I have been changing up my blogging.

I haven't decided yet if I will continue to update about my sweet family here. It just started to feel boring and monotanous, but as our lives change this year I may be back.  I just felt like at this point in our lives, I was repeating myself week after week. 

Thank you for your interest and support for our family over the past 5 1/2 years.

Until then I will be trying to keep my new space updated, here.

 

Friday night Caleb and I had what was to be the perfect date night. Caleb had purchased Justin Timberlake concert tickets for me way back on Mother's Day. We had someone lined up to watch our kids and had carefully picked the perfect restaurant to eat at before the concert.

 

Me, being the barely still 20 something girl I am, could not have been more excited to see JT. I was between 13-16 when NSYNC was at its peak, prime boy band loving age. Then I was late teens when Justin launched his solo career and my love for him grew.

 

He has sung me through little girl crushes, first dates, first kisses, embarrassing moments, breakups, death, dorm room dances, road trips with friends, a wedding day, dances with my husband, kitchen dance parties with 2 little loves, life,  and so much more. So many significant and insignificant moments intertwined to make up a beautifully, imperfect life.

 

 It is funny how music can transport you directly into past moment quicker than just about any other thing.

He is also pretty great to look at, super talented, and an awesome dancer, I am not sure what's not to like. ;) 

 

The plans were set, the expectations high, and the excitement through the roof.

 

And the real life happened...

 

Presley grabbed my curling iron approximately 10 minutes before we walked out the door. I screamed NO at her and she avoided further injury. However, the damage was already done. Huge tears streamed down her face with a silent cry engulfing her tiny body.

 

She was fine, but she was hurting. And we had to leave.

 

So we left her crying, clenching her blanket, and watching her favorite show, all while a cheeseburger hung out of her mouth. (I wish I had a picture!)

 

We began the quick 30 minute trip to Nashville around 5,  a little shaken, but excited.

 

Cut to 2 and half hours later and we were still in the car, hungry, and desperately trying to maneuver around traffic to make it in time.

 

I wish I could say that this offered us a time to talk and connect and share. However, this is about the time I began to  begin to panic.

 

And by panic, I mean, tears, mumbling on how this was the worst night of my life, and I might die. This is only the first time of the night when I transformed into an overly dramatic, 15 year old girl. I also may have sent a desperate tweet to Justin Timberlake himself begging him to wait until I got there, desperate times...

 

The real panic started when the clock in the car switched to 8 pm, concert start time and we still had not made it.

 

We finally parked and sprinted in the building a little after 8. We missed nothing.

 

We went to the bathroom and then quickly found our seats. Caleb went to get us some snacks, but the concert started before he made it through the line, so he came back empty handed.

 

The concert was amazing. It is safe to say 15 year old, starry eyed, no worries, big dreams, fan girl Amber camped out in section 306 for the next 3 hours.

 

He put on a great show. There was so much energy and excitement. It was so fun.

 

I think it is safe to say that Caleb now fully knows what it would have been like to know the teenage version of myself.

 

After the concert was over we were starving! We walked around towards the car hoping to find a restaurant open. We walked into Joes Crabshack  at 11:45 pm (open until 1 am) and giggled over dinner on how imperfectly, perfect our life together is.

 

Whoever claims the life of those married with children is boring, has obviously never experienced that life.

 

The night didn't go just as planned, but in reality nothing memorable ever does. :)
 

 



The weekend of October 18-20th  was my baby brother, Drew's, wedding in Lexington, KY.

 

We loaded up Friday morning and made the drive. My brother Cameron and his wife were gracious enough to allow us to stay with them. We arrived at their house early afternoon.

 

We settled in our rooms, ate a quick bite, and were able to take a quick walk to the park. It was the perfect activity after being stuck in the car for a few hours. It allowed us to relax a little and not feel rushed.

 

We all got ready and headed over to the church for the rehearsal. Brady told us on the walk that he didn't want to practice for the wedding. I just kind of blew him off. *Mistake number one.

 

BUT when we arrived at the church he made sure I knew he was serious about not wanting to practice. He got out of the van in a foul mood and stayed that way most of the night, even after a couple disciplinary trips to the bathroom. Ahem if you know what I am saying.

He can be so very stubborn!

Pictures of the kids was just not happening. Ha Ha!

His mood miraculously changed when Drew and Julie handed him his ring bearer gift. It was a ninja turtle and you would have thought he won the lottery. He went from not looking or speaking to anyone, to hugging every one!  I mean every one!!!
It was surreal

We stayed at the rehearsal dinner until late and headed back to the house for bed.

Saturday morning, Caleb, Presley, and I went for brunch. It was yummy and fun!

Then we spent a little time at the hotel all the guest where staying. My sweet, sweet husband ended up driving both sets of my grandparents to and from Cameron and Lauren's house. They all wanted to see their house, so he graciously allowed them to. He is a good man.

Presley was able to get a pretty good nap, while I started to get ready. 10 people trying to get ready for a large event is quite interesting. Every one just kind of jumps in and works together. There were so many things happening at one time. I actually ended up putting my make-up on in the car. Mom life.  This is pretty typical for me most of the time.








The wedding ceremony was so so so sweet. Drew and Julie are the sweetest couple. Drew is so emotional and sweet. I had to read a scripture and I may have cried like a baby. I had to go immediately after Julie walked down the aisle to her crying groom. I couldn't keep it together. To my defense, I think there were 4 people not crying inside that church.

Brady did fine the day of walking down the aisle.

I heard Presley crying from the nursery and had to go get her, so I witnessed the rest of the ceremony from the lobby. However, I got to witness the sweetest first moments of the happy couple.

We all headed to the reception and ate and danced the night away. Fun was had by all.

Sunday we attended a perfect, laid back come and go brunch with Drew and Julie and guests at the hotel. Then we attended worship services before making our way home.

Presley was so worn out, she grabbed her blanket and paci, laid down in the floor and fell asleep all on her own. Ha!
It was a fun weekend with a little bit of crazy. I am so thankful to have been a part of their special day. We wish them many, many years of fun, love, and life together.