New Job, Birthdays, Potty Training, and Selling the House

So, June has been an action-packed month. Tyron got a new job (Go Farmers!). Faith turned 2. We potty trained Faith. We are selling our house so we can move closer to Farmersville, and we threw Tyron a surprise 30th birthday party. Funny how none of that even includes all the every day living stuff and work we put into getting our house ready to go on the market.

Since Tyron got his new job, he has been spending a fair amount of time in Farmersville. He has already started opening the gym for the kids and going to morning workouts. He is going to do such an awesome job for this school. He's already met lots of students and their parents and is in the process of building relationships with those people. I can't wait to see what is going to happen in the next year!

Faith is officially 2. It's so funny how it seems like she has always been here. I honestly can't remember what it was like to be a family of 3. She is a such a constant source of joy. Even in the moments where she is climbing on everything and running non-stop, she is such a joy. I love that she adores her big brother. In her eyes, he hung the moon. It's so sweet to watch them. Yesterday as we drove home from running some errands I glanced back into the back seat to see how they were doing. Faith was sound asleep, and she was holding Luke's hand. So sweet. She is so spunky and sweet at the same time. She is our "Little Bear" - all cute and cuddly one minute and climbing the walls to make her next discovery/fiercely independent the very next. So fun and exhausting all at once.

Another huge milestone for Faith is that she is now potty-trained! Yea! It really only took her 1 day to figure it out. I am so proud of her, and it seems to have given her a new sense of purpose with her independent nature. She even asks for privacy! Such a big girl!!

Well, our house has been on the market for almost a full week. It has shown several times. It's kind of stressful. Getting 3 kids and a dog out of the house while keeping the house in "show shape" is not exactly a walk-in-the-park. It's going to be worth it though. God is going to send the perfect people for our house. Hopefully someone with kids. I can't imagine this house without a brood of babies in it. That just seems so wrong. This house needs kids to love. I know that sounds weird, but I've never been normal. Tyron's cool with that, and so am I.

Finally, we threw Tyron a 30th birthday party. It was so fun. Luke tried to tell Tyron every day last week that we were giving him a birthday party. Luke would say things like this: "Daddy, can I share your birthday cake with you?" and "Daddy we got you some forks and plates to have birthday cake on!" I just tried to pretend that I had no clue what Luke was talking about, and it worked. We all met up at Macaroni Grill on Saturday for lunch to surprise Tyron. It was great! Great food, great people, and great cake. We had such a good time! I've said it before and will say it 1,000 more times...I am so blessed to be married to Tyron. He is the best husband and Daddy. Hands down. A man after God's own heart. Truly. It's such a privilege to be his "help-mate." God is going to use him (and already has used him) to do a lot of important things for His Kingdom.

So, that sums up the month of June for us. It's been exciting and exhausting all at once. God has been teaching me to trust him more through all of this. It's been such a blessing. What a great month!

The Big 3 - 0

Tyron will turn 30 on July 6th, but we had a surprise party for him yesterday. We are going to be out of town all next weeks, so I figured that we could celebrate a little early with a surprise. We met friends and family at Macaroni Grill to celebrate. And what would a birthday be without cake? Amanda and I made Tyron an Aggie Bonfire cake...and no - we didn't burn it. Gig 'Em Ags!! Whoop!!

Tyron is pretty much the most amazing person I know. I am so proud of him. He loves the kids and me more than himself. He is such a great example of how Christ loves the church. I am more than just blessed to be his wife. I am honored. Truly. Happy Birthday...a little early.

I love you!

Ode to Our House...A Million Pictures

Bringing Hannah home.

Easter 2008

Luke's 3rd Birthday

Faith, Hannah, Luke - 1 week ago

Proud big sister.

Just home from the hospital with Hannah.

Luke and Faith hanging out in the kitchen.

Faith's 1st birthday.

Tyron, Luke, and Faith

Melanie, Luke, and Faith

Luke's 1st Birthday

Tyron and Luke (1 month old)

Tyron, Melanie, and 6 month old Luke

Well, we did it. Today we listed our house. We are officially moving. As soon as our house sells, anyway. It's kind of weird how a house can be the source of so much emotional angst. I am excited that Tyron got his new job and all the opportunities that will come along with it, but a part of me is sad to be leaving the only real home that we've had since we've been married and had kids. This is where we have lived, laughed, cried, prayed millions of times together and separate, tickled kids, walked the floor with crying infants, cooked too many meals to count, had small group, played 10 million games of basketball, potty trained 2 kids, had 5 birthday parties for our kids (3 for Luke and 2 for Faith), painted, remodeled, and a million other things. It's sad. There are 4.5 years of memories here. I am literally going to have to take a million pictures between now and the time we leave. We have been blessed way beyond anything that we deserve while we have been living in this house. I do know that as long as we are together our home is where the 5 of us are. I really do look forward to our next house (especially if it has 4 bedrooms :). It is going to be great living closer to Tyron's school and being able to be more involved. It's also going to be great that we can move closer to the school but still stay involved at our church and stay connected to our friends that are as much our family as anyone with the last names Lee or Marshall. So all this to say, House you have been a great house. Thanks for always bouncing back from every freak accident and daily abuse sent your way. Thanks for giving me memories that will last a lifetime. Yes House, I know that you are an inanimate object. Humor me anyway.

Happy Birthday Faith!!

Blowing out the candles.

Being sung to...looks a little nervous.

Opening presents! She got so many girlie things! Yea!!

Hamming it up for the camera.

Sweet Lori and Sam.

Eating her lunch.

Eating lunch with Bubba and John David.

Aunt Kara, "The Guys" (aka - Kyler and MaKayla) and Hannah.

Beautiful Emily.

The cake.

We had Faith's birthday party today. We had such a good time. A big thank you to every one who came. We are all blessed to have each of you in our lives! Thank you for spoiling Faith!

Faith is 2!!

Faith at the sprinkler park. Our little Hollywood star.
So stinkin' cute!

Opening the card from Gammy.

Opening her gift from Gammy.

It's a glow-worm!

She loves her "singin' baby!"

Thank you Gammy!

Giving her "singin' baby" a bottle of "mik."

Her cupcake.

Blowing out her birthday candles.

Yea! She did it!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Faith turned 2 on Wednesday. So much fun. She is such a blessing and so sweet. I couldn't imagine life without her. We spent the day making cupcakes and icing, playing at the sprinkler park, playing, and of course - opening a few gifts. Here are a few pictures from the day. I can't believe that she is already 2!! Stay tuned for pictures from her birthday party...

Simply Irresistable

I got the chance to watch one of my sweetest friend's little boys today. We had such a good time. He is such a joy! You really can see what a sweet baby he is just by looking into his precious little face. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures while he was here, and he was kind enough to indulge me. So much fun!

We Are Farmersville Farmers

As of today, we are no longer Cougars. Tyron got his first head coaching job at Farmersville High School in Farmersville, TX. It's a 3A school just East of McKinney. This school is pretty athletically gifted. Last year they were the State Champions in football and have done well in the past in basketball. It's such a good situation. We are so excited! I can't wait to see what will happen in the next year. God is so good! Go Farmers!!