Our Houston Summer

Our first 3 weeks in Houston were such a whirlwind that it didn't feel like we really lived here.  We stayed at Anna's house for the first week and then after moving in, we went to College Station for the weekend of the 4th, then one week later, we left for civitan camp in Mississippi. After camp, we finally had time to settle in.  The first day back, I didn't leave the house.  It was a long day!  After Bryce got home, we went to the YMCA together and joined.  I was excited about this because it gave me a place to exercise, swim, and had childcare too.  The following day was Friday, so B had off.  Our plans were to go exercise and then get our drivers licenses.  We went to the Y and then swam together.  As we were leaving, we were given lunch from the YMCA.  Apparently there was a program for kids ages 1-18 that included free breakfast and free lunch all summer.  So we got 4 bagged lunches that included a pb&j sandwich, celery, string cheese and chocolate milk.  It was enough food for all of us to be satisfied.  Instead of getting our licenses, we found out we had to get car tags first so that changed our plans.  We just went home (I think) but I can't remember the rest of the time.  All I know is that we started going to the YMCA daily.

swimming at the Y

The next week I ventured to the public library and got a library card.  I went one morning after exercising at the Y so it maybe have been around 11:30.  After registering for a card and checking out some books, we were leaving.  R had to use the restroom, so we were waiting for her.  While standing in the hallway, a woman came up to me and said "are you here for the movie and lunch?  It's free" and I answers, "sure I am!"  R came out of the restroom and we headed into the activity room.  About 10 picnic blankets were on the ground, so the kids sat at one, and E was in the stroller.

I found a chair along the wall pretty close to the kids.  Volunteers passed out box lunches and inside, the kids had a hot dog, orange, raisins, and  chocolate milk.  Again, the kids ate it all and watched Peter Pan until 1:00.  That's when they pretty much kicked us out to set up for game time.  We left for the house, but I realized that both the YMCA and the Alief Library, provided lunch for kids 1-18.  This gave me some interesting thoughts about the area in which we currently live.

one of the books W checked out

R going to STREAM camp at the library

We found a playground that has a spider web like WF

After that day, I would sort of plan my lunch times around either the YMCA or the library.  We also participated in game time at the library once or twice.  There were DS's that could be played, Wii games, dance dance 4, and Mario Kart.  They also had arts and crafts, coloring, and blocks for E to play with.  I assume their goals was to provide activities for kids during the summer to keep them engaged and out of trouble or keep them from being home all day alone.  Either way, I appreciated it and thought it was great. I hope this doesn't come across negative when I read it later, but in both places (Y and library) we are the only white people there.  Another observation of our area.  It doesn't bother us, and the kids don't notice...but I notice.  It doesn't stop me from going to either place and trying to settle, but it's just the reality of our environment.  R's school's demographic is less than 1% white.  70% is Hispanic with 20% black and 9% Asian.  Again, it doesn't matter at all.  It's just interesting about our area.  The people have been so nice though, especially our neighbors.  Mr. Danny and his family have invited us over twice already.  He's had a birthday party for his wife Cira and his grandson's first.  We've gone both times and each time enjoyed ourselves.

Now that summer is coming to an end, R is in school and the free meals have stopped.  We haven't stopped going to the Y and the library though.  The 3 that I have enjoy going to both.  We usually venture out in the morning time and get back home for lunch and rest.  E usually naps from 1:30-4:00.  I've joined a MOPs group and it's first meeting was yesterday.  I'm looking forward to that new group and meeting other mom's who are in a similar life stage as me.  It should be fun. 

Rin's 6th Birthday

Celebrating R's birthday is going to be different this year.  For the first time, we aren't in NC and she will not be with her 'friends'.  We have a plan though and I think she'll like it.

R's been asking to get her ears pierced and we told her that we would buy them for her on her birthday.  So she waited and on Thursday, B got off work a little early so we could head to the mall.  All of the older girl cousins (A, K, L) have their ears pierced and so does Bella and Lexi.  I figured R would eventually want to get hers done too.  We went to Claire's in the Memorial City Mall.  When we got there, there were 2 girls in front of R so R got to watch other people go first.  I think it was good for her to see the process.  The first little girl took it and barely flinched.  The second little girl was a bit more vocal about it hurting and didn't want to get the second one after the first.   She managed with the help of her mother and then it was R's turn.  R was ready and had been read for a while.  She talked to the lady getting ready asking what all she was doing.  I love how R doesn't shy away from adults.  She's very good at making conversation. 

I stood with R while B and the littles stayed outside.  They could watch her through the window so it was like we were all there.  She was brave and I was so proud.  She got cute little crystal daisy flowers.  After the ears, we headed to the Marsh home for pizza and swimming.  Things went very smoothly for the rest of the evening.  R was able to spend the night with the cousins since she was the birthday girl.  We went Friday and picked her up and swam again.  All in all I think it was a fun day. 

4th of July

Our tradition of going to S/A's house for the 4th and watching the Rolesville fireworks this year wasn't happening.  Not entirely because we wouldn't be there, but also, Rolesville cancelled their fireworks show.  In an effort to not lose the holiday, one of our last small group dinners at the Daniel house, Sara decorated for the fourth and Andrew grilled out.  It was a great time (except the beginning when Landon had a nose bleed).  I was grateful that S put that effort in for our family so we could experience one last tradition before leaving.  It was very sweet of her and her family.

But the weekend of July 4th we spent in College Station with B's siblings.  Marcus and Mandy and their 3 kids have a house with a pool so that's where the party was.  The Marsh family arrived before us on Thursday night.  All the cousins were together for the first time since we'd moved to TX.  I was excited and a little nervous too.  The Marsh cousins and M. Hantla cousins have a very strong bond.  The boys Ethan and Micah are great friends and love to hang out with each other.  They are closer in age and closer in physical ability than our boys.  I worried about A/W getting left out and I worried about A crying.  The girls I didn't worry about as much because Avery is great about playing with E and R just tags along with Kinsey & Lauren.  Sometimes R even had more fun playing with Ethan and Micah.  All in all the cousins did great.  Friday we ate waffles that Marcus cooked for us and just relaxed at the house.  The kids went swimming and the adults just talked.  I made crack dip that everyone liked and we had a great day.  Friday night we went to the George Bush Library for the fireworks show.  M & M do this every year and it might become our new tradition too???  The library itself was nice but of course our kids didn't really engage in it very much.  It was cool inside though.  The fireworks were pretty amazing and our 4 did great with them.  Even E.  Aunt Mo held E and covered her ears.  The show lasted about 20 minutes but took us what seemed like forever to get home.  There was so much traffic.  It happens though and the important thing was that we have independence from Great Britain. 

Friday morning

Our own fireworks at Uncle Marcus' office

swimming!

picnic dinner before the firework show

cousins from 11-1

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out in College Station until Sunday when B's parents come down.  The brought with them a piece of furniture for our new house and to see our new house.  Good times!

Milestones

In 1 week we hit many milestones.  I'm writing about this 3 months later so I hope I remember all the details.  It was the week of Bryce's graduation so May 12-16.  B's parents were in town for the graduation which made everything else so exciting that they could witness it all.

On Monday, R lost her first tooth.  It was very loose and B tried to pull it at home Sunday night but nothing. When I picked her up from schools, she had a baggie with a plastic tooth in it.  She showed me inside the plastic tooth, her little tooth.  She was so excited as were we!  Her first tooth.  I told her we would put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy but she said 'no'.  I thought maybe she didn't hear me so I repeated myself and she said 'no mommy.  I don't want the tooth fairy to take my tooth.  I want to collect all my teeth' and so I told her okay.  Instead of her tooth, we put a note under her pillow explaining why R's tooth wasn't there.  We support her.  The tooth fairy still left her a dollar coin under her pillow.

Tuesday was E's big day.  She started standing up in the middle of the floor by herself and then sitting back down.  Tuesday afternoon when we were all home, she walked across the floor.  Of course we were all so excited.  Just a few days before she turned 1 (the earliest of our 4).  She didn't do much more walking the rest of the night but we knew that she could do it.Video

Also Tuesday night, R prayed to accept Christ.  She has been talking about it with us and her church leaders, but she said she was ready.  B and I spent an hour in her room with her talking through it all and then we prayed with her.  We were so excited for her.  She was excited too and Wednesday when we went to Awana, she shared with everyone there too.  Of course, she has a lot to learn along the way, but the best give in the world of Salvation is in her heart now.  Eph 2:10
¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Friday was a dual milestone for B and E.  E turned 1 yay!!!  and B graduated from SETBS with his Doctorate degree.  He's worked so hard and we are all so very proud of him.

Civitan Kingdom 2014

I finally was able to serve the week at camp and since we are done having kids, I shouldn't have to miss another year.  This year B & I were staying in Dogwood.  I've never stayed at Dogwood before and that's the only place I haven't been.  I would be an area mom with Nicole and I was so pumped!

This is also the first year R & A would come stay with us at camp as well.  They have visited, but they are both old enough to stay and sleep at camp.  So we decided to have them come from Tuesday through Thursday.  We wanted them to just get a little taste of camp before spending the entire week out here.  They loved it and their counselors, Laney and Bailey were great.  

My responsibilities as area mom included cleaning the area daily, doing laundry, and traveling with the group to all the activities.  My favorite part was traveling and I loved going to the pool.  I consider the pool my 'home' at camp and not being there is very weird.  I also liked going to boating so I could see B.  B's job was boating as it has been for the past several years.  He and Rob have taken ownership of boating and turned it into something great.  All the areas love going to boating now.

I wish I had more pictures, but I didn't want to take my phone with me everywhere and my camera battery died.  Nicole took a lot of pictures so I'll try to get some from her.  Overall our area was great and I enjoyed being an area mom with them.  At the end of the week, Mrs. Terri shared with me that she wants to see B & I at Native Village to start building up NV.  DW is always the best area and everyone wants to be at DW.  She has visions of that at NV with us as area parents.  I think it could be fun being an area parent with B.  We are lifers is what she called us.  I agree:)

new: Miguel

Bailey, Miguel, and Laney

Jonathon Utz with Garret and Keith

Bently with Deac

Jackson and Brett

R and Korbin

DW at TNT

R & A at recreation

Jimmy D on the water slide

Miguel

Will

B and Will Fox Lear

Jimmy and Brodie

Cole

Rin with Bently in DW

Maggie holding Ell

camp 2014

B with Eden

R and Korbin

Joel

So when I posted this, I said I was going to ask Nicole for pictures.  Not a day later, did 5 cds come in the mail loaded with all her pictures.  I went through them (about 500) and picked out a few.  I tried to make sure I had 1 of each of our boys in our area.  We had 12 great guys:  Cole, Miguel, Joel, Jackson, Jimmy, Jonathon, Will, Jacob, Nathan, Brodie, Korbin and Bentley.