Good Bye

 Hello blog readers. I don't even know who reads this anymore. It might just be me writing to no one in the blogosphere, but I still felt like I needed to say "goodbye."  I think I'm hanging up my blogging hat for now.  

Here's the thing. I'm in a new phase of life. I've been saying for awhile that I can't keep up with blogging anymore.  It truly does take up too much of my time and there are simply not enough hours in the day.  My kids love it so much and that's why I've kept it up as long as I could.  But I can't anymore.  Maybe in 2-3 years I'll feel different. Or...not. I'm not shutting down my blog site. I'm just pressing stop for now.  Maybe someday I'll hit play again, but no promises. 

I started a new business- a legit business! Britt Gilley Copywriting. I have an LLC and a website and everything! I've been working SO hard on getting it up and running and it's something I'm very proud of! So, check me out if you're wondering what I'm up to next! Go to www.brittgilleycopywriting.com (Shameless plug because it's my own site😅)

But I am going into the copywriting business and can't wait to get started. It's been a tough business/learning curve for me and sometimes when you move on to new things in life, you have to close the door on others.  This is the door I have chosen to close.

Like I said, maybe I'll get the blogging itch again at some point. But for now, I've been blogging about my family's trek that we've been on for 11 years and it's time to gracefully exit and explore a new destination.

So, without further ado, bon voyage blogging friends. Thanks for following the Gilley's on our life's journey :)

SIX

My baby boy has been alive for 2,192 days. 

The night before his birthday I had some thoughts... 

February 15th, 2022

"'Hold him a little longer, rock him a little more. Read him another story, you’ve already read him four. Let him sleep on your shoulder, rejoice in his happy smile, he is only a little boy for such a little while.'

This poem came to mind tonight as I watched his Daddy read him one last book as a 5-year-old. It’s just so sweet. I’ve been trying to soak up all his little boy goodness this past week because I know he’s about to be 6. And 6 doesn’t seem so little anymore for whatever reason.

His whole focus today has been “this is the last time I’ll do such and such as a 5-year-old.” So he made sure to do lots of things just ‘one more time.’

As we were saying prayers and tucking him in, I got him to sing me his song “one more time as a 5-year-old” so I could record it. He “wrote” this song for me a few months ago when I had the flu so badly I couldn’t get out of bed. He came to me one night and sang this song to help me feel better. Now he sings it to me at least 3 times a week, but I realized tonight I have never recorded it! So I did, on his last night of being 5. I wish so badly I could add it to my blog.

And then I went to check on him and gave him a kiss on his soft cheek as he slept… my last kiss to him as a 5-year-old.

I’m crying as I’m writing this post because it’s really hard to come to terms that my BABY is getting so old. I’m just a big sap when it comes to my kids, especially him.

Especially on his last night of being 5.💙"

February 16th, 2022

Before him, I could NEVER imagine myself having a boy. Now that he’s here, I can NEVER imagine my life without him. He inherited my impatience but his Daddy’s entire face😂. He’s made me cry both out of frustration and out of love (happy tears😌). He is equal parts stubborn, hilarious, naughty, and loving. He is everything to me. And today, HE IS SIX!!

He was very excited to finally get to hold up 2 hands!

I believe I said this last year... But we've just always had a baby or a toddler after Lucy or Piper turned 6. This year we don't. This year, him being 6 is the youngest child we have. It's crazy. It's hard. It's wonderful. It's all the things.

Happy Birthday, bud. You're my favorite💙

We celebrated his birthday party at Andy B's bowling alley on Saturday. He had some pretty cute friends show up! It was a sweet day for a sweet boy.

L.O.V.E.

I titled this post with one of my favorite songs so that maybe you would start singing it in your head while you read. It's supposed to make you think of love while you read about "love day" AND the Daddy Daughter Valentine Dance. 

First I'll start with the dance. Lucy's still hanging in there! The girls looked lovely and Shawn looked handsome and they danced the night away! 

As for Valentine's Day, it was pretty uneventful this year :( Our community Covid numbers are back in the red and therefore no parents are allowed inside the school to attend parties. I'm really sad about it too because this was Piper's last year to have a Valentine's Day party in her class. They stop doing them in 4th grade. And once again, I didn't get to attend. Her teacher was kind enough to send each Mom some pictures of the kids during the party so we could see how it went just a little bit, but nothing compares to actually being there. 

Same with Sully's party.  His first Valentine's Day party and his Mama wasn't with him. Now, I'm trying to just be thankful that they were at least IN school, WITHOUT masks, and had parties.  I just HATE missing these things. It KILLS ME.  So, beyond driving the kids to and from school, I didn't even leave the house! 

Shawn and I did have our annual Sushi dinner together.  No matter how old the kids get we will keep up that tradition.  It is so special to me. It's just one of those little things that we look forward to every February 14th. 

Most people buy jewelry, flowers or candy for their Valentines. Shawn and I buy each other matching Costco sweatsuits because WHY NOT. One of my favorite Valentines Day gifts to date😄

OH! Wait! I forgot- another LOVELY day to write about is Shawn's birthday! 

Happy birthday to my baby cakes Our weekend festivities were originally jam packed. I was stressing about how we would fit it all in! And then OK had a big snowstorm which caused EVERYTHING to shut down. All birthday/weekend plans came to an immediate halt (except for his traditional King Cake! That was the 1 thing that worked out!). So his birthday was definitely not one we had in mind but it was still pretty great. We made pizza and snuggled up as a family to watch the new Ghost Busters (which was really good!).

>>>Shawn is my everything. For real. I love nothing more than simply being with him. Celebrating him is easy no matter what we are doing!

Ok.... one last "LOVE" post... Shawn and I went out to see Trey Kennedy! Every date night is the best night. I LOVE being alone with him. We've actually been on 3 dates already this year! Our goal for 2022 is to go on more dates now that the kids are a little older and I think we are doing a good job so far. He is so fun to date💛

Up next, SULLY TURNS 6! WHAT?!