San Juan Whale Watching Cruise

Its been a long time since I've blogged, but thought I would catch everyone up on what we have been up to. My mom and husband came to visit this last week, so we packed a lot in! Everyone was telling me to take a cruise out to the San Juan islands to see the whales. It was a LONG day! We had to board at 6:45 am and didn't get off the ferry until 7:15 that night. Well worth it. We say a ton of whales and the San Juans were very cool. The beauty here is inspiring. It never ends!

Doped up on Dramamine...You rarely see Steve take a snooze in the middle of the morning.

Orca Whales. There were a bazillion of them. Hard to capture a picture, because leagally the boat is not able to go within 100 yards of them. So you have to wait for them to come to you, which they eventually did.
Some sort of lazy sea life, I think they are seals of some sort...

Leaving Austin

Five years ago, we moved from Kingwood (houston tx) to Austin. We were bummed to pick up and leave our home and the friends and ward family that we had created. We didn't know what it would be like to live in Austin TX. I knew nobody, except for these little guys below.

I dug my feet in and didn't really want to come here. I was primary president in Kingwood and we had a great circle of friends. We had an awesome (cheap) house that we had worked so hard to finish. Things seemed to be in order. I didn't know what Austin held for us.

Now I know why we were meant to be here. Of course Heavenly Father didn't give me a crystal ball then, and he certainly isn't giving me one now. But I will have faith and know that Seattle is where it's at for my family for the next while (how ever long that may be). After all, although my attitude of moving here was glum, I met my "soul sister" here. We have made an extended family here and these are friendships that I will never let go of.

On Saturday mornings, we used to do these bike rides to these rocks near our home. Our kids would be bawling after about a block, but we (thanks to Steve's patience) endured until we got to our destination. This is a picture of the kids around the time that we first began this tradition. We decided to try and recapture this moment, then realized that these moments can not be recaptured, only remembered. So the lesson is, is to embrace each moment, even if it may seem painful at the time, the payoff is priceless.

Kids 2005

Kids 2010, less enthused to be forced to sit on a log with ants and take a family photo...

Even though there is much sadness...we look forward (after 6 long months) to reunite with Steve. Can't wait to have a husband and dad full time in our lives again!

Our New Hacienda

We finally are under contract on our Seattle home! Yay. Things are beginning to look a little more permanent. I saw this house on the MLS when we first starting looking, and it reminded me of the "Stuart Little" house. I haven't gotten to see it yet in person, but Steve thinks that it is a lot of fun and that I will like it. Definately a different space than we are used to, but the price is right!

Patio off the kitchen on level 2

Media Room

No houses in front of us, just a mountain road...

Pick a House

I flew out to Seattle over the weekend to do some house hunting. A little depressing - sticker shock! I know that we are coming from Texas, but still, it was crazy. We ended up in a place called Snoqualmie. It is about 25 minutes away from Steve's work and it is really beautiful. Lots of young families. I think that our kids will be very happy here. We ended up doing essentially 2 offers. We are seeing which comes through to suite our needs better. The larger house has already come back, so we are waiting on the boxier looking one, which is actually the one I want. I know it is not as pretty, but it backs to a green belt and has a trail right next door. The kids would love it...+ it is cheaper and that is what we need.

I will let you know. I am dying to hear. Got to plan those rooms ya know...?

Addison's Emergency Trip

Well, we thought it was going to be a normal day at the doctors office. Saturday night, Addison was up all night long with the stomach flu. She threw up every hour on the hour. By Monday, she was feeling much better...until Monday night. She started up with her short winded coughs again. She told me right away that she was getting pneumonia. She has had it 5 times since January of 2008, so the girl knows when she is getting it.

Tuesday morning, I thought we will go in and get her on some antibiotics, get a few breathing treatments and maybe even stop for ice cream on the way home...no such luck. Because she had just gotten over stomach flu, it exacerbated the pneumonia leaving us with one sick girl on our hands. The doctor didn't even let us drive to the hospital, EMS came and picked her up in an ambulance. It was very scary! - and unexpected...I felt like a dumb mother. My poor baby had been that sick the whole night and I didn't listen to my instinct and take her in to the ER. She was getting like NO air.

Loading her up on the gurney in the doctors office...

The checked Addison into Dell Children's and by morning, she was a new person! I guess when they say "push fluids", they mean it, because it boosted her right back. She is doing much better now. I know everyone got wind of this and was a bit concerned. I am so grateful to my ward family for taking care of us! Lance and Nolan even went on got my car (left at the doctors office) and brought it up to me! And Stephi took my kids overnight! Wow, that would have been fun. You guys are the best, I don't know what I would do without you...being a single mom is turning out to be a challenge. Glad it is temporary, but dang this is where I would live if it wasn't!

I can finally sleep at night. It looks like we have a contract on our house! YAY. Thanks Nolan for all your hard work...You really deserve a bonus - I don't think that you signed up to be our psychiatrist and real estate agent, but you did a great job.

So, as long as everything goes according to plan, we will close in March and move in June to join Steve in Seattle. We are still in our "option" period, and things could change, but I am feeling strong...

Thanks for all your prayers. I know that is what has gotten us through and brought us to this point.

Happy Numero 7

It's Pinkalicious! Daddy sent a "Pinkalicious" doll all the way from Saks 5th Ave. in Seattle. We skyped when it arrived. She was so excited. Kind of looks like her, don't you think?

This was the funnest party to plan. I love to plan em, it is the actual party that I have a hard time with! So cute though...

Holy Cupcake!

There hasn't been much time to blog lately. I know everyone is busy with Christmas right around the corner. Just a quick update - Steve is doing well in Seattle and me and the kids are surviving. We obviously didn't do family pics with all of us, I didn't think that photoshopping Steve in would be a good idea. But, I did get the kids back out to Mayfield park with our photographer. She did an awesome job again. Thanks Brandi! Here are some of my faves...