first Monday trade days (basically the best flea market you'll ever go to.. and it happens just once a month) and made it home to these precious babies.

have you ever have one of those moments when you don't see the blessing in those exact moments,  but as it all rolls out before your eyes you kinda go "okay, Jesus.. I see you."

He totally took care of us on this one.  I was bummed about the car, which by the way has yet to even flash an engine light, but the trip wasn't going to happen either way.

SO.. instead we spent the weekend at home with the babes.  we didn't have 'plans' because we weren't even supposed to be here, so it was low key and enjoyable with my favorite people.  we hit up the nephew's bday party on Saturday afternoon where we were reunited with Jolie, Parker, Baker, and Brady. Baker wouldn't leave my lap and I wasn't mad about it! we finished off the weekend with the last swim of the summer, ordered pizza and the kids crashed early because they were zonked! church on Sunday + brunch at our favorite spot then an afternoon outside while daddy threw some chicken on the grill.  after Brady was down for the night we popped in The Lion King and snugged up with popcorn and theater candy before bed.

I took an unexpected hiatus from the blog the last couple weeks.. my plan was to get through my last week of work, come back after our trip without kids with loads of blog content and feeling refreshed. but the truth is, we are still living out of suitcases that never even saw said 'vacation' and my house looks like a tornado casually dropped in. life sometimes gets in the way of our best laid plans. and it sucks and its so annoying and I find myself the most anxious when things just aren't going my way.
but we came back and were greeted with the best weekend ever.  if only I could get myself and all these kids unpacked! best part about unpacking for a trip you didn't take is that there us way less laundry to be done..?

I say yes!

Father's Day at the lake

after last week's drama and craziness with Jolie, we needed a break.  mentally and emotionally drained coupled with the exhaustion of my first week back to work + Brady's first cold (allergies!!) I was DONE and needed to decompress.

we had planned another lake trip with our Supper Club before we even left the last time- which happened to be Mother's Day weekend, but it couldn't have come at a better time.  two days of uninterrupted fun and zero plans but eating, drinking, and playing with our closest friends + the kiddos that have grown up together since birth.  the weather was perfect, not scorching hot like I was afraid of, and there was even a little breeze off the lake.  we lounged on the giant back porch, drank beer punch (which is AMAZING) and made huge pots of spaghetti for dinner + about 400 sandwiches for lunch to feed this crew of babes.  we celebrated Landon turning 6 years old with cake and ice cream and then loved on the dad's on Sunday for their special day.  looking at these pictures from the weekend makes me realize how lucky we are to be surrounded with such a core group of people to do life with.  people I trust, love, and would do anything for.  and all these kids!!  how FUN (and chaotic) life will always be. 

Weekend with Nana + Duke

another weekend, another road trip! this time we headed south to visit my mom and dad for a long weekend.  my mom works for a large hotel company, so we bank on our hotel stay anytime we visit. we arrived Thursday afternoon and headed straight to the pool!  the temps have been hitting the 90's but the water is still freezing so while the girls and their dad took their first official dip of the summer season, I hung out in the chairs with my mom and Brady.

its no secret that I'm obsessed with all things kortni jeane!  mama+mini high waisted suits for the win!  I also cannot get over how amazing this off the shoulder top is- I was pleasantly surprised when I put it on and it offered so much support! I'm also loving the tie up front bottoms.. the wrap+knot combo covers the "c section shelf" you can clearly see through my bathing suit.  it is much worse after my third csection- hoping some cardio will tighten it up a bit! until then.. I'll be wrapping it up as best I can:)

babes!!  Baker was having the best time! 

 we went back to my parent's house and my mom made spaghetti, which I am still thinking about TODAY, and then pigged out on homemade chocolate chip cookies!  Jolie always dives nose first into my mom's collection of stuffed animals and Parker helps herself to the cat toys while said cat hides for the three days we visit.    

f r i d a y

 Friday morning my mom and I took the big girls to get pedicures.  growing up, my mom and I went to the nail salon often.. one of the only "mother-daughter" things we ever did.  I have been taking the twins since they were Baker's age and they always have the BEST time!  this was the first time all four of us have gone and my mom was dying at the cuteness.

  we left the nail salon and spent another afternoon at the pool. 

and another KJ swimmer!  the styles of the top and bottom are still available, but I got them back in March and I am not sure if the pattern/color is an option still.  

Brady has been living in these sleeveless onesies from golden hill designs- Baker was my first summer baby and basically wore a different color everyday!  my favorite is the urban brown- goes with everything!  

ALSO.. check out my sunnies from diff eyewear!  how adorable for summer and I just cannot get enough!  

use code AMBER25 for a special 25% discount on your entire purchase! 

uncle pat made the trip as well and got there late afternoon:)

Parker + Jolie's swim suits HERE

 when we have visited, the big girls always stay with my parents while Jordan and I (Baker and now Brady, too) stay at the hotel just a short drive away. I don't know why I didn't notice it before, but when I was kissing the girls goodnight I realized that the bed the girls sleep in at my parent's house is the same bed I slept in at my grandparent's house at their age.  

Saturday came and brought the rain.  we hung out at my parents house the entire day and my dad ended up pulling out old family photos. we drank coffee and snacked on my mom's chocolate chip cookies.. took naps and just didn't do a thing all day until we all went our for Mexican food on Saturday night.  

NOW we all know where my kids get their cheeks from!

 ..and can we just talk about how much this picture of me looks like Brady??!  I was shocked.. and how in the world did I not know I had so much hair when I was a babe?

s u n d a y 

saturday night Jolie started running a fever, so we took all the kiddos back to the hotel with us and made due with all these babies in one hotel suite.  thankfully Jolie's fever was short lived but it was actually a lot less chaotic and so much more fun than I thought it would be!

Brady snoozed the entire weekend in his dockatot and slept just as he did if we were home- yas!

we also have been using the nested bean swaddle and OHMUHGOSH its amazing.  I cannot speak enough great things about this swaddle!  I plan to do a full review very soon, but we love them!

 Brady's tank top HERE + leggings HERE

 find my diaper bag HERE + my favorite weekender HERE! 

 we grabbed coffee with my brothers just before we hit to road. I've got 13 years on Sam (on the left) and about 6 years on Patrick.. but they're not that little these days.

you can find my tee HERE + postpartum leggings HERE and my FAVorite sneakers HERE

 making the road for home we stopped for dinner and to stretch our legs.

pancakes + coffee (and a cheeseburger for Jo) on a Sunday night with my sweet crew of favorite people.

 second weekend in a row to be out of town and we are all thankful to be home for a bit to settle into summer! this week marks the last week of preschool for those big girls and we have many things planned for this summer- hoping we can fit it all in! 

can't wait for many more memories made with these kids and my hubby beside me.

mother's day weekend at the lake

this weekend we kicked off our summer with the best possible way I could ever think of! 

the Tapella's bought the most beautiful lake house on Cedar Creek Lake and we spent the last four days living the lazy life with some of my most favorite people and their babies on the planet.  

at our Christmas Supper Club celebration they announced they had bought a lake house.. I thought FOR SURE they were announcing their fourth baby, but I'll take the lake house announcement to be just as great! ha! we planned that very night over wine and whiskey our first official weekend at the lake.

it was SO fun! 

I took about 400 photos over this weekend and I'll spare you to just a sliver in comparison for the blog!  our babies have been besties since birth, Landon is the oldest at age 6, then the twins and Jacob about two weeks behind them are four.. Juliette is three and Baker and Grayson are two days apart and turn two in July.  Sarah is about 10 months old now and Brady.. and then baby Carter will be here in just a few more weeks!

we've sprinkled ten babies into our group over the last 6 years and I can't believe that its been 5 years since we went on our very first trip to Cedar Creek.. Jordan and I announced the gender and names of Parker and Jolie as I was carrying two babies in my belly!

we loaded up the kids on Thursday night and headed out about and hour and a half to the lake and met Jacqueline and the kiddos before everyone else got there on Friday afternoon.  four babies and all the STUFF that goes along with them just takes a lot to do anything..and it literally took four hours of Jordan and I moving NON-stop to get loaded and out the door.  I was thankful to be able to wake up on Friday morning and already be there.. enjoying my coffee and the quiet on the lake.

 ..and lets talk about this house!!  its amazing and so perfect for our gigantic crew.  it sleeps 14, so basically we fill every crevice of this house:). 

they are already renting it to the public and you can find out more details HERE!

I brought the dockatot with us and Brady slept like a little champ, just as he does at home:)

we got this bounce house from Sam's two summers ago on clearance and it was the BEST purchase we ever made for these babies!  they love it!

 the big kids took several boat rides- they were having the time of their little lives!  I love having these memorable experiences with such close friends and their kids.

 miss Baker hung close to the house with me and Brady

 the babies always got the chairs and the adults just ate standing up, ha!

 omg how come they look SO OLD??

 porch hangs

..and water fights!

 little buddy just hung out with the rest of us all weekend- LOVE him!  he's so happy!

 Parker was determined to catch a fish.  she and Chris sat on the dock all morning on Saturday patiently waiting to catch something..

 ..and FINALLY!  I ran from the house just in time to see her reel it in! 

 a little catfish:)

 the best we could get of this girl and her fish!

 I got lots of questions about this float when I posted this picture to my IG stories (@masseya)

its from Costco!

 giant jenga before dinner!

 this is one of my most favorite things Jordan makes- grilled chicken with sautéed mushrooms, onions, bacon, and BBQ sauce.. topped with monterrey jack cheese and broiled until melted. 

oh MUH gosh 

served with mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus!  

 baths + brownies all around and snuggled in close to watch a movie before bed

 sunday morning we took the boat out one more time for a cruise

snapped a couple pictures of my favorite girls before we loaded up to come home

this mothers day weekend was super special shared with great friends and covered in all these babies. 

its Monday and we are already talking about making another trip!