The Cruthirds have a new home....

Front View

Back view

We are officially in our wonderful new home! We are still unpacking an probably will be for a while, but are already enjoying our new abode. I will take more pics of the inside once there aren't boxes everywhere. Thank you to my wonderful parents who helped us move/watch Pierson and our amazing friends who stopped by to bring us drinks, deliver meals and helped us with the move itself. We are so blessed!  

Five Wonderful Years

Is how long I have been married to the most wonderful man I know. Ryan and I have been together since our Junior year at Baylor (yes, 8 years ago!) and were friends even before that. Our first date was actually our Sophmore year for Kappa Kountry when my college roomie, Laura, convinced me to ask Ryan since he was a good friend of her date. It was an out of town function so we had the entire drive to Dallas and back to get to know eachother and we had a blast! We're not sure why we didn't start dating then, but we stayed friends and lived just a few houses down from eachother on 9th St. and finally started dating a year later. Guess God wanted to show us the not so right ones in the mean time to make sure we knew how good we were getting it with eachother :) We dated for the rest of undergrad and then while I was in grad school and got married June 18, 2005. God has definitely blessed me with an amazing man that I definitely do not deserve. It still to this day baffles me that such a handsome, intellegent, Christain guy would have chosen me to spend the rest of his life with. Thank you God! Ryan and I are similar is some ways, but actually have quite a few differences. One of those things that we do have in common is how much we love the beach, the sun and vacation. We have tried to take a vacation every year since we have been together (minue last summer when Pierson was a newborn). To celebrate our 5th Anniversary, we were blessed to have the opportunity to go celebrate childless. All three of Pierson's "grandmas", Ryan's mom (Lita), my mom (Nana) and her Waco grandma (Nonna), were able to take turns spending time with our little Princess while we were gone. We went to the Excellence Resort in Playa Mujeres, Mexico and it could not have been any better! It was perfect for some much needed R&R and time to reconnect as a couple without any distractions.

Ryan's cousin, Blake Michelson and his wife Megan, were in Mexico for their 1st Anniversary so we were able to meet them for dinner one night

One of our favorite places, besides the beach, were the hammocks over the pool!

We always take a picture of our feet at every beach we go to

Pineapple monkey drinks!! We wanted them more for how they looked than the actual drink inside :)

We saw a newlywed couple taking a picture of their rings so we thought we would too in honor of our 5 years of wedded bliss

This may seem like a silly pic, but I had to take it because every time we go to Mexico, this is Ryan's staple meal, fresh mango with lime. I'm surprised the boy doesn't turn orange!

We had such a wonderful time! We missed our little angel, but really enjoyed getting to rest, relax and just focus on eachother.

Pierson did fantastic while we were gone. Her Lita, Nonna and Nana spoiled her rotten and wore her out every day with trips to the pool, zoo and park. Here are a few pics of what she was up to while her parents were away....

Pierson with her Lita

Pierson with Nana

We didn't get a pick of Pierson with her Nonna, but she had a great time there too! We are so thankful for my MIL, my mom and Donna for taking such good care of our sweet baby while we were gone.

Playgroup at the Zoo

Pierson and I absolutely LOVE our little playgroup and look forward to it every week! Since the summer has come around, we are getting out and about more and a few weeks ago we made one of our frequent trips to the zoo. Pierson was the only girl and was joined by Gunner Maness, Hudson King and Jack Sibley. Picture taking was not on their agenda, but we tried anyway :)

Pierson's First Plane Ride! (New Mexico Trip)

Pierson and I had the opportunity to go to Clovis, New Mexico this summer with my mom and my grandparents to visit my grandfather's side of the family. My mom and grandparents went up earlier and Pierson and I flew up to meet them a little later in the week. Since Ryan had to go out of town on a business trip, the girls were flying solo. As some of you know, I was stressing a little (to say the least) about flying with Pierson for the first time by my lonesome. Let me take that back, I was stressing about flying with ALL of Pierson's gear for the first time by my lonesome :) The morning we left, I woke up super early to make sure I was completely ready and had most of the car loaded by the time she woke up. She woke up right on schedule and we loaded up, stopped by to grab some Starbucks and headed to the airport. Once we got to the airport, my blood pressure started to rise. Thank goodness for curb side check-in! I pulled Pierson out of the car and stuck her in the Bjorn (she amazingly still fit in there!), took out our large suitcase and her pack-n-play, strapped on the backpack and struggled up to the check in counter. Oh the looks I got as I walked up with a baby on the front, backpack on the back, suitcase on the right and pack-n-play on the left. I was sweating by the time I walked 10 feet! We successfully got checked in, I walked back to the car, reloaded Pierson, drove to park, pulled Pierson back out, took out the car seat and put it in the gate check roller bag, put Pierson back in the Bjorn, got the backpack back on and walked to the gate. I was so relieved at this point! The hard part was over!! We boarded with no problem and I don't even think Pierson noticed we were on a plane.

She loved watcthing the planes pull in!

I brought along some brand new toys to keep her occupied on the plane ride.

She did so good! She had her favorite blankie and her paci to help her ears.

Once we got there, my mom and grandparents came to pick us up and were able to help get all her gear. Pierson was pooped and took a little nap in the car ride to Clovis.

Once we got there, she learned how to play Mexican Train and Chicken Foot with the family.

We found a little park/zoo there and so Nana, Gamps and Ganny all took Pierson to the see the animals.

Ganny, Pierson and Nana taking a break in the shade.

Getting spoiled by Ganny and Gamps!

Gamps showing Pierson the Bald Eagle

Getting rocked by Ganny

Taking a little nap with Nana

Gamps took us to visit and place flowers on the graves of his two baby sisters that passed away as infants, Nelma and Stella Miller. I was able to learn and see so much on this trip about my grandfather and his family history. It was a once in a lifetime kind of experience to visit with and listen to the stories that they all had to tell. I feel honored that I was able to go on this trip and Pierson was able to meet these relatives. We hope to see them all again very soon.

We were able to fly back on the same flight as my mom and grandparents.

Sitting between mommy and Nana while we take off

She wanted to see everything and wanted to make sure everyone on the plane knew she was there! She entertained some little teenagers sitting behind us the entire flight. Pierson's first plane ride was a success and I clearly stressed about it too much (imagine that). We had a wonderful trip and look forward to many more trips in the future.

Happy 3rd Birthday Maddie!

Not sure how this happened, but I realized today that I never made a post from my niece's 3rd birthday party back in April! So here is a belated post from Maddie's Pump It Up party. She had it at an indoor inflatable place and we had a great time!!! My sister did a great job planning the party, making Maddie's birthday shirt and putting together all the fun details.

My sister and Maddie starting off on the big slide!

Ryan and Pierson had to give it a try.

PawPaw and Nana having fun in the bounce house!

Me and mom racing in the obstacle course! I seriously think the adults had way more fun than the kids. This is the most active I have been at a birthday party in a very long time.

Pierson playing in one of the cars. This could have kept her busy the entire time.

Beep, Beep!!

Super cute birthday girl!!!!

Pierson got to enjoy some of the yummy party food.

Birthday girl opening her gifts

Sweet cousins taking a bath after a fun filled day!

I can't believe that my little niece is already 3 years old. She is a spitting image of my sister, full of life and energy, surprises around every corner and can also be such a sweetheart too. She definitely lets you know what she is thinking and what she wants. She will say things that just makes you die laughing. Pierson loves watching her and laughing at some of the silly things that she does. Maddie is always so sweet to "baby Pierson". We love you Maddie!

Summer is officially here!

 

For our little family, the "official" beginning of summer is usually marked by Memorial Day weekend due to the fun summer festivities and of course, the pool!!! Last weekend was great and a wonderful way to kick off the summer.

We started by going to play over at Hudson's house and to see his new birthday toys! Pierson was not feeling the swimming that morning for some reason. She was very clingy and just did not have a good morning.

We thought bringing them inside to play might help so in our attempts to change them from their wet clothes, they took off to play with Hudson's new truck. Pierson has become obsessed with these cars/trucks. Anywhere we go that has one, that is all that she wanted to play with, opening and closing the door. So, we finally broke down....

and now she has her very own! She LOVES this car! Each morning since we have gotten it, as soon as she comes out from her room each morning, she points to it and starts saying "car, car, car" over and over. It really is so cute watching her climb in and out, honk the horn and then do her little dance when the music comes on. We were blessed with a short visit from Pop when he was passing through town.

The rest of last weekend and this weekend have been filled with trips to the pool.

She is truly a little water baby! She is in heaven every time we go.

She has become quite the little dare devil too! She will get up on the side and run right into the pool (with me or Ryan in there of course).

Having so much fun with dad!!

Playing with her friend, Jack Sibley, in the baby pool. That's where all the good pool toys are :)

Pierson enjoyed scooping up water and pouring it back out.

Little ham :)

Such a big girl in the big pool!!!!

Although there is not much "laying out" by the pool these days, trips to the pool are an absolute blast with Pierson. Not to mention, a great way to beat the Texas summer heat!

One last thing for this post.... Pierson has recently found that she loves to dip her food in things. Anytime she sees me or Ryan dip something that we are eating, she wants to do it too. No matter what it is. So since she has been going on a little veggie strike lately, I though I would see if she would eat them as long as she could dip them in something. This is what happened...

I gave her a small bowl of ranch to dip her green beans in and she did great for the first few bites, but then figured out that the ranch tasted way better without that green bean stuff in the way. She picked up the bowl and started shoveling the ranch in her mouth!!! That little plan of mine definitely backfired, but it was soooo funny. I won't lie, I love ranch dressing and would probably eat it all the time if it weren't for those dang calories. Nothing that Pierson will have to worry about for a while, a very long while if she keeps having her daddy's metabolism :) Guess I will have think of something else to get her to start eating her veggies again!