{goodbye texas}

I feel like we ended up saying goodbye very quickly.  Rick started his job the beginning of June, only two weeks after accepting the position.  We were on our own for two months, and I thought we would be there even longer.  After a lot of back and forth, different decided to go ahead and make the move, but it was a week and a half before the movers came.  

From that point, everything moved very quickly, and I found myself trying to say goodbye while completely being engulfed in moving details, all with both Rick and Ryan gone. To put it lightly, it was kind of insane. Rick arrived two days before we left, and then it was even busier.

So...any spare time we had, we spent with our good friends--a family that we have been very lucky to get to know, and have come into our lives.  Our kids LOVE each other.  Our backyards touched, and they were always trying to communicate and get together to play, whether it was signaling through playroom windows, riding bikes to each other's houses, or climbing the fence.  We joked that we should have cut a hole in the fence, and if we had lived there longer, we might have just done it! 

We also spent time at the pool--as much as we could--because we knew it wouldn't be the same in New York. We definitely wouldn't have our own pool just a minute away!  There was a super fun dive-in movie at the clubhouse that we went to, and it was a definite highlight.  I got the kids in swimming lessons the last two weeks we were there, which was kind of crazy on my part, but I really wanted them to do it if we could.

One of the things we'll miss the MOST?  Mexican food!  Seriously, I crave it just thinking about it.  I won't tell you how many times we went out to eat, but we did visit every one of our favorites in the last couple of weeks.  And some more than once.  :)

There were a lot of good things about The Woodlands, and best of all, my darling Caroline was born there, so it will always be a special place because of that.  I learned how strong I really was, and although it was two of the hardest years of my life, I can truly say that I grew as a person more than I thought possible.  I'm grateful for that.  

In the end, it was very strange to drive away, knowing that we will never be back.  

These park pictures were taken the night before we left.  We went to dinner at Lupe's with our friends, then we all headed to our favorite park to let the kids play.  The weather was gorgeous---a perfect 70 degrees, with a slight breeze and no humidity.  It couldn't have been more perfect, and I considered it a goodbye gift from Texas.

The movers came in the midst of all of it...

 We went to Market Street one last time, and ate a yummy dinner at another favorite restaurant. It was a relaxing evening amongst all the craziness, and it was wonderful to have Rick home! 

Oh, Pappasitos, how I'll miss you.

Our last Sunday at church!  Our ward split again just a couple of weeks before, and so our last times at church were very different...and busy.  

The dive-in movie was SO fun!  It was another late night, and the kids were loving it. I took the boys and baby home early, and the girls got to stay out super late with their friends.  It was at the clubhouse, and they served dinner, provided all the supplies to make cardboard box cars, and put on a great evening.  The kids swam, ate, watched, played, and had a fabulous time!

I think it's hysterical that Jack got the box box, and Henry got the small one.  They should have traded.  :)

This weather I will not miss. AT ALL.

The girls started diving at swimming lessons this year, and I can't believe how much they improved in just a couple of weeks. Miss Lori is an awesome teacher, and with small classes (3-5) it means they learn so much faster.  The boys also did really well, and learned the freestyle stroke and backstroke. It was SO cute to watch. So glad we could squeeze lessons in!!

We did so many other things that I didn't get pictures of, but we were able to check just about everything off our list. It was a whirlwind, but worth it!

Goodbye, Texas. It's been good to know you.

{a date with my little boys}

Before we left Texas, I really wanted to take my kids out on one last date.  We were quickly running out of time, so  I took the boys together, and the girls together, which worked out very well.  My little boys and I had a marathon date...it turned into about a 7 hour day!  It's always an adventure with these boys, and this day was no exception.

We started out the day with a movie...the new Planes, Fire & Rescue.  We had been seeing previews for weeks, and they were so excited, it seemed like months we had to wait to see it. The boys could hardly stand it!  Needless to say, they loved it...and I loved it.  I even cried.  Popcorn and Icees are one of the best parts for them, and it's always a treat!!

We headed to lunch, and I'm a lucky girl---one of their favorite places is Panera, which happens to be one of my favorites too.  :)

Next up? A little shopping!  I needed to get some things for Ryan before he left for EFY, so we headed to the mall.  Yes, I know.  The mall.  But...they promised they would be good.  :) They actually did pretty well, and I only had to stop and chase them down a couple of times.  We did stop in the Lego store, the play place, and a few other stores they love, so it greatly boosted their interest level.  We ended up having a great time, and were there for quite awhile. 

They helped me go grocery shopping, and do a few last minute errands, then we stopped for treats.  

Of course.

Finally...we made it home.

It was fabulous day with my darling boys!

{efy}

Ryan made plans with his friend Chance last summer to come out to Utah for EFY this summer.  Once we found out we were moving, we weren't sure if it would work, but fortunately, the timing turned out to be perfect.  

He left the week before we moved, and we had him stay an extra week to make sure we arrived in New York before he got there.  He flew from Houston to SLC, then from SLC to Buffalo.  It was also his very first time flying solo, and I'm not sure who was more nervous, him or me!!  Since Rick was gone, I hired a babysitter to stay with the other kids so I could take him alone, and help him navigate the airport.  Since he wears an insulin pump, and carries syringes and medication with him, going through security is always a little different for him, and I needed to make sure that it was okay.  Since he's a minor, I was able to get a gate pass and go with him all the way to his gate, which made us both feel a lot better.  He ended up being on the same plane as a boy his age from seminary, which helped his nervousness, and mine too. 

My parents picked him up from the airport, and he stayed with them the first night.  They dropped him off the next morning at Chance's house, and he was with them until EFY started a few days later. Talk about party central!  They are a super fun family with mostly older kids, so he was able to escape the little kid situation for a little while!  They love to play games, and he just fits into their family really well.  Monday morning he headed to EFY, and I will never forget the first text I got from him that first day...

"Mom.  I need to come home.  I can't take it.  Too much singing and happiness". 

LOL.

He ended up having a great time, and by the end of the week was really glad he went.  He also told me he wasn't going to dance at any of the dances, but at both of them, he was asked to dance every single dance. Ha!  It was like 18 girls, or something like that! Funny boy. Julie was wonderful, and sent me updates every single night on what they said in the car, and how he did.  It made me feel as if I was there!  On the last day, he sent me this super cute picture of him and a girl he met. He banned me from showing even one more person, but I finally convinced him to let me post it here.  :)

After EFY, he headed back to my parents' house for a few days before coming home. They pretty much spoiled him rotten.  :) That's what grandparents do, right?  They ate yummy food, went to see cool places, attended the Ogden Temple open house, and took Chance & Alex to do some Family History.  

It was quite the trip for him, and I'm so glad he was able to go! A huge thanks to my parents and to the Jensen family, for making it so wonderful! 

{the best 4th of july ever}

We were really looking forward to the 4th of July this year--more than any other year. Rick had been gone for a month, and we were all missing him like crazy.  The kids made a chain all on their own, and hung it on the mantel with a piece of Scotch tape, so they could count down until he came home.  

They also made posters to welcome him home...

 

His flight was scheduled to come in really late on the night of the 3rd--around 11pm.  I let the kids sleep upstairs together, and told them that anyone who stayed awake could come with me. These kids usually go to bed at 7pm, and they're usually asleep by 7:30pm, so I wasn't sure how many of them would make it.  It was incredible--by 10:30pm, every single one of them was still awake.  They told me they helped each other not fall asleep, so they could all go.  It made me cry.  

We loaded up the car, grabbed the posters, left Ryan with the baby (who actually was asleep), and headed out. When we pulled up to the waiting line, I opened the sunroof, and let the kids stand up through the top to hold up their signs.  They could hardly contain their excitement--both about the sunroof, and waiting for their dad. 

When we finally saw him come around the corner, I swear, the cheers could be heard on the other side of the airport. Happy Day!

The next day was the 4th, and Rick took the kids swimming while I got things ready for our afternoon and evening plans.  When they got home, we headed out to The Waterway, where there was a huge festival going on, followed by fireworks. We met our good friends there, and our kids were in heaven while we played, ate, and hung out.  We sat by the river, and the fireworks over the lake were so incredible. The Woodlands puts on a good show, for sure!!  Once they we were over, we headed home for more fun!  There isn't a ban on any kind of fireworks where we live, and people take FULL advantage of that.  There are many people who spend thousands of dollars on them, and all night long it's a party for as long as you can hear.  We joined them.  ☺  Rick and Ryan chose fireworks for us, and our friends joined us on the driveway to set them off. I was actually inside, giving Caroline breathing treatments, because she had been sick and was having a hard time breathing, but I could hear all the fun! 

The next day was Saturday, and I had a honey-do list for Rick that was about a mile long.  I was able to fix several things that had broken while he was gone, but I just hadn't gotten to everything.  While he was working and hanging out with the kids, I went and got a pedicure, and went shopping.  I hadn't been able to do that since he left, and there were a million errands that I had put off for the last month.  That night Rick and I had a much needed date night--it had been way too long.  

Sunday was an exciting day. It was the first Sunday we were meeting as our brand new ward! Yep--two brand new wards in two years!!  We were a few of the lucky ones to do it twice.  They took three wards and made a new one. We were also meeting at a new time, and in a new building, so it was quite the day!  I was heading up the Primary in the interim since there were no callings in place at all, and it ended up being even a bigger job than the last time.  Trying to track down information on kids from three different wards in a week of time, putting them in classes, getting teachers to sub, preparing sharing time, printing info and sending e-mails...yes, it was total craziness. We were also starting with 135 kids!!  But...it was really exciting.  The first Sunday of a brand new ward is an experience.  Looking around at all the people you know, and all the people you don't know...there's just something about it!  There's also the fact that there are no callings, no manuals, no budget...nothing.  Everyone steps up, things get done, and the day ends up going off just like normal.  It's incredible!  It was also very nice to have Rick there to help with the kids, because doing it alone, week after week, makes me tired.  ☺  We had to leave church a little early to take him to the airport, but we were grateful we got him as long as we did.

What a whirlwind of a weekend--it really was the best 4th of July ever.

{the month of june in pictures}

We've been busy around here.  I don't know why I always think that the summer will slow down, because it never, ever does.  Yes, it's more relaxed without school and schedules, but with swimming lessons, music lessons, church stuff, activities, and having all six kids all on my own is just busy.

The house is on the market, and I'm kind of insane when we have a showing. I'm already OCD when it comes to cleaning, but even if we have 45 minutes notice, I have to clean all the bathrooms, vacuum, dust, sweep, mop, and clean the kitchen in its entirety.  Even if I just did it the day before. I know, I know.  But I can't help it!  The kids are troopers, and Ryan is always a huge help.  The upside is that we get to go somewhere fun after all the cleaning, while people are looking at the house.  We usually get to eat out, which all the kids love, but I'm running through our food budget awfully quickly!  

I also have a whole new appreciation for single mothers.  Rick has always traveled some, and he has almost always had long hours, but this is just so different.  There is just no way to put it into words, and I know from here on out, I will always see them in a different light. I also appreciate everything that Rick did so much more than I ever have before.  This is a new adventure for me, and for all of us, and together we're figuring it out.  He's now been gone almost two months, and  we will be separated until our house sells, so there are many prayers around here that that will happen soon.  

Here's our month in pictures...

My girls...taking a walk on one of our picnic lunches.

 During this hot summer, trips to the library are frequent!

Our washer stopped working, and started making a funny sound. Normally I would call Rick to fix it, but I was on my own this time.  I was very proud of myself for this one--I researched it online, figured out what it was, and fixed it...all by myself!!

 Our usual morning learning time...

 My children are ADDICTED to popcorn. Seriously.

 These girls make me so happy!!

My Friday night dates!!!  We went to a movie and then to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory--it was perfect!

 Ready for church...and Ryan's new glasses!

 These giant waffle blocks have seriously been the best toy investment I've ever made. All of my kids love them, and they entertain them for hours nearly every day.  You should see what they can make! This movie night they built their own theater seats...

 She was pretty intrigued by the goldfish on her new pajamas.  Plus, she's pretty cute.  ☺

 There are no hand me downs around this house, due to the ages of genders of the kids, so it means lots of new pajamas a couple of times a year.  They get SO excited about it, it cracks me up!!  Kate & Emma have always matched each other, but not they're pretty excited that they get to match Caroline too!

 Last week my friends and I had the pool to ourselves!!  All of the kids lined up, and jumped in together...they were patient while we grabbed a camera.  Isn't that what moms do?  ☺

 Really, I just want to squish her little self every minute of the day.  And I do.

 This is usually the view that I get when I try to take a picture of her.  Little turkey.  I'm still trying to get one of her smiling, because whenever I get out my phone to take a picture, she runs away!

 

 I've heard that moms take less pictures of their younger kids, and it may or may not be true, but that has never happened with me.  I may even take more! 

 Our dishwasher broke, and so before our new one arrives, the kids are learning how to wash dishes the "old-fashioned" way.  They actually love it--but everything is exciting when you're 8!

 My heart. ♥