Packing UP and Shipping OUT

Our LAST family shot in TEXAS
The kitchen boxed up (top) and garage (bottom) It is such a strange feeling to have all of your belongings packed up in brown paper, tightened down with packing tape.... and watching it all happen very quickly. Ben and I were both amazed at how fast the packers could move. There was no hesitation... just very quick movements and lots of packing paper! Until this point I know I felt like I really wasn't leaving. I was excited for our new adventure but also I was very comfortable in my little part of the world. I think for this reason I had left packing our suitcases for the very last minute (for that reason I also forgot some very useful items) you could probably say I was in moving denial. I even told my friends not to tell me "goodbye" but instead "have a good vacation" because just thinking about leaving would make me start to get tears in my eyes, and when that happens I am minutes away from becoming red-eyed and snot-nosed- and that just isn't a pretty sight.
BUT... ready or not... we were leaving this place we had called home for the last 4 years, and what a good time it was....

• multiple trips to Sea World, the zoo, and SIX Flags
• exploring caverns and caves
• the ALAMO and River walk
• Poteet Strawberry Festival
• home renovation and painting
• attempting a garden and laying sod
• swimming in our community pool
• watching Cael ride his bike at 2 1/2 without training wheels
• barely making the drive to the hospital when Brecon was born
• babysitting swaps... ya gotta love 'em!
• visiting Ben at work
• tennis with friends (all year round if we wanted)
• volleyball nights at the church
• ugly Christmas sweater party and...
• last minute bar-b-q's and parties at our house
• girls night out and midnight movies
• our Halloween baby Connor

this list will go on and on... and I will probably add more.

Needless to say we LOVED our time here in Texas.

Ben Graduates... again....

WE DID IT! After YEARS of hard work, study, late nights/no sleep, on-call/post-call, clinic, etc, etc... Ben has graduated from the SAUSHEC Residency program in Internal Medicine. The speeches were short and sweet but because there were so many residents graduating... it was painfully LONG! The little boys had pretty much had it by the end (I noticed some friends were much smarter and left some of their kiddos with sitters... I will remember that... umm... next time :) Ben's dad and sister were able to make it for the "celebration" which I still feel bad that they had to suffer through the 3 hour presentation, but they were good sports about it :) We made up for it with a fun trip to Sea World, the Alamo, Missions baseball game, a temple session, and good ol' Smokey Moe's TEXAS bar-b-q :)

*Just to note that this is the 3rd graduation Ben has had since we have been married. I know some wives have probably had 4 or maybe 5.... but I think 3 is quite a lot!

SCHOOLS OUT....

....FOR THE SUMMER!!!

* Connor was the MAIN attraction during lunch (with all the ladies).

*Cael had personally selected his last day of school attire (AWESOME)

*Brecon was especially HAPPY to see Cael run off of the bus

NOW...WE ARE READY FOR SUMMER!!!

Memorial Day

My friend told me what they were doing for the holiday and I asked if I could tag along. Ben was gone- but I wanted to make sure I did something fun with the boys... and their plans sounded like just the ticket. A trip to FREDERICKSBURG to pick peaches and go on an adventure.

The trip started off a little rocky, I had forgotten my purse with my cell phone tucked safely inside. A quick turn around, meeting up at a parking lot... THEN we were on our way! The boys all traveled very well, it's not like it is a 5 hour drive or anything :)

The farm was quite busy, the peaches were hard, and it was very humid... but Cael and Brecon were lovin' it! I couldn't stop them from plucking the peaches from the tree limbs, whether they were ripe or not. It was also a good thing that I "tagged" along because I had extra adults/arms to carry our boxes or help push a stroller... THANK YOU AGAIN for helping ME and the BOYS!!!

We stopped by DAS PEACH HAUS an adorable little shop with samples of dips, syrups, honey, etc ....OR as a mother with little children sees it :breakables, bottles that can spill, lots of places to explore (but not in a good way...) It was somewhat chaotic with the boys, but we managed to order homemade peach icecream and cobbler ala mode (drizzeled with peach honey)... IT WAS HEAVENLY!!! I don't think I have enjoyed a sweet treat -so much -in a long time. I also think because we had not had lunch, it made the yummy dessert even sweeter.

Just in back of the shop sat an adorable little fish pond with a perfectly placed swing. The big boys explored while Connor enjoyed his lunch. It was quite comfortable in the shade, and the gentle motion made for a relaxing afternoon break.

I will have to say the driving home was a little harder than driving up.... the sugar rush had come and gone and we were left with a recipe for NAP time. Don't worry, we made it home safely, most of us took naps, and then we ended the day with a trip to the pool.