Parting is such sweet sorrow

It IS with much sweet sadness that we have been saying goodbye to our wonderful friends here in Houston.  Sad to be leaving, sad that we haven't had enough time to say goodbye in person to some, but SWEET knowing there will be many fun visitors to our new Louisiana home soon!

The past two and a half years here in Houston have been some of our best.  We've made lifelong friends that we'll miss dearly on a daily basis but look forward to frequent visits to and from.  

I won't reminisce long except to say one of the saddest goodbyes is from Sydney to her dear friends.  She doesn't fully understand that they're not all coming along for the move but I do.  And it breaks my heart.  A little picture homage to just a few of the friendships that have blossomed for her along the way.

From her very first day of school.

Sweet friendships began.

They've shared playdates.

Easters

Halloween

Concerts

Dance Recitals

 And lots, and lots of cake!

Crawfish too.

Special teachers have also been stand-outs in Sydney's life.

Babysitters too, who are more like family!

These two share a special affection.  They have fun, fight like siblings and look after one another.  I'm a little sad to know Dom won't be there in Syd's corner as they grow into young adults.

And then there's this precious friend from right across the street.  Their balance of tomboy and princess so perfect - each one pulling the other to the center.  Most importantly, they are learning the value of girlfriends.

And I can't leave out her twin brother who is always honored to serve as their knight in shining armor!

 After all, a girl would never forget her first movie date, right?

Or the boy from her first hayride.

Or the boy who snuck a peek during her first slumber party!!!

To these friends and so many others (how on earth do I not have photos for each and everyone one???)... We will miss you all!!!  Come see us soon!

Parting is such sweet sorrow 

That I shall say good night till it be morrow!

 - Shakespeare

Spring is here! I think.

In the south, spring is fleeting and you must enjoy each day as if it's the only one you'll get - because it just might be.  Our weather turns from winter (ok, mild though it may be, it's still winter to us) to hot summer days in a nano-second.  And sometimes turns back again without warning such as the 40 degree temps for the next few nights suggest!  

This past weekend we were blessed with a few lovely spring days and used them to our full advantage.  

You saw our bluebonnet adventure.

The kids had their school spring fling - the last one they'll have at this precious school that has nurtured them the past two years.  Sydney's dance class gave us a little performance.  She was so proud that she "wasn't shy" and danced in front of all the moms and dads.

The kids were also super excited to check out the fire trucks - something they have feared and kept a safe distance from in years past.

 Hmmm - what do you suppose this button does???

But the bounce house is still the best!  Fletcher will literally bounce until he is a sweaty dripping mess.  It's a wonder he has all that energy left to kick and scream as I pry his fingers away when it's time to go.

Next spring activity - picking strawberries!  I have great memories doing this as a kid when visiting my grandparents in Florida.  Ours seemed to love it just the same!  Deceiving little berry buckets those were - we came back with about three times as much as intended.

This is what finally remained for regular consumption after giving a huge bag to Sydney's friend who joined us on the pick, cutting an enormous bowl full for strawberry shortcake AND getting much more discerning about the selection process than the kids had been.

Yay for spring!

Oh, and Boudin is slowly turning into a sheepdog before our eyes.  He/we cannot wait for his first puppy trim after his next vet appointment!  I do my best but puppy groomer, I am not!

Bluebonnet FAIL

Well, maybe not a total fail once I actually downloaded the photos and found a few gems.  But that sure is what it felt like after leaving the field of lovely blue blossoms this evening.  

For the past two years, I have observed Houston area friends posting gorgeous photos of Texas bluebonnets.  With our move back to Louisiana only two weeks away, I figured it was now or never.  

Pat is out of town so I knew I would be on my own - and all that entails with these two.  After naps, I changed the kids clothes, packed them up and off we went in search of a bluebonnet field.  Fletcher's thrashing during diaper change and refusal to allow me to change his shirt or put on shoes should have been a strong indicator of how this would go.  But I forged ahead; certain a snack and juice box would cure all!  At least he had stopped crying by the time we got there.  And grudgingly allowed me to shoe and shirt him.

Sydney was ALL about it!  This is literally the first shot out of my camera, just trying to test my levels.

Then she saw the bees and got a little wary.

Fletcher could not be coaxed into the field.  He kept ambling back up the hill toward the busy road.  Almost an after thought, I had thrown my tripod into the car.  A picture of me AND the kids was well beyond any sort of expectation for this adventure.  But I grabbed it and set up in hopes of luring Fletcher in to sit on my lap.  No go.  But Syd and I sat for a few clicks between my hill sprints to retrieve Fletcher and re-adjusting the camera after photog-Syd got hold of it.

 I don't normally intend to shoot at such an angle but I had to be quick to catch him anywhere NEAR a flower!

Sticks were really more his thing.  At least he wasn't running into oncoming traffic.

 I mean look at that face!!!  Trouble!

When Sydney picked up on the stick plan and declared they were going to the small pond nearby to look for alligators... that was my cue to pack up and head home!

Less than 5 minutes after returning home, this is what he looked like.  Apparently he and the puppy got into a tussle in the dirt over his airplane.  Looks like Fletcher won.

So my kids aren't going to sit all nice and pretty in a field of beautiful flowers and smile charmingly at the camera.  I think maybe I need to get over it more often, not feel so defeated, get in the sticks and dirt myself - and trust that if you take enough pictures, SOMETHING usually does turn out!

Meet Boudin

(pronounced boo-dan for all you non-Cajuns)

The little ball of fur that has captured our family's heart the past week!  

Now in case you were wondering why on EARTH we decided to get a puppy during a move - we didn't.  Pat has been lobbying on behalf of the kids for the better part of a year to get a dog but I have been quite resistant.  I grew up with big dogs and all sorts of animals, but they were outside.  We certainly don't live in the country and the thought of a big dog living in our house with us, was a no-go for me.  Or a little yippy dog.  No way.  Then one day a friend posted on FB about their new dog.  So stinking cute!  So I inquired, did a little research and one evening in early January I casually mentioned to Pat that IF we ever got a dog, I would probably want something like this.  It was on!  

Boudin is a Shichon - a mix between a Shih-Tzu and Bichon.  Small, hypoallergenic (no shedding) and quiet!  The breeder is amazing!  Lillybits.  Check it out, even if only to ogle at the cuteness.

Long story long - my original plan was to get a puppy for the fall.  Maybe even Christmas.  But as luck would have it, a puppy was available in the litter that had been born days before our inquiry.  So we signed up and anxiously awaited our March baby!  And then - whammy!  Moving back to Louisiana.  

So while keeping the house in check on a daily basis while it's on the market has been challenging, very little work is due to Boudin.  He came to us completely crate and litter trained.  He barely ever whines and barks even less - only when he's playing with his toys.

The kids adore him and have generally been very good with him.  It's been a great learning experience for them - boundaries, responsibility and even language skills for Fletcher who has been in speech therapy for the past couple of months.  He's getting good at "here puppy", "go get it" and also "get puppy out" when he wants me to get the puppy out of his pen for some play.  Those two have so much fun - they just play chase non-stop.  It's exhausting to watch.  I'll post some fun videos later.

He has also caused some mischief.  From the kids.  Not him.

And this.  Too much puppy.  Too little sleep (that's another story).

He loves the yard and all the balls it offers.  

 These two still have some differences to work out.

 But overall, it's just pure love!

Ready...???

We're selling our house, moving back to Louisiana and getting a puppy!

Whew.  Get what I did there?  Band-aid... rrriiiipppp!!!!

I've been thinking about how I'd roll all these lovely announcements out in a slow and measured way.  And then it  just happened.  All at once.

Roughly 10 days ago we received notice of Pat's new job in Louisiana (still with Chevron at their office in Covington where we were previously).  His start date is May 1.  Oh dear.  Since that time, we've met with realtors in Houston, gotten our house on the market and I just returned from a whirlwind 3 day trip with Sydney to visit schools and look at homes in Louisiana.  I'm exhausted.  It's Wednesday.  And the madness has only just begun.

Tomorrow alone the movers come to take inventory of our belongings, handymen and others will be here for minor sprucing up of the place, photographer is coming to take the official pictures of our house - AND - we're getting a puppy.  Poor timing?  Maybe???

The move is very bitter sweet.  We absolutely love our home, our community and the amazing friends both we and the kids have made here.  We will be sad to leave that all behind.  But we're equally excited to get closer to our family, friends in Louisiana and for Pat's great career move.

I'll try to do better about keeping you posted on our newest adventures, the crazy house search I'm engaged in and much more about the precious puppy headed our way tomorrow that we're over-the-moon excited to bring into our family, despite the insanity that is to come.  Hey, if this pup is gonna hang with the Fraher's, better teach him to be flexible from the beginning, huh!