One Year Ago Today

One year ago today we got on an airplane and moved to Texas. I can't believe it has been a year. It was a tough time for me emotionally and I remember feeling lost, in every sense of the word. I am so grateful for the wonderful people we have met here, and for making Texas feel like home. I also miss the people in California who made it so hard to leave. A lot can happen in a year. We have survived our first Texas summer (although it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be), our first holidays away from our families, another year of school for Dave, and Audrey's first year of school.

Things we love about Texas:
1. The people, both family and friends
2. The convenience suburbia offers
3. The cost of living
4. How nice everyone is
5. The FOOD
6. More space
7. Parking, parking, parking everywhere!
8. A garage. enough said.
9. Lots of swimming pools
10. Sun tans baby!

Things we miss about San Francisco:
1. The people, both family and friends
2. The wonderful things city life has to offer
3. That I could vacuum my entire apartment without having to switch outlets
4. The FOOD
5. Being able to walk to dinner
6. The steep hills
7. The ocean
8. The beautiful views
9. 65 degree weather in the middle of June
10.65 degree weather in the middle of December

Texas, we love you. San Francisco, we miss you. I am so grateful for these wonderful places we have been able to live and grow.

Dinner is Served

Growing up, my mom did a dinner co-op with three of her friends. Every Monday night she would cook dinner for the four families and then deliver them. The rest of the week we got dinner delivered to us. She did this for ten years and I think it was the only way she stayed sane. While living in San Francisco, I did this for three years with some of my friends. I mentioned it to some of my friends here and we have started it up. We are on our third month. How did I ever survive without it? I only have to cook one weekday night and the other nights I get a hot delicious dinner delivered to my door. We get together to plan out menus so we know what is coming, and it is fun to get to try new things that I didn't have to slave over. Dinner co-op, thank you for making my life so much simpler, and my tummy oh so happy.

Tall, Dark, and Oh So Handsome

I realized I never recorded Joshua's two year stats.
Height: 38 in (above 95%)
Weight: 34 lbs, 1 oz (above 95%)
This picture was taken 7 days after his birthday at a local park. I am fully aware it is fuzzy but I love the expression on his face, the boogies in his nose, and the cookies all over his face. He already looks so much older to me.

Audrey's two year stats:
Height: 36 inches (90%)
Weight: 32 lbs (95%)

Sunday Pictures

I'm in love with these two.

Graduation

Audrey graduated from preschool. Next step, kindergarten. I don't want to talk about it.

She loved getting her diploma,

 

singing all the songs,

 

and parading down the isle to the traditional graduation anthem.

 

I didn't cry once. I thought I would, but these sweet little hooligans kept us busy so we didn't have time to cry.

 

Proud brother.

 

 

Katelyn. Tatum. Audrey. Sweet little friends.

 

Kately. Audrey. Tatum.  First day of school.  They look so little!

Audrey's teachers, Ms. Kay and Ms. Peggy.  They were fabulous.

 

Audrey's friends from her class.  Tessa. Katelyn. Tatum. Audrey. Emma. Claire.

 

One graduation down, lots to go.

Happy Memorial Day

Freedom isn't free. Happy Memorial Day.

Mother's Day

This year Mother's Day consisted of breakfast in bed (at 10:00 am! yay for sleeping in!), church, naps all around and a yummy steak dinner. Perfect, perfect day.

Audrey had a nasty spider bite on her arm, and I was going to make strawberry jam the next day, hence the massive amounts of strawberries on my counter.

 

I am so grateful for these two little ones and the joy they bring to my life.

 

1982. I was two and a half. I love my mom.

1974. Baby Dave. I love my mother-in-law and totally lucked out in that department.

Mother's Day is more than recognizing actual mothers, but it is about recognizing all the woman who have made an impact on someone. I am so grateful for the many woman who have influenced me for good. I feel so blessed to have such amazing women in my life.

BBQ

The weather has been so nice so we decided to celebrate by having a backyard bbq.

All the kids. :)

The fruit sorbets from Costco are my newest obsession. Aren't they cute? The are in real fruit shells! They taste might fine too.

Audrey Girl

 

Audrey loves Primary. Her favorite part is the spotlight moment. I have kept her previous spotlight forms and it was fun to compare them with her new one. Some things have stayed the same and others have changed. One thing that will never change for me, this little girl has captured my heart.

April 18, 2009
San Francisco, CA
Age: 3
Where is your favorite place to travel? To the Painitng Museum
There fo you want to go, that you haven't been? to school
What is your favorite thing to do in San Francisco? Swim
What is your favorite treat? Fruit snacks
Do you have a favorite sport? I like princess sports
Do you plan any musical instruments? Sometimes I do-the "tuitars" (guitars)
What is your favorite temple? the Oakland Temple
What is your favorite thing about your mom? SHe plays with me.
What is your favoiret thing about your dad? He swings me
What is your favorite thing about yourself? I like being a princess
Do you have a favorite joke? Why do meatballs go to school? BEcause they are human joking (??????)
What is something funny that has happened to you recently? I joked my dad
What is your favorite movie/TV shoe? Sleeping Beauty
Do you have a pet? no
If you could have any pet, what would it be? A petting pink crocodile
What is your favorite thing about Primary? I like to play Spotlight
What's your favorite Primary song? I love to see the temple.

November 15, 2009
Texas
Age: 4 1/4
I was born in: "the same place where Joshua was born, at the doctors."
Any pets?: "No, but I wish for a purple alligator."
My favorite color is: Purple
My favorite food is: Mac and cheese
The weirdest food I have ever eaten is: fish
One of my favorite things to do is: play around with my brother
One thing my parents think is great about me is: my heart
My favorite book is: Old MacDonald and my favorite movie is Rapunzel
My favorite Primary song is: I Love to See the Temple
Some of my talents are: drawing and making new friends
One thing I really don't like is: wolves
What do you love about your family?: When they wrestle me.

May 25, 2010
Texas
Age: 4 3/4
I was born in: San Francisco, at the doctors. (gotta give credit to the doctors)
Any pets?: Zero (at least her retile fascination is over, for now)
My favorite color is: Purple (still)
My favorite food is: Salmon (finally a healthy answer)
The weirdest food I have ever eaten is: whipped cream
One of my favorite things to do is: play with my brother (still. I love how much she loves him)
One thing my parents think is great about me is: I have lovely styles (oh my)
My favorite book is: Old MacDonald (still)
My favorite Primary song is: I Love to See the Temple (I'm glad. It's mine too)
Some of my talents are: I like to color, I like to play games, I try to be a good friend
One thing I really don't like is: being lost from my mom (We got separated from each other at the arboretum for about .2 seconds and it has seriously scarred her)
What do you love about your family?: I like when they play with me. I really love when my Dad tickles me and my mom plays a game called, "I'm not going to smile". (game explanation: Audrey says she isn't going to smile and then I talk in a southern accent and try to get her to smile. She usually smiles in about two seconds, and then hysterically laughs after about four. I love it.)


Other Audreyisms:
*she loves "cold, fresh water"
*she loves turkey sandwiches and wants to eat one every day. With lots and lots and lots of pickles
*if something happens to Joshua (falls down, bonks his head...) and I say, "Poor Joshua", Audrey responds with, "Oh Joshua, you are so so so poor." Ha! If only she knew how true that really was.
*her socks have to be on just right in order for her to wear them. I must hear, "But it doesn't feel right!" at least 10 times every morning. I totally empathize. She gets that from me.
*she makes me smile everyday

Grateful

I found these pictures on my computer from when Memor and Fafa come to town. I was sad I didn't get to see them more, but I was off to my girl's weekend. Thank you for coming and watching the kids so I could go, it really means a lot. I married a really, really great man who comes from a really, really great family.

 

 

Girls Trip

In my opinion, the best part of any place on earth are the people that live there. Considering what an amazing place San Francisco is, it just goes to show how amazing the people there are. I was so blessed to have made so many life long friends during our years in San Francisco.

Before graduation, the wives decided we needed to have a trip planned so it would be easier to say goodbye. I can't believe that time has come and gone.
All of our husbands graduated school together last June (except Jamie's but she moved away when we all did, and Kera's husband, who graduated the year before...and she is inside during this picture. I don't have one picture of all 12 of us. Bummer.)

We flew in from all over. California to Boston, Canada to Texas. And everywhere in between.

Megan (and baby girl). Loni. Nadine. Me. Jamie (holding Eliza). Jocelyn. Mindi (who have birth four days after we left. Superwoman). Kitrina. Rebecca. Rocia. Regan. And Kera in the house.

 

We all met up in Utah (that's right. I flew home from my sister's wedding only to fly back to Utah three days later) and stayed together in Mindi's parents home who just happened to be out of town. Their home was beyond beautiful and we had the best time being together.

A highlight of the trip for me was being able to meet baby Anderson, baby Eliza and baby Lucy. Regan, Jamie and Jocelyn were pregnant when we all moved away and I was so sad I hadn't meet their babies, until now.
I love the ear hold.

 

We ate.

 

Lots.
Rocia's homemade Monte Cristos in memory of our beloved Mama's restaurant in SF, Reg's famous pina colada's and popcorn, Cafe Rio, Jocelyn's amazing peanut butter cookies (Whitney? Was that your recipe? Trying to give credit where credit it due), yummy pot roast and Jamie's yummy salad, Mindi's incredible granola, Rebecca's scotcharoos, frozen custard, Cafe Rio again, you name it, we ate it.

 

On Sunday we were able to go to the Spoken Word. I have never been and it was a neat experience.

 

Then off to the Dodo for brunch with fabulous Kathy. It made me realize how much I miss her.

 

We crafted. We made pretties (hair bows, clips, etc) like it was going out of style.

We had a great time talking, laughing, hanging out, shopping and just being together.

 

I am still obsessed with Cafe Rio. I ate there twice in one day again and I ordered and carried on the airplane four pork salads and two pork tacos to take back to Texas to my friends and family. Audrey was delighted with her Utah surprise.
I love Regan and Rocia's face in the background. Can you tell how humored they are by all this? ha!

 

The hardest part of any trip is saying goodbye. I am so grateful for these girls and their influence for good in my life. Can't wait until next year.