arrived

Quick update: We have arrived in Houston, TX! Our apartment lease doesn't start until tomorrow, so we are staying with Chris's family tonight. The girls have made themselves quite at home with "Aunt Pam" and 12 year old "Cousin Shelby." Part of the reason they're so into them may be because of the brand new jump rope, 'skip it,' and sidewalk chalk they bought them! There is an "Uncle Carroll" and a "Cousin Trey"and a "Cousin Ryan" as well, but they're much more interested in the 12 year old girl and aunt! I put "aunt" & "uncle" in quotes because Carroll is actually Chris's dad's 1st cousin so who knows how exactly that makes these particular family members related to my kids, but they are family and that's what's important!

Chris & I are going to the apartment tomorrow and hopefully meeting the movers to unpack our stuff. I hope to sleep in our new place tomorrow night!!!!!!!

Things are going well, but I am missing my South Carolina friends. My cell phone is getting a good work-out!

More later from the Lone Star State........

today

What's going on:

*Packers have been here & gone.

*They will be back tomorrow to finish packing & to load the truck.

*Spent time packing suitcases and figuring out which things we didn't want loaded into the truck.

*Had to hold on tight so I wouldn't pass out when the plumber told me how much his repairs were going to cost!!!!!!!!!

*Have been very happy to receive our first official 'non family' dinner invitation for when we get to Houston! Chris's cousin has made it clear that we're welcome to visit them when we get there, but this invitation came from some new "friends" we've made. She is the niece to a lady we go to church with here in SC who has gone out of her way to help us as we make this transition and she invited us to dinner that first Saturday we'll be in town. Isn't the Christian bond wonderful?!?

*Chris got the fun job of going into the attic to drag down all the stuff we haven't looked at in years. Some of it will be moved to Houston, some of it met the trash can. After all, if we haven't missed it in the 6 years we've lived in the house, we probably don't need it, right?

*A great friend took the girls today for about 9 hours! I know the girls had lots more fun going to playgroup, playing at LA's house, and going to LA's softball practice than they would have had here with me watching the packers pack!

*Texted a prayer warrior friend when I started getting really stressed. She called back a little later and left the most wonderful prayer on my voicemail. It was so full of petitions to God for peace & help and all sorts of things that needed to be said. I love having her as a friend-and I love that we've been friends for over 20 years!

*Chris had to go to the bank because we had a suspicious check clear out of our account. It was a check number that was way off from the check numbers we're currently using. Apparently, the teller had cleared the check out of our account, but it was written on a completely different account! Thank goodness it was only for $12. What if it had been for a large amount?!? Goes to show how important it is to keep an eye on what's clearing out of your checking account!

*Another sweet friend brought by dinner for us-such a help!

*I had a prenatal massage which was really nice! Chris had gotten me a gift certificate for Valentine's Day and I didn't want to leave town without using it!

*Loved watching American Idol and hearing them sing, "Shout to the Lord!" Awesome!

*The girls (mainly Katie) were a little concerned about where all their toys were when they got home. To distract them a little, I 'stole' an idea from a friend and we played hide & seek! Since there were so many boxes in the house and it was getting dark, we turned off the lights (as many as Katie would let us) and played in the dark.

*Trying to finish up the laundry and will begin sorting through all the things we didn't allow to be packed and see if all of it will fit in the van!

*We will spend the weekend with some gracious friends who offered to let us stay with them until we pull out of town Monday or Tuesday.

Here are some pictures from our hide & seek game:

Apparently, people who work for moving companies don't have to pass spelling tests. Notice this box came from the "purpule room." I also saw a box that was full of "Tuppaware." *sheesh*

day at the park

There's so much going on (the packers come Thursday!) and I felt bad yesterday that the girls didn't really do much that was fun. Going with me to the doctor at 8:15 in the morning and waiting through my glucose test & regular visit & other test wasn't exactly at the top of their list of things to do! So...I told Gracie that we'd do something fun today. We ended up getting
take-out from 3 different places (McDonald's, Subway, & Honey Baked Ham) and going to the little park next to our library then going into the library. Here are some shots from the day-including a couple of the beautiful azaleas Aiken has to offer. I don't think we'll be seeing too many of those in Houston-although I am looking forward to seeing bluebonnets again!

two big things done!

Chris flew into Houston yesterday and met with his new boss & co-workers and got to see his new workspace. He said he felt very welcomed by everyone. I sure am glad because how horrible if he'd left with a bad feeling, right?!? He spent time in the Galleria mall which is somewhat near his new office-he thinks I'll like that! I'm excited that I'll now have an opportunity to meet him for lunch sometimes. His current work situation is behind a "secure" gate, so I've never been there.

Today, he has spent a large majority of his day driving around & looking into the 3 schools & apartments that I had narrowed it down to. He liked all of the schools but was unimpressed with one of the apartments (just from driving by) so that was a good way to eliminate that one. He really liked the 2nd apartments but they were quite a bit more expensive than the others we'd seen online. He liked the area a lot though. He drove to the other area, which was a completely different part of the city, and checked out that school & apartment complex. He said the lady at the school was probably the friendliest of the 3 schools & he liked it, and the apartments are very nice & pretty new & less expensive & they have a garage which will help with storage!!!!! One problem we've run into is the lease time. It is running into next school year which I didn't want it to do, BUT there may be a way to break it. Even so, this particular apartment is actually larger than our current house (which isn't big but isn't like a matchbox either) so we won't be anymore cramped there than we are here! We gotta do what we gotta do! So.....he has gone to the bank to get some cash and is going back to make a deposit which means we also know which school Gracie will be going to in a couple of weeks, too! *whew* Thank you, God!

As much as part of me is glad I'm home with the girls, getting to go to Gracie's awards day and Spring Party, there's a part of me that wishes I was there with him. He tends to not have as critical of an eye as I do-especially when it comes to schools. But then again......that could be a good thing because he's been able to choose one easier than I would and won't stress about it as much. We have talked to each other about a gabillion times so it's not like I haven't had a say, but he is the one there able to make an ultimate decision. It's good to have this part done!


Yesterday, the girls & I met Mrs. Hooks at McDonald's after school. I've spoken many times about how much I like her, so it was nice to spend some time with her visiting before we leave.

This morning was Gracie's awards day for the last 9 weeks. Since it started at 7:45, Katie & I just walked Gracie in. On the way in, we passed by Coach who has morning car line duty. I had tried to send him an email earlier in the week but didn't have the right address, so I was glad to get the chance to talk to him and take a 'last' picture of him with Gracie. My parents still tease me about having a crush on one of my first P.E. teachers, and we do the same with Gracie! He makes Gracie feel special, and we appreciate that. I realize the sweater with sandals may be an odd look, but it's supposed to be 80 today. However, apparently today doesn't mean this morning because it's coooold! She has on a real cute little dress but had to cover it up with the sweater-oh well!

At the awards ceremony, Gracie received recognition for all A's, A in conduct, and meeting her A.R. goal. Good job, Gracie! I didn't get good pictures of her standing during the event, but I thought this one was cute. I especially like seeing "C' in the background-trying to poke his head into the picture (boy to the left)-because he is 'special' to Gracie. She has quite the crush on him, and I think he may have a little crush on her too! She told me the other day that he said he was going to miss her when she moved and then another time he said he liked her new glasses. (Do you notice them-they're red! They are a little crooked though, so we need to have them adjusted.) Don't worry-we have the "you're too young to have a boyfriend but it's okay to think he's nice and to think he's cute" talk a lot! He really is a cutie & a sweetie!

This afternoon I went back to the school for Gracie's Spring Party. Here are a couple of cute pictures from the event.

Even though Gracie will be at school one more day, it kind of felt like her last day of school because there was a party. I wasn't sure I'd be able to take a lot of pictures that last day so I made the rounds today. Here she is with Miss Stack (now Mrs. Powell) from Kindergarten, Mrs. Stauffer from 1st grade, and of course, Mrs. Zimmerman from 2nd grade. They all will have special places in our hearts!

In just a little bit begins the much-looked-forward-to "2 night sleepover" between Gracie & LA! They have been planning this forever!!!!!!!!!

We are blessed!

Tonight our sweet "our age" friends from church threw us a going away party. Although there is an element of excitement in making this transition to Texas, there are also so many bittersweet feelings as well. Goodness. We are so blessed to have these Christian friends in our lives-along with all of their children. There were 21 adults & 20 children (and 2 on the way)-the oldest child being 12 and next youngest being 8 and all the others younger than that! Our little church of around 150 members is certainly blessed with a bright future!

They presented us with a framed picture of our house with space for people to write on the mat, a "P is for Palmetto" South Carolina alphabet book for the girls, and a wonderful gift card to Target that we plan to put towards the 'travel system' for our new little one. We also 'mysteriously' never received a bill for our dinner thanks to the generosity of our friends.

Even though I do consider myself an emotional person-especially right now-I was able to hold back the tears. I am more of a 'cry by myself' person. I know it will come though. It's inevitable. I am in a little bit of denial right now....with so much to do it's a good place to be! :-)

We'll be having a fellowship meal Sunday night after church where more good-byes will be said. Once again-we are blessed.

I also have to say that poor Katie had a rough day. She got FIVE shots at her 4 year check-up! Today was also her last day at Parent's Day Out. Here she is with her "teachers," Miss Kayleen & Miss Cindy, along with the precious picture they made her.