let's try this again

So, it's been almost 4 months since I blogged last. I am going to try and get back into blogging again but I'm not making any promises. I have good intentions to keep up with it, but I just never seem to get to "blogging" on my to-do list. Anyway, I'm not going to try and catch you up on the last several months, so I'll just post some current pics and we'll go from there. I'm trying to come up with a new theme/style for my blog instead of it just being about what we're up to, but I haven't quite figured out what I want it to be, so for now, you get more pics of my baby girl (who isn't much of a baby anymore). Olivia is 16 months old, and it's so much fun getting to spend my days with her.

Easter 2012

She's going through a I refuse to look at the camera and smile stage, so I don't have the greatest pictures from Easter, but I do happen to think she looked super cute in her dress!

Bounce House fun

Olivia loved playing in the bounce house with her older cousins. They all take such good care of her, and she just loves having all the older kids around to play with/follow around.

We had several egg hunts this year and for the most part, Olivia was really into finding the eggs and putting them in her basket. She would open each egg, see what was inside, then either move on to look for more or stop and play/eat whatever was inside.

Dumping them all out was also a fun little game!The weather has been so beautiful here in Dallas, so we've been getting outside as much as possible. One of her new favorite things to do is swing. This girl would stay in the swing for hours if I would let her! Texas bluebonnets

I couldn't get her to cooperate or look at the camera this day. I was alone and she was not a fan of all the all weeds/flowers, so needless to say, I didn't get one good picture! Oh well...there's always next year! I love my happy girl!!

I know my last post was going to be an update of our trip to Europe (Paris) and I never got around to posting about it. We are actually going back in a few weeks so I've just decided I'll post about the upcoming trip instead. Can't wait to visit our best friends Lauren and Tyler in France!!! The last few months have been hard for us, so I think a trip to Europe is just what the doctor ordered. I'm looking forward to some quality time with my hubby, catching up with friends, great food, and of course, some relaxation!!!

london, england

This is going to be a whirlwind of a post because I am trying to get caught up, so here is london in a nutshell...

us outside Westminister Abbey -- the inside was truly amazing!

we rode the London Eye

and the four of us even had our very own "pod" all to ourselves!

We spent one day in Oxford, touring all over where Lauren and Tyler used to live. It was so much fun and I loved the town of Oxford!

some of campus

Harry Potter anyone?!? dinner at one of their favorite Thai places in Oxford

Tower of London

fancy lunch

beautiful parks!

St. Paul's Cathedral

I fell in love with this place...so beautiful!!

we visited the Tate Modern Museum

afternoon tea at Harrod's
(please excuse how I look in this picture...I was fighting a terrible cold this day!)

ending our time in London with a great night out at a local pizza place We had a blast in London and were so glad to finally make it over to visit our friends. We also lucked out with pretty decent weather...not too cold and only rained once! Next up, PARIS!!!

europe - part 1...the back story

Before I dive into telling you all about our European adventures, I thought it might be fun to "introduce" you to our friends we went to visit,

Lauren & Tyler We met the Knights several years ago at church and have been pretty much inseparable ever since...well, until they moved to England in August 2010 for Tyler to attend Oxford University. You know those type friends where everything just seems to click, everyone genuinely likes each other, you can be your complete self around each other, they've seen you at your best and your worst...this is what the Knights are to us. Basically, they are like family. Anyway, ever since they moved we have been planning our visit abroad. They are currently living in London, and I'm so glad we finally made it over there. This was the first time to Europe for me and the hubby! Thankfully, we have remained close even though we live so far apart and I keep holding out hope that maybe one day we'll live in the same city again.

Here are some of the reasons I love Lauren...

She is a GREAT tour-guide!! She knows Europe like the back of her hand, and it was especially helpful to have her with us in Paris since she speaks French! Her super friendly personality landed the four of us in our very own pod on The London Eye! We enjoyed good music and views while aboard this giant ferris wheel!
She brings out my goofy/silly side...

She has very creative picture ideas...

She shares my love for bubbles and I can always count on her to share a bottle with me We both have a seriously love and addiction to fried goat cheese...especially when it's coated in sesame seeds from a Paris cafe. She makes complete strangers smile (and often laugh) just being her... She embraces little opportunities to the fullest...like helping out a second grader with her school project...We toted Flat Aniya all over London & Paris, snapping pictures of her as she visited all the sites!

She's full of energy and we always have fun together

and most importantly, she's simply a great friend!

So glad my first experience abroad was spent with three of my favorite people!

Next up...LONDON!!!