Due for an Update

So....it's been a little bit since I updated my blog. Not for lack of trying. Seriously, if you looked my post list, I have about a hundred *DRAFT* markers next to posts that I started and never finished. I wonder if that's what a real writer's computer looks like....

Since the last update I provided a month ago, we've had a few things going on.

Emma had her first follow-up with her endocrinologist since starting her growth hormones. Her endocrinologist was amazed that she's responded so well to the hormones. She's grown two inches in less than 3 months! He was so surprised that he revised her chart to show a new estimated height of 5'3", which is now an inch taller than me! We're so excited that she's doing so well with her growth! He estimates that she'll actually be on the growth curve by her next check-up in four months. She hasn't been on any curve since right after she was born, so I'm excited for her. We're sticking with the growth hormones and, since she's responded so well to the dosage she's been taking, her doctor didn't feel the need to up the dosage. We'll see how much she continues to grow through the next few months.

We were able to get the girls out the night before Halloween and do a "Treat Trail" to several church member's houses. The girls LOVED it! They looked so cute in their costumes and Emma loved getting out and showing off her "poofy dress". It was quite a challenge getting her in and out of her car seat because the dress had a legit hoop on the bottom. Let's just say, if she decides to have a dress like that for her wedding one day, we'll be pros at getting her in and out of places lol! Penny kept her pigtails and socks on for a grand total of one house. One pigtail and one sock were amiss when we rolled up to house #2, so we just had to tell everyone who she was supposed to be at that point. 

 
Princess Elena and Boo from Monsters Inc.



Ready for the Treat Trail!



The kiddos outside the last house - the McGees!

We actually didn't have very many trick-or-treaters ourselves on Halloween night and ended up with a good bit of candy left over from what I bought. The neighborhood just down the street was FULL of people and kids though, so we'll know where to go next year to rack up on the candy. 

Last week was my first almost-full week without the girls or Rory, and while I missed them a lot, I also had a BLAST in Texas! Our whole admin team from work was able to attend a conference in Dallas that three of our team members were speaking at. They did so great in their presentations! I didn't have a clue what a couple of the classes were about, but they sounded good ;)

Headed to Dallas!

The Teksouth Admin Team at Deltek Insight 2018

In addition to attending the conference for a few days, we were able to drive out to Waco before the conference and spend a night at the Mid-Century Modern Fixer Upper house! It was AMAZING! We watched the episode of Fixer Upper while we were there and it was so cool to be able to stand at the exact place where they were doing so much work and to see the final product now! We, of course, went to the Silos on Monday and even got to eat at their new restaurant, Magnolia Table, that morning. It was even better than I expected! The Gaines' have really outdone themselves with everything, and I heard last week that they're coming back to TV! I can't wait to see what God continues to work through them! 

The Alico Building in downtown Waco

We assumed this was some sort of capital building :)

The Mid-Mod!

The openness was incredible!

The owners actually added this entryway

The converted garage is now a bunk room!

Part of the kitchen/den area

Some of the pieces were ones that Joanna staged with

Awkward fireplace pose ;)

We had to add our names to the guest book!

The patio - we didn't use this because it was cold that night!

Magnolia Table for breakfast anyone?

A little Texas Pecan coffee to start the day off right ;)

You heard Chip! Everyone has a seat here!

Early morning breakfast before heading to the Silos!

This was actually taken the day before we went...hence no one in line ;)

A delicious pancake breakfast with hashbrowns and eggs! Don't forget those out-of-this-world biscuits and strawberry butter ;)

I was LOVING the decor!

Had to do the standard #milestomagnolia sign!

A little swing while we waited for the store to open

We're here!!!

Only the best croissants and cookies you will EVER have!

The Silos - this was also the day before we actually went in

Little did we know, they were setting up their Christmas stuff!!!

This area stayed pack the whole time we were there!

Getting ready to behold the awesomeness of Magnolia!

The Silos!

They had so many areas you could just go and hang out in

I would love to have an outdoor space like this!

There were a TON of pumpkins out

There were so many neat little areas everywhere! Typical Joanna...

Checking out the Seed + Feed

View of the Silos from the Garden

The whole gang

It was so cold and rainy! They needed James Spann to help with the forcast...

These would have been perfect on a warm, sunny day

Dreaming from the outside on Sunday!

The line went across the courtyard....on a Monday morning!

Magnolia Christmas!!!

The rest of the trip was pretty relaxing, which I don't know how you can't relax at the Gaylord Texan Resort! It was amazing! I've never been in a Gaylord hotel, which is kind of sad since I live just 45 minutes from the largest one in the country and have never seen it. They were getting everything ready for Christmas, so every morning we woke up and looked out from our window, there was something new set up. It was like magical Christmas elves. We ended the trip with some epic karaoke. It took me back to the old days with the Graham girls ;) Miss y'all!

Now that we're back to reality, Open Enrollment for work starts this week, which I'm not looking forward to the craziness of. We're also a week and a half away from Thanksgiving. We'll be spending it with Tennessee family this year while my parents are visiting my brother's family in Boston. I'm most looking forward to all the delicious food! I have a feeling that we'll be eating food ALL WEEK since we start on Sunday afternoon! I'm excited that we'll be close to everyone this holiday season so the drive will just be 45 minutes as opposed to 2 1/2 hours and an overnight stay like years past. I'm also working on my first-ever Black Friday shopping list. I've decided that it would be better to try and find great deals on gifts early instead of waiting until the last minute like I do every year. I'll let y'all know how it turns out. Fingers crossed!

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving next week and enjoy the MUCH cooler weather we're getting this week!

God bless!