Austin Texas is Home

Well this is it, our saga has ended, well maybe just beginning :) Regardless it feels good to be here, getting settled and know we are here for all the right reasons. This is where our Heavenly Father wanted us to be and that feeling is even more present now that we are here.

The Boys are doing great, they have became fast friends with all the toads around here, I think they have caught 9 to date and probably double that but MOM said no! #4 and #5 are happy and busy playing with all their old toys. Brady and Nat get here tomorrow and we are so excited to see them. I have finally gotten my pantry unpacked, my office organized and I can now successful walk from my front door to the kitchen without tripping so I thought it was a good time to get caught up on my blogging.

I am already in love with Texas. I think down deep I am a country girl at heart. In another life I could have lived with my family in the middle of nowhere, in the open fields of this beautiful planet, riding horses, working hard, feeling the quite breeze in my hair and scrapping the earth out from under my nails each night. There is a quite solemnity about that life style that really appeals to me. As we drove into Texas for a good hour or 2 there were small US flag randomly taped on road signs and mile marker post. I probably saw over a dozen flags. It said something special about this great state and its love of country and state, maybe this is just nostalgia but it sure seemed to be a sweet welcoming and I knew I would love it here.

A few days ago I went to run some errands solo and while leaving Costco I was naturally pushing and pulling 2 very heavy carts and immediately one of the workers ran over to assist me in my struggle to steer straight. I abruptly came to a halt, in shock I was being offered help. Never, NOT once through all 5 of my children, no matter how big and round I was with child, no matter how many children I happened to be carrying, no matter how many of my children were crying and laying on the Costco floor, I have NEVER been offered help even despite my silent desperate plea in my eyes. Secretly I have resented Costco for that, anyway I of course gladly accepted the assistance. When I got to Mr. Smilie Face cart checker I turned around and said "thank you SO much" and then Mr. Smilie Face enthusiastically says, " No honey, you leave your carts right here and pull up, we'll load your car for you" I nearly dropped to the ground. With eyes as big as silver dollars, I said "seriously??? is that just because it is a slow day and you have nothing better to do?" he said no it is just because we are nice here." I replied by saying "golly I am loving Texas more and more all the time!". He then gently said with a big'ol smile, "Dear this is not the Texas way, this is the "Austin way"!"

Well that sums it up. The following posts are of some of the experiences we have had over thee last few weeks and are in chronological order from the most recent. We love you all and thank you for all your warm wishes and prayers as we have made this exciting transition.

Over and Out from Texas

Road Trip to TEXAS

After weeks of activities we packed up AGAIN and headed home... well our old home Colorado and literally camped in B's office for a few days to get it pack up. Thank goodness for Lifetime we were able to get a hot shower everyday. a few have asked "why not just stay in a hotel?" well I guess if you hadn't already been in a hotel for 3 weeks that would make since but I was too cheap to spend the money on a good hotel and too much of a germ-a-phobieac to sleep in a cheap hotel, so the office it was. Even though it was a bit weird, it was actually quite comfortable.

Ice Cream cones in the middle of Wyoming

Packing up our U haul at B's office which carried some few essential things. Douba and Hamburger looked like complete orphans I am sure but who cares...We didn't, they we happy.


On the Road again - to begin our 2 long day drive into the middle of Texas. It was a really interesting drive into Texas. Someone said once that you really spend a day just getting into Texas and they weren't kiddin! We took a rather rural route, at least that is what it felt like. Small town after small town, dead with activity except the ones traveling through much like ourselves, literally in the middle of nowhere. So many of these towns clearly were bustling little towns once upon a time with cute little main streets and shops and diners and now most of them are boarded up, lonely and silent. It would be fun to explore those towns more. I know this might seem a bit strange but one of my lifelong dreams is to go on a road trip and explore abandoned buildings and homesteads. I was just dieing to jump out of our car and explore so many of these towns, maybe someday!

Home Again Home Again Riggity Jig! Alas we arrive in Austin on a rainy Thursday night a balmy 77 degrees. We were so glad to be home.

AND I must say, I would be happy if I never, ever had to see one of these again! EVER! When you are in the middle of nowhere they sure know where to stick it to ya! Is anyone else tried of ridiculous gas prices??? maybe just me? One too many road trips may have done us in for a while.

Kylies Wedding and More

After Cousins Camp I went to Salt Lake where we bunked up with my brother Chris and his sweet family for a few days (Thanks Chris and Nat!!!!) before B flew in, at which point we then stayed in a hotel with my parents for the duration of our Utah stint. It was a really fun few days filled with wedding festivities. My niece Kylie was possibly THE MOST
beautiful bride I have EVER seen! OMGosh! And my sister was certainly the most beautiful mother of the bride I have ever seen!

At Kylie and Johns wedding dinner the night before.... I did not get very many pictures that night.

Wedding Day at Mt. Timp Temple


My sister Diane and my beautiful Mother on the temple grounds, 2 very sweet spirits!

The night of the wedding reception outside our hotel. Aren't those ALL beautiful children!


Our hotel was at Thanksgiving Point where we walked the grounds with the kids and enjoyed our time together.



We were even able to squeeze away for one night to have a barbecue at my best friend Sheila's house with some good friends from our old neighborhood. Thanks Sheila and Paul, I love ya!



My good friend Becky Deverall and baby Mia

The BOYS with Jackson Ewell


Uncle Chad and Daidy.... she totally has a crush on him!

Cousins Camp 2008

*** PREFACE ***
It seems almost unreal to think back to all the wonderful memories we have had at Deer Hollow over the years. Cousins camp is certainly one of them. Before I start my bragging session I want to say that this place it truly out of a make believe novel, something out of every grandparents dreams. My parents place is truly like nothing I have ever seen or heard of before. It is a virtual play land for kids and grownups alike. They have thought of everything and anything you could possibly want, need or dream of and did it. We are a huge family combined 60+ and that is just immediate family so their dream was to create a gathering place and this is it... a million times over. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Mom and Dad for making this UNBELIEVABLE place for us to come visit and share in wonderful memories together as a family.

Cousins Camp at Deer Hollow was truly perfect. We could not have asked for a more perfect time. It was smooth, organized, eventful, happy and believe it or not - tons of fun for all of us. We did art classes with Grandma Jerri, went fishing, hiking, played at the tree house park, swim parties, sang songs, rode horses, had mini family presentations, blew bubbles, played kickball, had a wiener roast at the Tee Pee, target practice for the older kids, painted birdhouses, played with a baby deer they caught on the property...and on and on.

Our Cousins Camp Shirts



Our annual cousins camp kick off tradition, singing and playing Hankie Pankie.

Grandma and Grandpa (with Mitchell)

Tree house Park fun - zip line, swings, slide, sandboxes, trampoline, catching little fish with nets in the stream, rope swing etc.





Hike in the Kolob. These are beautiful mountains and unless you are watching from I-15 you'll place them by in a few seconds. The hike was actually quite miserable for me. I had Mr. Hamburgler on my back (fussing) and carried Douba (fussing) on my hip for probably 1/2 mile. It was hot, sweaty and heavy. By the end I was glad to see this part come to an end, kids had fun though.



Water color class with Grandma Jerri at the lodge. The kids LOVED this and could have done this for hours but we had to move on.... some much to do and so little time. Grandma assessed all their work and matted it for proud display.



Our family presentation was on Texas. Since very few of my family members have ever been to Texas, we thought it was a good idea to teach them (and us) a thing or 2 about our new home town.

Tee Pee Party


Babies blowing bubbles with Grandma while we watched the older kiddos play kickball in the field.

These are a few of the funny signs my mom has around the ranch. She has placed clever little signs all over the ranch on the trails and in little hidden places sure to put a smile on youre face.





Swim Parties every day.



Horseback Riding with Uncle Doug