Well, hello Sugarbutt... I've been waiting for you.

Meet Michelle... aka my darling Sugarbutt.


My heart nearly broke when we moved nearly 6 hours away. BUT, after nearly 4 years and two kids between us, we will be back together again! She's a doll bebe, and is *mucho* talented. Did you notice the Spanish? That's the Texan in me... the tiny bit of Texan in me... Anywho, back to my BFF> We've got a lot of lost time to make up for, so I hope Baton Rouge--- or the WORLD, for that matter, is ready for the Sugarbutts. Obnoxious? Just a little. Let's do this thing. Oh, here we are. Precious, huh? Yeah- almost sickning.


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Good morning dearest. I assume you are sipping your tea right about now. We should be enroute or starbuckin it, then leaving out of our forest as you read this. Thanks for calling tonight and letting me do the following without 'nare a sigh: talking in circles about houses/bids/floors/granite, sifting flour, beating my eggs one by one until well incorporated, and mediate between grumpy Marcus and grumpy Beaux Jack.

With each day we are getting closer to being back home again! How freakin' cool is that!?!?! *Talk to the computer screen here... maybe an audible 'Hells yeah.'* DO IT. do it.

A challenge for you (and me)??? First you have to accept the challenge... *Accept it here* Nod or something. DO IT. do it.

Lets make a list... You make one, and I'll make one. A list of things we look forward doing together once we are back home. My list won't be typed in an email... or text doc.... I think I'll do something with my mad photo skilz... to suprise you. Fun!

Now, for a walk down memory lane:























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Why do I feel guilty for posting so many pics? Hey, I like choice. Why just pick three to post!?!? The more the merrier, ifin you ask me. What? Is that like bad blogging etiquette or something? Hey, yalls know I'm a rook with this whole bloggin' thing.

Now, this weekend we need to buy a house. Or at least find one and commit to one- and them to us. Um, I really need a 'haircup.' Which means spending the evening/night with my fourth favorite person in the whole world: Duke!!! Yes, he's my hairdresser/surrogate father... AND he deserves his own post. See? Tangents! Anywho, a fresh sassy cut for me. Perhaps a sushi run can be arranged. Hoping for a little photoshoot--- is that trying to fit in too much? Prolly. We'll see.

*OH, the real estate appt. with our agent went GREAT today. So thanks for all the nice emails and well wishes there. We are soooo doing this thing. Yes, I know I owe you pics of the house. It will be done ASAP Monday.

Enjoy yall's weekend... and kiss your mothers. If you are reading this, they did something right. So thank them. ;)
Thanks for tolerating my indulgent post.


Peace, xo.

One day closer...

Let's start with a confession: I stayed up til 3am tweaking 'My Presssious' {yes, Golem style}

What's more motivating than music!!?? TELL ME! Okay, some things could be... but for me: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of good music. Top favs... Patty Griffin, Ceu, Cat Power, a little friend I like to call Regina. Yes, first name basis. And a little throwback to the masterpiece called Moulin Rouge. Oh, yes. Is it redundant to mention an emphatic U2 here? Prolly. I'll scrub floors to Bono anyday! I'll organize to the Edge's goodness all niiii! **ducking** Want to talk about the Indigo Girls!?!?! Yes? Next time.

***Now, back to our previously scheduled programing***

Well, things are going as planned here in the Livable Forest. I've been busy around the house fussing things up a bit and getting things in shape for the meeting with our real estate agent tomorrow. As of now, every closet and nook and cranny of our house is *ship shape* and ready for strangers to peruse. I'll admit that it's been fun getting thing tidy. I love this little house. Everything is just right here... I wonder if I can make our new home as 'lovable' as this one?

Here are some of my current loves:
Spearmint Chapstick... my obsession with chapstick goes way back. All the way to my childhood. Daddy ALWAYS had a black tube in his pocket... So for me, chapstick = happiness in a tube. Oh, and this spearmint thing is 'Delicious and deeeliiightful.' *for you Upside Down Show fans...


I don't drink cokes much... BUT I do love me some diet Peach Fresca... or black cherry.


Currently reading... *Yes, I'm the last person on EaRtH reading this*


And tonight I will treat myself to watching Cranford with a nice cup of tea.


Oh, the first bid on the house was a no go. We figured that. The seller would only come off his price by a whopping 3grand. Really? In this market? Oh well... it was is a superb house and does deserve every penny- but not from us! So, plan two, bid on the next 'most expensive' house hoping for a break. Again, the market is really good to buy. Many people are trying to get out of houses- so we are trying to see if some of the upper ranged houses can be negotiated to fit into our budget. Hey, one can only try. Right? God has a perfect plan in this. So I have no expectations of things not working out exactly as they should. I love the peace that has come over me the last few days. Everything is really playing out well. We are on a fresh start to life--- and I'm just plain excited.

Next, I'll post pics of my spiffy little house. Have I mentioned how much I love it? *sigh* I can love another house... I think. I hope so.

Peace, xo.

Monarch Maternity Ward *Update*

Oh, I'm so excited to make this post. In the last two days I've seen so much happen with my butterflies... I can actually call them that now, because we had our very first caterpillar/chryasalis emerge today as a beautiful monarch butterfly. I've taken a few pics to capture this process... Enjoy!

Yesterday at noon.


Today at 10am



Today at 11:04 am




And Lucy's first flight!




And *last but not least* Lucy's friends who were waiting for her arrival!




*In other news... we put a bid in on a house yesterday. We will be totally lucky if he accepts the offer- but hey, crazier things have happened. Right? We'll find out something by Monday, if not sooner. We are just trying to narrow down our choices. AND thanks for all the kind emails! I've been more at peace about our move over the last day or two. I can tell there are some well wishes and prayers coming our way. THANK YOU.

Peace, xo.

Crystal ball anyone?

I'm sitting here while the bebe naps... taking just a quick break from cleaning to drink a diet Fresca (my new guilty pleasure) and update on our house hunt/sell/relo process. And a 'process' it is indeed! We are NO LONGER, I repeat- no longer, driving in to Baton Rouge tomorrow to put a bid in on a house. We are moving that trip back to next weekend. Earlier this week, we found out more details of the relocation plan. It was in our best interest to concentrate our efforts on putting our house on the market ASAP- which means our time would be better served getting our loose ends tied up here. We are meeting with our realtor here in Kingwood this Wednesday- maybe sooner if I can get everything done in time.

Right now we are in contact with the four Exxon preferred lenders going through the financial motions of getting approved for a loan to purchase the new house. This is where it gets a bit sticky for us. How much house should we try to buy? There are as many pros to spending more as there are to spending less. Everyone has an opinion... But we are the only ones who have to live with the results. So, I'm feeling a bit intimidated about what to choose. We want to make the very best choice for us.

We can only do what we can do. Which means that our days are filled with these activities (and nearly all are done to excess):
1.) Pray... hard... and pray specifically.
2.) Clean, decluter, organize the house
3.) Talk to our agent in BR, the relo rep, Exxon HR, the 4 loan officers
4.) Stalk real estate in BR online
5.) Call and email each other (Marcus/Me) as we have ideas, thoughts, concerns
6.) Tend to the two year old- and let him feel comfortable in spite of his parents elevated stress level.
7.) Whittle my independent studies down so I can flippin graduate.

The bad part for me, is that I know that we have just now begun this long journey that will last for the next two months. I still will have to attend and pass two summer classes in Huntsville everyday- while taking care of James Neal, and sell a house while Marcus is working in Baton Rouge. His start date is June 16th- for those of you who don't know. So, send prayers and encouragement my way if you can. I'm really wondering if we are capable of doing it all and make wise decisions in the process.

Silver lining? In three months this will all be behind us! I'll have graduated, we will be in a new home working towards a new step for us. Plus, I am grateful to be able to be in this position. I mean, if this is the worst that we have to deal with, then we aren't doing too bad.

*Okay* Here are a few things that I have taken the time to enjoy in spite of the constant rush that has consumed our lives:

This is called a 'hanging j' which means he is just hours from forming his chrysalis- good thing too, because these buggers are eating me out of house and home!