Life lately

Friday morning Mom drove up to Atlanta and had lunch with me at work then picked Maddie Jane up from school. She was so excited to see her Gigi and they had a fun little girls afternoon. I got home from work and we declared it happy hour! 

After MJ went to bed, we had a girls night. Complete with matching PJs, face masks and catching up on Scandal. Words can't even explain how special my friendship with my mom is - I can't wait to do the same with my girl. 

Saturday morning we were up early for Maddie's favorite activity.. dress up! She is on a big Frozen kick right now, so anyyything that will make her look like Else, she is all about.

Then we headed to Athens for the Gym Dawgs meet! Mom took me to Gym Dawgs meets all growing up and I continued to catch some while I was in school at UGA too. Mom and I were both excited to get Maddie Jane to Athens for the first time! 

I graduated SIX years ago, and still had not walked under the arch! (If you walk under it before you graduate, you're cursed to never graduate! People take this very seriously, ha! The steps to the side of the arch are dented in from students only using that path.)

Maddie Jane was absolutely beside herself when we got to Stegman. Her eyes were huge and she just could not stop dancing! Her favorite part was definitely Hairy Dawg. (Also, it was a pink out for breast cancer!)

On the way to Athens I would say, "Go Dawgs!" and MJ would say, "Shh, quiet!" but it took just one trip to Athens to convert my little jacket to a dawg! 

Once we got back home, I grabbed AJ for a little date night while we had our free babysitter in town :) We went to the jewelry store to get my ring fixed then popped into a random sushi restaurant for dinner. And it was the BEST I have had in Atlanta! (Katana near Lenox for you locals..)

It was a wild Saturday night and we were home by 7:00pm, ha! 

The next morning it was freezing cold and raining, so we decided to stay in our PJs by the fire ALL day long. It was glorious. Gigi left later that afternoon and we opted to watch the Super Bowl from home with the yucky weather and MJ's looming bedtime.

Monday afternoon Maddie Jane was entertaining as always -- singing, dancing, talking up a storm. LOVE this age and her little personality. 

All the heart eyes.

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Five on Friday {Maddie Jane Edition}

Happy Friday! I wanted to change up my Friday Favorites a little bit and do five things about Maddie Jane. She is constantly growing and changing, and I swear that personality is blooming by the minute. So here are five things about our girl!

1. She is creative. 

Maddie Jane is all about a pen and paper. She is constantly asking to "collllor" - the brighter the pen, the better. We have caught her a couple times coloring on the wall or counter tops, but thankfully nothing a magic eraser couldn't get off. This past weekend we finally busted out the paints from Santa, and she was in HEAVEN. But she is her Mama's girl and absolutely freaked out when she got it on her hands. Same thing goes if she spills her drink or snack.. she immediately starts crying because she made a "MESSSSSSS"


2. She is fearless. 

Like a little too fearless. She is constantly crawling and climbing on anything and everything. I say "be careful" at least sixty times a day. She has zero fear. And way too often she does trust falls to us off the changing table or down the stairs. One day she is seriously going to bust it! This week she went to the dentist for the first time and handled it like a champ! She literally giggled the entire time. And she was rewarded with her favorite thing ever - STICKAS!


3. She is either on or off. 

As Honey loving calls her, "Busy Bee".. She doesn't sit still. She is ON THE GO all the time. She has so much energy, it exhausts me watching her sometimes! Little girl is always moving.. her favorite thing right now is twirling and is pretty adamant about having on a shirt or dress that is good for twirling! And the second she hears a good song, she is busting out the dance moves (poor thing has her Daddy's moves unfortunately..) But because she is so busy, she sleeps HARD. Every night she is out by 8pm (in her big girl bed, eek!) and is dead to the world till 6/7am.


4. She looks like Daddy, but acts like Mama. 

She is AJ Pryor's twin! I catch them making the same faces at me all the time. But her attitude, is 100% Mama. She is giggly, and cuddly, and sassy and just a complete DIVA. And I love it so stinkin much. I actually went back and read some old blog posts from when she was just a few months old and I said she wouldn't be our shy child. Isn't it crazy how you already can tell such distinct character traits at such a young age?? She is the life of the party.


5. She loves BIG.

Maddie girl knows her people. We (finally!) get to see our friends and family so often now, that she knows who her people are - and she loves them BIG. (This was one of my biggest fears in California.. that she wouldn't know all the people in our lives that are so incredibly special..) She will walk around the house singing about her Gigi and CC .. every day when we pull into the driveway she says "Honey, where are you!?" And when she gets to see them, she SQUEALS in excitement. She gives the best hugs, and the cheesiest grins when she gets to be surrounded by her favorites. She has such a big heart, and such a sweet soul, and I am so incredibly proud that she is ours.  

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What's Up Wednesday

1. What we're eating...

Sunday: Cheeseburger Pizza (pic below!)

Monday: Ground Turkey Tacos

Tuesday: Veggie Pizza (my dough recipe makes two batches!)

Wednesday: Out to eat after MJ's first dentist appointment!

Thursday: Chicken Enchiladas

Friday: Trader Joe's teriyaki chicken and rice

2. What I'm reminiscing about...

Our date night! Saturday night Miss Abby came over to keep Maddie Jane and we had a fun parents night out. We had a gift card to Fleming's Steak House, so we went to the one super close to our house then I some how talked AJ into going to the mall with me, ha! It was a super wild night and we were home by 9pm, ha! 

3. What I'm loving...
Maddie Jane's new hair! On Saturday Kelley and I took her to get her very first haircut. There were several kids in there absolutely losing their minds, and I was so worried she was going to freak out too. But she handled it like a champ! They had Trolls playing right in front of the chair and she got a sucker.. I don't think she even realized she was getting a haircut!

And now she looks even more grown up!!! All the heart eyes for this smiley big girl!

4. What we've been up to...
We were busy in January!! I some time off with MJ for the holidays, I got the flu..then strep, went to the National Championship game (which I have yet to write about, ugh), had some snow days, and we headed down to Sandersville for Bev and Ben's engagement party and Sadie's 3rd birthday..

We continued to work getting settled into our new house, AJ went on a quick trip to LA, we celebrated Aunt Lexi's birthday, and Amanda and I went to Jen Hatmaker while Pety and Bear completely made Maddie Jane's night by staying with her! It was a busy month!! 

5. What I'm dreading...
Our biggest project this month has been the backyard.. We do not have a fence for Molly and Maddie Jane, so that was the number one thing on the to do list since moving in. Well once we started on that, we realized some trees needed to come down (three HUGE pines), and then we realized before we got the fence in, we should probably uproot all the ivy in the backyard too.

So conveniently I received a flyer that Dunwoody High School lacrosse team was doing a fundraiser - $15 per boy, per hour to help with yard work. So I signed up for 4 boys for 4 hours to come help AJ in the backyard. Some helping hands and giving back to the community - win, win! And here is the almost FIFTY bags of yard debris that the boys cleared waiting for trash pick up this morning. And the yard isn't even close to being done! We have a long ways to go, but it will all be worth it come summer time!

6. What I'm working on...
My new job! Back in December I got a new job closer to our new house and MUCH more aligned to what I want to be doing and my future goals. I now work for a small staffing firm as their HR Manager. Our company has never had an HR department before, so it has been such an amazing opportunity (already!!) growing out this function and really getting to put my stamp on how we move forward.

The first week of January we had a big kickoff event where everyone came to our Atlanta headquarters to discuss our goals for 2018 and for team building. We did Sweet Water and Two Urban Licks the last night. Below is my boss on the right (our COO) and on the left is my direct report who handles benefits. I am LOVING my new position and company!

7. What I'm excited about...
These tulips make me pretty stinkin happy. I'm excited for spring to get here and have fresh flowers (and warm weather!!) all the time :)

8. What I'm watching/reading...
On Sunday I was at Beverly's house helping her stuff wedding invitations and she had Friends on in the background. I was really enjoying mindlessly listening to it while I worked, and had to confess that I had actually never seen a full episode of it! So here I am.. watching every sesason on Netflix every night and morning, ha! 

9. What I'm listening to...
Nicole Nordeman - loved hearing her with Jen last week!! There wasn't a dry eye in the room after this song/video played. Mamas I dare you to watch it and not cry!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcNB_EUao8

10. What I'm wearing...

All of this is from two boutiques in Woodstock - Branch and Brooklyn's. 

Jeans | Shoes | Similar Sweater

Shoes | Old Target Shirt | Jeans

Shoes | Vest | Shirt | Jeans

11. What I'm doing this weekend...

My mama is coming to town!!! She is coming tomorrow night and staying through the weekend. We are taking Maddie Jane to Athens for the FIRST time to go to the Gym Dawgs meet! And then all the other goodness that comes along with having my mama here! So, so excited. Here is a throwback to when Maddie Jane saw the Gym Dawgs for the first time at UCLA. (Also, a very similar outfit to the one above, ha!)

12. What I'm looking forward to next month...
Some down time with this sweet girl, Beverly's Bachelorette party, and we are finally throwing a little shin dig at our new place for all of our friends to come over!

xoxo, 
Anna-Grace

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Five on Friday

Hey y'all! Man oh man this was a looonggg week. I haven't had a full week of work since before Christmas, so this one was tough. I am linking up with some of my favorite Mama Bloggers for Friday Favorites for the first time in forever! Here are 5 quick things that were my favorite this week :)

1. Amanda + Jen

Last night Amanda and I went to hear Jen Hatmaker speak in Roswell. We have both loved her for forever, have read her books, we follow her on social media, etc..  and she did not disappoint! It was a night full of incredible uplifting messages, tied in with some hilarious anecdotes. There was something so insanely powerful about being in a room full with Godly women, laughing at our failures, crying over our babies growing up, and singing praises. And ahhh my heart could just BURST with the fact that I get to see my cousin/best friend weekly. It is SO GOOD for the soul. She's my person.

2. Where is Honey!?

Our Honey (AJ's mom) left for a 112 day cruise on Tuesday. YES you read that right.. 112 days!!! The cruise line our family always goes on, Crystal Cruises, does "world cruises" every year. It has always been on her bucket list, so she committed to doing it this year! (Not quite sure if committed is the right word?? I mean the lady is seeing the world and having room service daily, ha!) We are already missing her so stinkin much! So we have this handy little calendar on our fridge to track her daily.

3. This picture!!

Paige got her wedding pictures back and I am absolutely dying over them! Mark Williams Photography is simply out of this world. I have never seen an event where they didn't completely hit it out of the park. In this pic.. Maddie Jane had decided to climb up a 20 foot embankment (in her white dress and white shoes, no less) and I'm glad the girls captured this sweet moment while I chased after her in 4 inch heels! It's definitely a framer :) 

4. This yogurt

Y'all I know this is so random, but this yogurt is GOOD. I have been on a mission to change up my breakfast, so this week I bought literally every kind of greek yogurt at the grocery store. And the verdict is actually one of the cheaper options.. Dannon Oikos! (Specifically the key lime..YUM) So a couple more calories than the light and fit, but still a healthy, tasty snack. And do yourself a favor, and do not try that expensive glass bottle Oui yogurt. Gross. 

5. My girl

Don't think it's possible to do a Friday Favorite without featuring my girl. I swear she looks 5 in this picture! She has the best little personality and is so full of life. I could eat her up!! She is getting her first haircut this weekend (EEK!), so I know she is going to look even more grown-y. 

We have a pretty low key weekend planned. I have a bajillion errands to run, MJ's haircut, AJ will be working on our backyard, a date night (woo!!!), church, and some time with girlfriends. Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!! 

xoxo

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Life Lately

After I battled the flu and strep throat (and managed to not get anyone else sick!), we were slowwlllyyy getting back into the swing of things. Back to our normal routine, and meal planning, and the daily grind. Then AJ had to go out to California for a conference, so Maddie Jane and I snacked our way through the rest of that first week in January. (I never cook when he isn't home, oops!)



She is OBSESSED with stickers! Every night I bribe her with stickers to get in bed and go to sleep hahah!



Her new phrase is "I made a MESS!!" Crazy hair, food everywhere, and a big toothy grin.



A couple weeks ago she had pajama day at school and she thought it was hilarious that she was wearing her "jammies" to school!



Last Sunday Amanda texted me and said she was in town with the boys for a football camp, so we immediately hopped in the car to go have dinner with them. We were all crammed into this booth with our kids and I almost got a little teary eyed at how special it was.. California gave us so much perspective. An impromptu dinner with these guys and their special bond with MJ is something I will never, ever take for granted.



And just as we were getting into the swing of things, Atlanta got another snow storm! So we were home from work and school because of the crazy ice!



Fortunately the day before I had grabbed these window clings from the Target dollar spot and they kept Maddie Jane content for a solid hour so I could get some work done. It was her PERFECT morning, playing with "stickaas" in her boots!



We went outside for about 15 minutes to play in the snow. It was just too dang cold!!!



I never thought we would be in a situation where Molly and Maddie Jane know what snow is and it's become a common thing for them!



The snow and dangerous roads postponed our birthday dinner with Aunt Lexi, but we finally got to celebrate her on Thursday!



Friday night we headed down to Sandersville and Saturday morning we got some time with sweet baby Hudson!



Being a mom with one of your best friends is one of the greatest joys in life. Truly getting where each other is at in life.. love love getting to do it with this one and watching her become such an amazing Mama!



Then we went to Sadie's birthday tea party! Maddie Jane was just beside herself with the dress up boas, gloves, necklaces and most importantly "happy cake"!



She ate alllll the sugar and did such a good job (with Gigi's help) with her tea :)



Then that night we went to Bev and Ben's engagement party! I couldn't dream up a more perfect guy for Beverly and going through this wedding season with them has been so special.



Grandma kept Maddie Jane and we had a nice little night on the town with Mom and Chip!



We hit the road right after lunch on Sunday and got back to unpack, grocery shop, and wash clothes.. AND I finally got something in this cutie little vase E got me from Magnolia Market for Christmas.



Happy Monday friends! Hope you have a great week :)

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