Lula Jane's lunch date

Ricotta grits with roasted corn, wilted greens and apple wood smoked bacon....yum!  And of course I got pie.  It was heavenly.  I love pie!

If you have been reading my blog for long you know I love trying new restaurants.  Gary and I moved away from Waco in 2001 and there are so many more restaurants here now than then.  Waco has blown up into a fun little big town!  I'm so exited to be back HOME!

Lula Jane's is a bakery across the Washington street bridge.  It is a quaint little spot and the food was amazing and very fresh.  

They grow much of their own produce and from the looks of the kitchen all of their baked goods are made from scratch.  I was so intrigued by their pies and cakes and I hope they have a taste test one day.  I'm all over that!  Everything looked a.maz.ing.

Each day the chef makes the lunch entree, so I jumped on the website to look at the menu for the day.  I have to say I was disappointed that I missed taco day, but then when I took the first bite of  the wilted greens, bacon and grits I was in love.  I'm a Mexican food lover and will always crave tacos, but my lunch was superb!  

I went on a lunch date with my Aunt and she works downtown, so it was quick and convenient to her office.  I will have to take Gary because I know he will be a fan too.  Layla will drool over all the baked goods.  I can't wait to go back soon!

the pups are loving the big windows ~ wordless wednesday

We love you MeMaw!

Today we celebrated Gary's mom.  She had a beautiful service and I think she would have loved it so much.  The sun was shining bright and her flowers were beautiful.  She loved flowers as much as she loved champagne and dessert!  

We got to see family we haven't seen in years because we have been gone on our four year state to state adventure.  We had a nice lunch at Chuy's after the service. 

a quiet Easter Sunday

After church and lunch I got out my Canon camera on this Easter Sunday.  I was so excited to capture some photos of all four of us with the auto timer, but they were awful.  I'm thankful for the pictures I did capture of all four of my babies.  I think Gary and I are emotionally drained from the events of the weekend and upcoming funeral for his mom tomorrow.  Sometimes its fun to lose myself in the camera and I have some really awesome subjects to focus on!

Lily was happy to give her best side smile.

Daisy wasn't feeling dainty today.  She decided to get a huge mouthful of grass and I managed to snap a shot of it falling out of her mouth.

Then she rolled over and I got a nostril shot!  She's a mess y'all.  

Lily wouldn't leave her rawhide alone the rest of the day.  She and Daisy fought over it and played chase though the yard.  Every single day we fall move and more in love with our new backyard here in Texas.  I can't wait to see what blooms pop up.  I see so many fun leaves greening up!  I know I will have several rose bushes and many many irises.  Did I spell it right?  Iris? More than one iris?  Anyway, I'll post my backyard pictures this spring!  I'm excited.

Happy Easter!!

March 24, 2016

Gary's mom has been sick for months and she was moved to hospice care in December.  She seemed to have good days and bad days.  Sometimes we'd get calls that she was sitting up eating and wearing her jewelry and other days she wasn't able to get out of her bed or chair.  It's just such a hard thing to see your parent suffer.  We all agreed that she said no to dying.  She said no to hospice care, but we all know people can be in hospice for years.

Gary and I briefly lived in Michigan back in 2004 and we moved back to Fort Worth in April '04 and then suddenly Gary's dad got sick and unexpectedly died.  It was a sad time.  He was sick in the hospital and then was moved to hospice and we were all in shock.  God that called us to move home back then to be with his mom and family through that hard time.  

Early Thursday morning at the age of 79, Gary's mom died.  We have been living back in Texas for about 2 weeks.  God needed us to be back home.  It is crazy how it all happened.  Again.

I know Gary's mom and dad were reunited in heaven and they are so happy to be together.  He is grilling her a big steak and she is making baked potatoes to go with!

We are so sad to have lost such a wonderful woman.  She has been in and out of the hospital for years.  She had a terrible car accident when Layla was 3 months old and she struggled since then with her health.  She had the early stages of dementia and had constant struggles with that.  She was such a fighter.  There were times when we thought she wouldn't make it, but she came back from illness stronger and healthier than ever.  She was a Christian lady and couldn't wait to go to heaven to see God.   

I feel good knowing she is in heaven with her husband looking down on her grandbabies.  She wasn't able to do many things she wanted to do with Layla and Hayden because of her health.  I sometimes wish we'd have had the children earlier so Mamaw and PaPaw could have spoiled them rotten as I know they would have!  

Monday we go to the Veterans Memorial Cemetary to celebrate her life with our family.  I pray it is a beautiful day and God is honored in her service.  

getting settled

I'm in an unpacking FOG.  Gary started work last Monday.  Hayden started school last Monday.  Layla started school last Tuesday.  I will start looking for a job, but first I must get the house all settled.  It seems every time I turn around there is another room to unpack or another bill address to change.  

Moving is not easy.  It takes forever and it builds character.  I've been cranky, but I know there is an end in sight.  I feel like I'm about 80 years old, but once I start working out again I'll feel so much better.  I'm planning to run like Forrest Gump.  Running with music always makes me feel better about life!

I make it all sound terrible and boring, but we have had some fun too.  

 Saturday we went out to see Auntie and Donny Ray at Lake Waco.  They were doing a little camping and so we went out to explore.

Hayden climbed all in this cedar tree.  He's allergic and his allergies all all jacked up today.

It was so pretty and peaceful.  Hayden had fun skipping rocks.

On St. Patrick's Day we went out on the town for an adult night with friends.

We had tons of fun.  It was nice to have a few drinks and unwind a bit.

I ran into my old boss from years and years and years ago.  I may have squealed out loud when I saw her.  Or it might have been a scream or holler.  Gosh I was just so happy to see her.  She's an amazing person and I can't wait to reconnect with her now that I'm LIVING IN WACO AGAIN. WHAT?  YES, I AM!  It is finally sinking in that I moved back!

We ended the night with some hibachi and sushi.  It was a perfect night out with fun buddies.

Our puppies are loving the backyard.  They are always laying in the sunshine and rolling in the grass.  We have a pet door and Daisy has it down!  Lily, not so much.  She's fit before, but for some reason she doesn't like to come in the pet door.  She will bolt out of it but not in.  It's only been a week, so we'll give her more time!

Well ....  there is our weekly update getting settled in our new but old house in our new, but old town of Waco. We are blessed!

We made it!

We are finally in Waco and waiting to unload our moving truck this afternoon.  It's been an eventful trip, but we are all good and ready to start our new adventure.  Let's do this!

Drive west Sipes fam

We are moving. We had a driveway party with our favorite neighbors.  The kids had their last day of school at Bascomb.   We ate at all our favorite Georgia eateries.  We played at our favorite park one last time and said goodbye to many friends we made the last year and a half.

We have had quite the adventure.  We are all packed up and our moving truck is heading to Texas, but we have been stuck in Louisiana in flood waters.  We stayed in a nasty hotel because that is all that was left due to all the other stranded travelers.  We are in separate cars so driving in the pouring rain has been quite the challenge for me.  I'm not a fan.  

Hayden barfed in the hotel bed and isn't feeling well.  We have two pups that are being awesome, but could not potty due to the horrible rain.  I feel bad for them.

Of all the moves this one has been the most challenging.  It is all for good reason.  We are moving home.   We are moving back to Waco where Gary and I met.  We will make it through anything to get back home!!  The kids are cheering for us!  They are ready to be back in Texas with family!

March is here!

I can't believe it's March!  March means SPRINGTIME!  Have you ever seen anything cuter that this girl with that giant Peep?  I will never get tired of her buying stuffed animals.  She can do it until she's 30 and I'll be just fine with it!

March has big things in store for the Sipes family. 

I can barely contain my excitement, but I'm so overwhelmed with packing that I can't see through the fog.  The packing and moving fog is the worst.  It's hard for me to live in chaos, but I know it is character building.  

What are we packing for?  Why the chaos?  

It will all be worth it when we are home again.  We just can't stay away from our home. 

  I think we are a crazy bunch of nomads. :-)